Study Tips: Academic Checklist

Start the semester right by checking off the academic essentials

By Texas State SLAC

Make a contract with yourself to establish good study habits and stay ahead of the curve this semester.

Welcome back, Bobcats!

This is the first full week of school and a good time to set the tone for what lies ahead in this semester. Establishing good study habits and routines from the start will help you maintain your grades and manage your workload well.

You want to write a plan outlining the essential parts of your study routine. Consider the following checklist to help you get started:

Study Tips: Summer Success

Summer school success relies on smart tactics, regular study habits

By Andrew Osegi ’14

Texas State University‘s Summer II term has just started, but finals are only a few weeks away. Thousands of students across campus will soon be asking themselves, “Am I ready?”

Test taking can be a challenging obstacle for many students, especially at the college level. Although studying is a skill many of us learned in high school, a number of students fail to fine tune their study skills in college and consequently struggle to prepare for exams. With tests usually accounting for the majority of a student’s final grade in a college class, it’s important to be well prepared for them.

The following are studying tips known to be effective when it comes to knowledge retention. As a junior at Texas State, I have found a few methods that work best for me, and I’ve included those as well. Some may seem like common sense, but all are useful tools for success in the classroom.

Study Tips: Use Your Professor

Got questions? Professors are
your best resource for answers

Professor Tom Grimes, author of the book Mentor: A Memoir, helps a Texas State student with her work.

By Texas State SLAC

It can be difficult to converse with professors before or after class. There may be too little time because the professor may have to go to another building, or another class may be waiting outside.

That’s why professors designate office hours to meet students outside of classes. Yet many professors say few students use this time. Take advantage of their willingness to help. Your professor may be formal in class but friendly and approachable one-to-one.

Study Tips: Keeping Pace

Resist mid-term slacking: Staying
up to speed pays off during finals

Studying with a group can help you master class material and stay up to speed.

By Texas State SLAC

September is over, but it’s never too late to remind yourself that your schoolwork is crucial — especially in the light of social and extracurricular activities you may have committed yourself to this fall. As October starts, with Homecoming just around the corner, now is the time to stay focused and maintain a good pace in your workload for classes.

Make sure that you keep up with all your reading assignments and homework. The longer you put them off, the harder it becomes to catch up, and the more likely you will feel overwhelmed the night before a test or due date. Bad grades in the middle of a course are very hard to bring up at the end. Here are three tips to help you keep going: