Academic Weaponry 101

Academic weaponry is something that I have gradually picked up within my years of schooling. Being a stem major, I found it exceedingly difficult to study in the first semester of college. There is a massive difference between high school and college. I thought that the study habits I held in high school would benefit me in college. Once I got to college, it was an entirely different ball game. Being in my second semester of sophomore year, I feel that I have now learned the proper way for me to study and be successful. Here are my tips and tricks on how to dominate your academics. 

1. Plan Plan Plan

I cannot emphasize enough that you need to plan out a proper schedule. Whether it is a paper planner, a planner app, or an Excel sheet, you need to have a reliable document that shows you everything that you must accomplish within the semester. 

I use Excel to plan out my assignments. At the beginning of every semester, I take the syllabi and enter every due date into the Excel sheet. You do not have to make it super colorful if you do not want to. I just color-code by class (some people enjoy color-coding the entire row which I think looks too busy, but you do you).  

I also use the calendar app on my iPhone. I specifically add the class times and office hours. I also add alerts so that if I take a break or a nap, I can wake up to the buzzing and still make it to class. This past semester, I have also added friend hangouts, dates, meetings, and events into my calendar, which has made it super easy to see what exactly I must do every day.  

I cannot recommend enough the importance of planning. It has saved me a lot of time in school because it has given me the opportunity to do many more tasks throughout the day.  

2. Taking Notes

Notes are a key element in an academic career. If you take any exams, you need to take notes. It does not matter how you take them; you just need to understand the material and be able to regurgitate it.  

I take notes using my iPad Pro. BEST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE. For my important classes, like NEUR 2026 and MATH 1026, I strictly handwrite my notes as I have learned this is the best way for me to study. I also use my MacBook Pro, which was the SECOND-BEST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE. With both Apple products, I can use two monitors for studying. This is a tool I never thought I would need, but I love to use. 

For my handwritten notes, I use Notability. I know lots of my friends use an app called Good Notes as well. Both can record while you write in lecture. I like Notability more because it has a backup drive and immediately sends all my notes to OneDrive. I know that Good Notes has this feature as well, but it is a little more difficult to use in my opinion.  

Before class, I take notes on assigned readings or presentations, so that I am ahead before even entering class. During class, I take notes and record lectures. These in-class notes usually look a little messy. After class, I listen to the lecture and make a set of “pretty notes” as I like to call them. My notes usually look like a massive outline. Taking notes three times a day helps with the repetition aspect of studying.  

Once you start taking good notes, you will be able to look back at material and memorize the information more fluidly.  

3. Assigned Readings and Presentations

If the professor provides presentations on Canvas or other software, look at it before you go to class. This will ensure that the information is not fresh or intimidating to you. This will also ensure that you can gather some questions to ask the professor during lectures. My grades reflected an exponential increase once I started looking at new material before the class.

4. Attend Office Hours

If you take one piece of advice from this column, take this one. GO TO THE OFFICE HOURS. The professors are there to help you for a reason. I used to be so nervous to go to office hours and my grade showed that.  

Once you start going to office hours, you will never stop going. They are super helpful. I would also suggest booking private office hours with your professors. This will further build a connection with you and the professor. They will understand that you are a serious student. This connection is so important to have because if you cannot go to class or are struggling with personal matters, the professor will work with you because they want you to succeed.  

5. Group Study Dates

Now this does not work for some people. As a talkative person, sometimes working in a group does not work for me. But what I do suggest is that you teach the material to your friends. My friends and I usually book a room in the library and discuss the material together. We will ask each other “What does blank process do?” and the person will discuss all they know about the material. This study method works very well for me because I learn by talking the information outwards.  

6. Find your study space

I am going to say this multiple times. Do not study in your bedroom or ON YOUR BED. You associate your bed with comfort, whether you like it or not. You should not mix comfort and sleep with studying. It just makes me study half as well as I would in a different space. 

Personally, I associate my apartment with comfort and “sleepy time.” I try to not study in my apartment at all. Some people can successfully study in their homes or apartments; I am not one of them.  

I study on my campus. Specifically, I study in the building pertaining to my major or the library. This way I fully have a separation between my school life and relaxing life. 

7. Rest and Take Breaks

It is so important to understand your body and mind. If you are tired, go to sleep. For years I would study until 3 am or 4 am and wake up exhausted. I have truly tried to emphasize my sleep this past semester which has helped tremendously. Do not feel guilty if you need to nap or work out or take a walk. Although we are trying to get a degree, you do not need to damage your mental or physical well-being. Take care of yourself.

Conclusion

Academic weaponry is a craft that takes time to develop. There are some days where I feel like I am so put together and nothing will stop me. There are also some days when I feel like I am falling apart due to stress. I am still actively trying to work on my academic weaponry. All you need to know is you got this! Believe in yourself. Everyone has the power to make their academic career successful.  

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