Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
College of Science
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Commitment
Investment of Time
Hard Work
Balance
Utilization of Resources
Sacrifice
Assertive
• Dental School, Medical School, Veterinary
School, Allied Health, etc.
– 3.5/3.6 & competitive MCAT, DAT, etc.
• Graduate School
– 3.0 (emphasis on last 60 hours &
competitive GRE
• Teaching
– 2.5 & pass TExES exam
• Multiply # hours registered for by hoped for
GPA
• Examples:
- 15 hours x 4.0 = 60 hours*/week (45 hrs. min.)
- 15 hours x 3.5 = 52.5 hours*/week (37.5 hrs.)
- 15 hours x 3.0 = 45 hours*/week (30 hrs.)
• BIOL 101 (3 hrs) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week
• BIOL 101 Lab (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week
• CHEM 101 (3 hrs) x 3.0 = 9 hours per week
• CHEM 101 L (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week
• HIST 101 (3 hrs.) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week
• MATH 101 (4 hours) x 3.0 = 12 hours per week
***attending SI’s and tutoring counts towards
study hours
• Monday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s
lecture
• Tuesday – attend lecture and take excellent notes (use tape
recorder, study buddy, etc. if necessary); review notes and fill
in holes before the end of the day
• Wednesday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s
lecture; review Tuesday’s notes
• Thursday – attend lecture/take excellent notes and review
notes and fill in holes before end of day; review Tuesday’s
notes
• Friday – review notes
• Saturday – review notes; write lab report, read for next lab*
• Identify all time available for study
• Take advantage of breaks between classes,
travel time, etc. to studyKeep a planner and
note all assignments, tests, quizzes,
assignments
• Post games, travel and other fixed
commitments
• Write down times you commit to study 6 days
per week
• Choose times where you are mentally sharp
• Remove distractions (cell phone, texting,
facebook, certain friends, etc.)
• Cannot afford to travel every weekend
• Set aside one hour block of undisturbed time
• First 5 minutes are to get organized and
decide what you want to accomplish
• Next 50 minutes are to study intently
• Last 5 minutes are for break for food,
bathroom, etc.
• If setting aside several hours, study different
subjects (science, math, history)
• 50% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in
24 hours without review
• 80% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in
two weeks
• 95% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in
four weeks
Question: In General, how many weeks of
lecture are there for an exam?
• The number one factor in student success is
attendance
• Sit in “T” zone – front row(s) and/or center of
class. Avoid back rows. Make eye contact
with professor, ask questions, see them after
class (put up phone, laptop, ipod)
• The number two factor in student success is
good lecture notes
• Active listening – completely focused; well
rested
• Thorough notes – Outline, Cornell, Block
• Allow space to fill in holes and make
something noticeable where you missed
details so that you know you need to get
information to make notes complete
• Rewrite or retype notes, say them out loud
• Review them often
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Professor
SI’s
Tutors – on campus and private
Graduate Assistants
Study Groups
• Read no more than 10 pages at a time
• If you highlight, be sure that you are
highlighting a fraction of the information; if
you highlight everything, what is the use
• Highlight from left to right, just as you read,
and use pastel highlighters (underlining also
works well)
• Monitor comprehension (end of chapter
questions)
• Budget at least 2 hours per day for 5 days
prior to exam
• Start with oldest material first
• Review previous days work each day
• Save last day for review and to address areas
you continue to struggle with
• Active Study Strategies (ICOW – identify,
condense, organize, write it out)
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Tuesday
Ch. 1
2 hours
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Wednesday
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Thursday
Ch. 2
Ch. 1
Ch. 3
Ch. 2
Ch. 1
2 hours
30 min.
1.5 hours
30 min.
15 min.
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Friday
Ch 4
Ch. 3
Ch. 2
Ch. 1
1 hour
30 min.
15 min.
10 min.
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Sunday
Ch. 4
Ch. 3
Ch. 2
Ch. 1
Self-test
30 min.
20 min.
10 min
10 min.
1 hour
• To reduce or eliminate test anxiety, BE PREPARED
• Carefully read and follow directions and all items on
exam (“except”, “incorrect”, “best”)
• Pace yourself
• Skip questions you cannot easily answer, but make
large mark to draw attention back to this question
• Use questions for clues
• Recheck your answers
• Use notes when looking at items missed on
exam
• If you could answer question with your notes,
it indicates a study or preparation problem
• If you cannot answer the question with your
notes, it indicates a problem in the lecture
class or keeping up with assigned readings
• Calendar all commitments 2-3 weeks in
advance of final exams
• Know that you need a minimum of at least 5
days (5 day study plan) for each final exam
• Push hard last 1-2 weeks of semester
• Evaluate needed grades and where to invest
efforts
• Attend all classes for possible reviews/hints
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Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
82, 84, 83
81, 76, 79
74, 85, 77
14, 40, 56
Assume standard 10 point scale and final exam worth
¼ of grade. Rate classes in terms of those needing
most attention to those needing least.
• If the final exam will contain 25 new questions
on chapters not covered on a previous exam
(chapters10-12) and 75 questions evenly
distributed over chapters 1-9, what would the
5 day study plan look like for this final?