THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAMS
WEEKLY STUDY TIPS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13TH
Dr. Amy L. Jarmon, Assistant Dean for Academic Success Programs
The long awaited Thanksgiving holiday is almost here. However, what does that
break period really mean for law students? For many, it means home-cooking
and festivities. But, for most, it means studying as well. Can you have it all?
Can you have some fun as well as use the time efficiently and effectively for
studying? Here are some tips for having some relaxation without causing
heartache when grades come out in January:
Be realistic about your holiday plans. It is common to tell yourself that you will
study at least ten times more than you actually can or will do. Lay out a study
plan that will be achievable rather than “pumpkin pie in the sky” planning. Think
about your travel mode, your travel time, your family expectations, your priorities
for studying, and your need for balance.
Refer to your task lists for each exam course or paper/project. If you have not
made lists yet, it is not too late to make them. See the October 30th study tips email to learn how to make task lists:
https://www.law.ttu.edu/lawWeb/oasp/tips/MakingTheMostOfTheLastMonthOfCla
sses.shtm. Determine which tasks are your priorities to complete over your
break period. Weigh the following factors:
 Are there projects/papers/presentations that will be due before the end of
the semester?
 Are your outlines up-to-date for all of your exam courses?
 Are certain courses extremely difficult for you and need additional review
time?
 Are you aware that you are behind in certain courses or portions of
courses?
 Do you need to make tables, flowcharts, or other graphics if you are a
visual learner?
 Are there certain supplemental materials that you want to read and study
to clarify certain topics?
 Have you had a chance to do practice questions for your exam courses?
 Do you need to spend more time on memorization of the law?
 Will you be meeting with a study buddy or group during the break period?
 When will you be leaving Lubbock?
 When will you be returning to Lubbock?
Once you decide your priorities, plot out on a calendar which tasks you will
complete each day. Be realistic. Think about which tasks you can actually
complete on a given day. Mark down the actual hours you will spend on those
tasks. Consider the following possibilities:
 Listen to CD’s/audio-tapes in the airport, on the plane, or while driving.
 Review outlines while in the airport or on the plane.
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If driving with another law student, take turns driving and quizzing each
other with flashcards.
Photocopy the pages you need to read for classes rather than lugging all
of your books with you.
Ask a family member or friend to quiz you with flashcards while you are at
home.
Get up earlier or go to bed later than family so that you can carve out time
to study.
Negotiate time to study when family/friends are doing other activities that
do not need to include you.
Schedule time with family and friends so that you know when you can
study and they know when they will see you.
Consider when family/friends will be at work so that you can study at
home.
Consider whether you can study in a different location than home in order
to get time, space, and quiet for studying.
Consider whether you can get several of hours of studying done without
offending anyone in the morning before or in the evening after a required
family activity.
Plan to take Thanksgiving Day off if at all possible. If you have too much
to do, at least take a portion of the day off and have fun.
Realize that it is your responsibility to carve out the time you need for study. Talk
to your family and friends about why it is important for you to have some study
time during the break period to prepare for exams, to write a paper, or to
accomplish whatever tasks you need to do. If you have always played during
undergraduate school on breaks, they may not understand why law study is
different. Even if family and friends do not fully understand, you need to make
personal decisions that you will not regret later. You may need to make some
compromises and get up earlier or stay up later. However, do not use your
family and friends as an excuse to procrastinate.
Be alert to your “highs” and “lows” in planning your study schedule. Do the
hardest tasks when you are the most alert. It often helps to do the most difficult
or most unpleasant task first so that it does not hang over you all day. Do more
active tasks when you are feeling more drained: flashcards; practice questions;
making graphics; study buddy or group work. Read and review outlines when
you are the most focused. Be aware of when you need a short break to restore
your focus.
Decide whether doing all of your reading for the last week of classes during the
break period will work for you. You will still want to review before each class, but
some students find the extra time during the break period is a real boon. Some
professors have fewer pages of reading the last week or are focusing on review
that week. Even if you only finish part of your reading before you return, it still
gives you more flexibility the last week of classes. You gain more paper/project
time or more exam study time if your reading is done before the Monday of the
last week of classes.
Make a list of questions that you need to ask your professors. The break period
is a good time to organize the areas on which you need help. By being ready to
ask questions at the beginning of the last week of classes, you will avoid the rush
on the very last class days and the difficulty of finding professors over the exam
period. Even though professors are often happy to answer questions by e-mail
or telephone after classes end, many students find that it is more useful to have
face-to-face time with the professors.
Reward yourself for sticking to your study schedule. The rewards can be large or
small depending on the tasks. You might go to the movies with your family if you
study for a certain number of hours. You might watch one half-hour of television
if you complete a smaller task. Use your imagination for rewards: a game of
catch with your nephew; a second piece of Aunt Jenny’s pumpkin pie; a new pair
of shoes at the mall; a luxurious soak in a bubble bath; a morning at the spa; a
run with the family dog. If you stick to your schedule for studying, then you can
have guilt-free fun.
Get some rest over the break period. Sleep at least seven hours per night and
preferably eight. You need to charge your batteries for exams. Try to get
yourself on a regular sleep schedule that you can continue on your return to
Lubbock. Alert is much more productive in studying and in taking exams than
exhausted and sleep-deprived.