1- Why are you here (University – Science program)?
Engineering
Medicine-dentistry
Teaching
Other
Research
Don’t know
2- What grade did you get to be accepted at UBC?
[30-50%] [50-60%] [60-70%] [70-80%] [80-90%] [90-100%]
Questioning the profs
(Faculty of science – Biology).
Questioning upper year students
(2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Alumni).
What are the three best recommendations /
pieces of information you would give first year
students?
The 4-year Quest!
Meet wonderful people
about Who you are
about What you will become
The 4-year Quest!
Wondrous
&
Exhilarating
we
BUT
(Older students and Profs
alike) have to
warn you!
Math - High school: 90%  UBC Y1: 66%
Physic - High school: 88%  UBC Y1: 72%
92%
High school average
Student population
Biol 121 midterm
Biol 121 final
50-55%
65-70%
>90%
45-50%
0
20
40
60
Grades (%)
80
100
Math - High school: 90%  UBC Y1: 66%
Physic - High school: 88%  UBC Y1: 72%
92%
High school average
Student population
Biol 121 midterm
Biol 121 final
50-55%
65-70%
>90%
45-50%
0
20
40
60
Grades
80
100
Math - High school: 90%  UBC Y1: 66%
Physic - High school: 88%  UBC Y1: 72%
92%
High school average
Student population
Biol 121 midterm
Biol 121 final
50-55%
65-70%
• You don’t lose heart!
• You do something about it!
>90%
45-50%
0
20
40
60
Grades
80
100
It is OK to get bad marks
at UBC! Do not start
doubting yourself!
I will
never
make it!
Ask us to help
you!
Math - High school: 90%  UBC Y1: 66%
Physic - High school: 88%  UBC Y1: 72%
92%
High school average
Student population
Biol 121ARE
midterm NOT ALONE!
• YOU
Biol 121 final
• THERE IS HELP!
50-55%
65-70%
Support services on campus
Your profs
Each others
>90%
45-50%
0
20
Please read:
- Handbook – The Distillation
- E-mail from the Dean – “Simon says”
- FYI [First Year Information] e-mails)
40 - Amanda’s 60
80
100
talk later on
Grades
What are the three best recommendations / pieces of
information you would give first year students?
Profs
TOP Areas of Responses
- Academics: Studying and Learning Styles
- Take ownership of your life and find a balance
- Social & Extracurricular
ENJOY!
What are the three best recommendations / pieces of
information you would give first year students?
Academics
TOP Areas of Responses
Students
Life Goals
Books
Professors
1
2
1
• University is different than high
school!
Lots of THINGS TO DO: CONCEPTS to understand ; CONTENT to
memorize; Assignments, Midterms, Finals, Essays, Papers, Reports
MANY SOURCES of info: Online notes, Textbooks, Own class notes,
Papers to read, Exercises; Lectures, Labs, Tutorials, …
Parents & teachers are not here to look out for
you anymore!
All the cramming that was successful in the past
won’t cut it at UBC!
Don’t wait until the last minute to start your work
• You lack perspective
and
you do not see the BIG picture!
•Therefore what you learn has no relevance to
your personal life and it is meaningless
• Your organizational skills … not
great!
→ Strategy for studying: inappropriate, rigid!
→ Time management: poor
2
If you cannot see the BIG picture in your
first & second years, trust your teachers!
BIOL 454
Dive response
in the
Weddell Seal
BIOL 204
Anatomy
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
Cellular Biology
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
CHEM 205
Physical Chemistry
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
CHEM 205
CHEM 233
Organic Chemistry
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
BIOL 334
CHEM 205
BIOC 302
Biochemistry
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
BIOL 334
BIOC 302
CHEM 205
BIOL 321
Evolutionary Biology
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
BIOL 321
BIOL 334
BIOC 302
CHEM 205
BIOL 334
Genetics
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
BIOL 334
BIOL 321
BIOL 334
BIOC 302
CHEM 205
BIOL 364
Comparative Physiology
BIOL 364
BIOL 204
BIOL 201
BIOL 334
BIOL 321
BIOL 334
BIOC 302
CHEM 205
BIOL 304
Ecology
BIOL 364
BIOL 204
BIOL 304
BIOL 201
BIOL 334
BIOL 321
BIOL 334
BIOC 302
CHEM 205
BIOL 325
Biomechanics
BIOL 364
BIOL 204
BIOL 304
BIOL 201
BIOL 334
BIOL 321
BIOL 334
BIOC 302
CHEM 205
BIOL 325
BIOL 140
BIOL 364
BIOL 204
BIOL 304
BIOL 201
BIOL 321
BIOL 140
BIOL 334
BIOC 302
CHEM 205
BIOL 334
BIOL 325
REMEMBER!
University is different than high school!
Lots of THINGS TO DO
MANY SOURCES of info
What are the Foundation of all
SUCCESSFUL
LEARNING STRATEGIES?
Before starting a new chapter, scan-read it!
Preview: Pre-read chapters/topics to get the “big picture”
At the end of the day, re-read & check your lecture notes.
As soon as the teacher finishes a chapter, learn it!
SYNTHESIZE Book + online notes + notes taken in class into YOUR
FINAL PRODUCT
FINAL PRODUCT -> If any holes -> see your prof / office hours
-> what you use for your exam.
Review often!
-> keep it FOR MCAT
-> own learning style
OR DAT
Don’t do overnight cramming
Do the homework teacher asks you! There are reasons for it!
Different courses => different study strategies
Problem based courses: practice problems again and again
and again and again and….
The goal of any study strategy
should be review
Information is rapidly forgotten
– to counter this you must
convert short term memory into
long term memory
What happens to new information?
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
What happens to new information?
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
What happens to new information?
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
What happens to new information?
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
What happens to new information?
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
What if you review?
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
First REVIEW session
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
Second REVIEW session
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
TIME
Third REVIEW session
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
TIME
Fourth REVIEW session
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
Short term memory
has become long term
memory
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
MEMORY RETENTION (%)
100
0
TODAY
1
ONE
ONE2DAY
DAY
LATER
LATER
7
3
7 DAYS
DAYS
LATER
LATER
TIME
2
4
2 WEEKS
WEEKS
LATER
LATER
2 MONTHS
5
LATER
So, what are the
strategies for review?
Use a variety of methods for review
 Cornell notes
 Concept maps
 Cue cards – Q & A
 Last minute cram sheets
Advice from Biol 111/112/121/140 Teachers
KEEP UP
• With your reading
• With your review notes
USE RESOURCES
• Profs – TAs – Peer tutors
• Biology learning centre Wesb 200
STUDY GROUPS
• Talk about issues
• Find out questions the Prof might ask in midterm and exam
• Meet regularly
Question:
What is your
most precious
commodity?
Time
management
DON’T
PROCRASTINATE!
Lectures & labs: 20-22 h/week. How many hours of homework
should you spend per week?
A) 8-10 h/week
B) 15-20 h/week
C) 40-44 h/week
D) all the time I am not in class!
PER WEEK: ACADEMIA
25 h
class
(lecture + labs + tutorials)
+ 2x(25 h) homework (assignments + own studying + group
study with friends + reviewing for
midterms & finals + library search +
writing essays, papers, lab reports)
75h
PER WEEK: SLEEP
7h of sleep per nights x7 nights = 49h
PER WEEK: WHAT’S LEFT
24h x 7days = 168h
– 75h
– 49h
44h
average of 6.3h/day LEFT
DON’T
PROCRASTINATE!
PER WEEK: WHAT’S LEFT
24h x 7days = 168h
– 75h
– 49h
44h
average of 6.3h/day LEFT
Academia: 75 h/week
Sleep:
49h/week
Left:
44h/week (6h18min/day)
Lana’s time table
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
8-830
MATH
MATH
MATH
PHYS LAB
MATH
830-9
MATH
MATH
MATH
PHYS LAB
MATH
9-930
PHYS LAB
930-10
CHEM LAB
PHYS LAB
10-1030
PHYSICS
CHEM LAB
PHYSICS
PHYS LAB
PHYSICS
1030-11
PHYSICS
CHEM LAB
PHYSICS
PHYS LAB
PHYSICS
11-1130
ENGLISH
CHEM LAB
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
1130-12
ENGLISH
CHEM LAB
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
12-1230
CHEM LAB
1230-1
1-130
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
130-2
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
2-230
BIO LAB
230-3
CHEM
CHEM
BIO LAB
CHEM
3-330
CHEM
CHEM
BIO LAB
CHEM
330-4
BIO LAB
4-430
BIO LAB
430-5
BIO LAB
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Academia: 75 h/week
Sleep:
49h/week
Left:
44h/week (6h18min/day)
Lana’s time table
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
8-830
MATH
MATH
MATH
PHYS LAB
MATH
830-9
MATH
MATH
MATH
PHYS LAB
MATH
9-930
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
PHYS LAB
930-10
CHEM LAB
PHYS LAB
10-1030
PHYSICS
CHEM LAB
PHYSICS
1030-11
PHYSICS
CHEM LAB
PHYSICS
11-1130
ENGLISH
CHEM LAB
ENGLISH
PHYS
LABweeks
PHYSICS
11 hours
per
(1.6h/day on average)
ENGLISH
Do not
waste!
1130-12
ENGLISH
CHEM LAB
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
12-1230
PHYS LAB
PHYSICS
CHEM LAB
1230-1
1-130
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
130-2
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY
2-230
BIO LAB
230-3
CHEM
CHEM
BIO LAB
CHEM
3-330
CHEM
CHEM
BIO LAB
CHEM
330-4
BIO LAB
4-430
BIO LAB
430-5
BIO LAB
Charlie’s
deadlines.
Math midterm
Biology
lab report
Chem midterm
English paper
Phys
midterm
You have to prioritize and realize that you cannot do
everything 100% perfectly like in high school!
STOP
HERE!
Mitchel’s paper.
100
90
80
70
Grade (%)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
100
2
200
4
300
6
Duration working on paper (h)
400
8
Other advice
-Find out how you learn
- Gauge your time and use it efficiently
- Be honest with yourself about your difficulties
- ALWAYS GO TO CLASS
- Make a friend in every class
- Balanced life
DON’T
PROCRASTINATE!
What are you going to do with
your 6.3 hours?
- Do something life-giving
- Get involved
- Make the most of your
university experience
Extracurricular
Student Life
ENJOY!
Other advice
Take courses that interest you!
No overload!
It’s okay to change plans
Be part of a community
DON’T
PROCRASTINATE!
Other advice
Maximize productivity in class
Don’t stop asking questions
Don’t beg for marks
Turn off MSN, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter
Help others
Don’t be arrogant
Do your best, don’t stress (too much…)
Use resources offered by UBC!
DON’T
PROCRASTINATE!
Other advice
Compare your note with your friend + explain to each other – if there is a
difficult spot / deficiency when you explain /does not make sense – you will
spot it.
When students take notes, sometime they make mistakes. Reviewing
lecture notes with a buddy help spot them.
Do not read the answer key before doing problems. Of course it will make
sense and you will think that think you can re-do them during the exam.
You will not be able to do them !
Reviewing: Do exercises and questions as in exam: Blind (no look at the
answers at least 24 hours before starting – timed - no external
distraction.
Be exam smart: do the questions that are worth the most mark first.....
Keep study group small –
Good friends only!
DON’T
PROCRASTINATE!
Tuum est
It’s yours!