Success at WWU

Utilizing all the different computer labs can help make sure that you don't end up standing in the middle of the library. My favorite spots are all the comuter labs with wide screen monitors on the first floor of Haggard Hall, and the labs in the basement of Miller Hall. There will always be a computer available somewhere.

Whenever you can, try to introduce yourself to the professor at the beginning of a quarter, and be dressed appropriately to make a good impression. A professional impression of yourself can mean the difference. For example, between seeing the specifics on the syllabus as guidelines and making an exception on a late paper, or saying they are rules and giving you a fat "F."

Turn your phone off during class, seriously.

Always e-mail if something is going to be late, and apologize copiously.

Wow, that's a tall order, depends on the major a lot.  If it is the sciences, studying is paramount, flash cards, notes, working with a buddy (both of you take notes, you'd be surprised how you each get something different from a lecture).  Go beyond the textbook, use browsers, journals, etc, they all help broaden your understanding.  Learn how to read all those scientific papers they throw at you, rarely is it word for word.  Get acquainted with your professor in any subject, Google them, or whatever your favorite search engine is, or look them up in the library database.  If you know what makes them tick you are halfway to understanding what they teach.  If you want references after you get your degree, find a professor and get involved in research or a graduate students research.  Take your work study job seriously, that can be an excellent source of references and knowledge you can apply in courses.  Oh, there is lots more but each person has to figure out what works for them.

Referred to as the Spacing Effect, students retain information more effectively when studying in short sessions, with large breaks in between, than when "cramming".  This was covered in my Cognitive Psychology class, and has been extremely helpful for me.  Very low stress, as you're not forcing things into your brain when it's still trying to process previous information, and you get to reward yourself after each short session by doing something else.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacing_effect

The Testing Effect is also worth mentioning.  Article can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testing_effect

Don't go donate plasma.  While it may seem like a great deal it eats up you time that you could be studying.  It also weakens your immune system so you feel tired and half sick all the time making it more difficult to study. 

Study a little each day.  I've never seen someone ace a test worth its salt by crammming  the night before and even then you're cheating yourself at becoming a successful learner. 

Get lots of sleep.  There is nothing better than getting maximum sleep ever day.  Yeah its fun to stay up till two every night etc. but caffenine, alchol and THC disrupt sleep and thats when your brain is consolidating all this crazy information thats been bombarding you everyday.  SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP.

Personally, I've found that it is extremely important to make specific time to study. That seems obvious, but I really go out of my way to designate a given amount of time (doesn't have to be the same every day) exclusively for studying. I make sure to go to a quiet area in the library or in a coffee shop and only bring my notes and textbooks. I notice that when I study at home (be it in an apartment, a dorm, whatever) I get side-tracked by all the people around me or things I'd rather be doing. By going to a different place and not giving myself any other options but to study, I've found that I can focus more fully on the material I am trying to learn.

Also, while it is really important to get lots of sleep and be sure to keep up with your reading and notes, it's vital to get out and do something fun every once in a while. The spacing effect works wonders, especially if you have something enjoyable to do in your downtime. I catch myself all too often getting completely absorbed in my schoolwork, and while my grades are great, you can only keep that sort of morale going so long without losing your mind. You really have to balance work and relaxation.

On a final note, don't take on more than you can handle. It might seem like a great idea to take 20 credits spring quarter, and maybe you're the sort of person who really can deal with such an intense workload, but there's no reason to put more pressure on yourself than necessary. By all means rack up the credits where you can, but be aware of your own limitations.

When I first came to college I had a lot of presuppositions about what college  classes would be like.  I was totally expecting to have to work my butt off but I was utterly shocked by the blistering pace of my chem 121 class (which after 2 more quarters of gen chem and a year of o chem I realize was actually not so blistering or challenging as it seemed at the time... I guess it is relative though).  While in high school I might get 30 minutes in a 50 minute class of real information (probably more like 15-20), here I get 50 solid minutes of learning.  I've had to learn to be able give my full attention to one subject for an hour.... which sounds silly but outside of college how often does one sit and listen to one person talk for an hour or two with out stopping about a complicated subject?  I've found that pre-reading the assigned reading can be really helpful (this is sometimes not realistic when I have a lot on my plate, but it helps when I can).  Also, if I get to class early and review my notes from the day before it helps to get my mind focused on that class and that subject.  Getting a decent amount of sleep is an important component of being able to focus too!

I also have learned important lessons about balance.  I have taken an average of 17 credits a quarter (low being 15, high being 23.... but that was a fluke quarter) and so I stay pretty busy pretty much all the time.  I've had to learn to go into all of my classes (even the "no brainer" classes) expecting that I will have to do all the work.  I do everything the proff suggests up until the first test, then I see how it goes.  If I feel like my studying adequately prepared me for the test I maintain it; if I feel like I could have studied less and still gotten an A, I do less; If I didn't do as well as I would have liked, I do more.  That way I don't end up being surprised with a bad grade in an "easy" class.  also, what someone mentioned before about finding something outside of school to be active in is really important.  Get involved with student government, join a club, play an intermural sport, start a running group, volunteer, work, get an internship.... essentially do something that you enjoy, but also that builds experience for that time after college is super important.  

Be nice to your proffs, go to their office hours and talk to them with the understanding that they love their subject (don't math bash to your math proffs) and do not expect them to do you any favors.  sometimes if you get into a rough spot they will help you out (especially if they know who you are and are not annoyed by you).... the people who harass proffs for points after tests almost never get the points.... it is soooo much better to go in asking questions (ie"so I was looking over my test and I am having a hard time understanding where I went wrong with number twenty I was hoping you could help me" and then ask a follow up "okay so that makes sense, I guess Im just confused why ..... isn't .....?) 

Everyone has "that girl" (or "that guy") in their class who has something to say about everything. While that person can be quite obnoxious at times (ie: OH MY GOD THEY'RE HOLDING US UP ANOTHER FIVE SECONDS TO ASK AN INANE QUESTION THAT WON'T BE ON THE QUIZ!), there are positive ways to contribute to your class discussions and get your voice heard. Sitting there and listening to your professors is half the battle, the other half is making sense of what you're learning in your own context. Sometimes I can be "that girl," especially in English classes, but I do my best to make my questions and comments the sort that increase my understanding rather than use them as an opportunity to brown-nose the professor and drag the discussions along past when class ought to be out.

Honestly, if there's one thing I think students mess up for themselves while here at WWU, it's not participating in lectures and discussions. This is definitely more in the English/Humanities/Woodring departments. In order to understand, you have to contribute, and one of the saddest things I experience is sitting in a lecture where the professor asks a question, gives the proper "wait time," and still no one will raise their hand. This rarely has to do with the difficulty of the question, and has much more to do with the fact that people don't want to speak up.

Make your voices heard! Your professors will realize you are interested in their subject, you'll make the information more memorable to YOU, and it'll only help you in the end.

Good luck!

The reference librarians are incredible. The library is fairly daunting and labrynthine and they will guide you through writing any paper you could possibly imagine.

Do your reading. I didn't my first year of college and when I came back after taking a year off I was amazed how much more I got out of my classes by reading the articles and books that my teacher assigned. There is only so much information that can be fit into a lecture and supplementary materials really help to situate the knowledge and give you a better grasp of what the professor is trying to communicate to you.

Bring lunch. You will spend all your money on muffins if you don't.