Undergraduate Advising: Current Students: Tools

Are You Using the Tools for Success?

Directions for your Master Calendar/ Weekly Schedule

Schedule your time. Are you attending all of your class and section meetings?
Are you spending enough time on your schoolwork? Do you allow approximately 2 hours per week per unit for study time in addition to class time? Do you study in short, effective blocks of time rather than long, marathon sessions? Do you work a maximum of 10-16 hours per week (if fulltime student)? Here are the directions for using your Master Calendar / Weekly Schedule.

Use campus resources. Are you taking advantage of the many opportunities available to you for additional help? Teaching assistants, class tutors, study groups, MEP, EOP, ACE, MSI, ARC, STARS, DRC, and others listed on the back of this sheet.

Contact other students. Are you networking with other students? Participating in a student organization? Studying with a group? Making new friends? Are you eligible to join the MEP learning community?

Communicate with instructors. Are you asking questions when you do not understand something in lecture or the reading? Does your instructor know you by name? Have you been to visit during his/her office hours?

Expect exams/prepare from day one. Do you understand your individual learning style? Do you have an effective system for daily and weekly review so that you do not cram at the last minute? Do you have a workable study space?

Study smart. Are you familiar with techniques such as immediate review (the 24 hour rule)? The Cornell Note Taking System? Mnemonic devices? SQ3R? Mind mapping? Chunking? Weekly master calendar? Daily to do list?

Stay focused, yet balanced. Are you getting enough sleep? Eating nutritiously? Exercising regularly? Having some fun? Working enough but not too much? Feeling motivated? Keeping your worries in perspective? Acting responsibly with alcohol or other substances?

If you answered no or are not sure about any of these issues, please get more information. Visit any of the campus resources described on the following page. We also invite you to come see your undergraduate academic advisor as soon as possible. Let us help you be successful!