Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D.Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D.Associate DeanAssociate Dean

College of ScienceCollege of Science

• CommitmentCommitment• Investment of TimeInvestment of Time• Hard WorkHard Work• BalanceBalance• Utilization of ResourcesUtilization of Resources• SacrificeSacrifice• AssertiveAssertive

• Dental School, Medical School, Veterinary Dental School, Medical School, Veterinary School, Allied Health, etc.School, Allied Health, etc.– 3.5/3.6 & competitive MCAT, DAT, etc.3.5/3.6 & competitive MCAT, DAT, etc.

• Graduate SchoolGraduate School– 3.0 (emphasis on last 60 hours & 3.0 (emphasis on last 60 hours & competitive competitive

GREGRE

• TeachingTeaching– 2.5 & pass TExES exam2.5 & pass TExES exam

• Multiply # hours registered for by hoped for Multiply # hours registered for by hoped for GPAGPA

• Examples:Examples:

- 15 hours x 4.0 = 60 hours*/week (45 hrs. min.) 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 3.5 = 52.5 hours*/week (37.5 hrs.)

- 15 hours x 3.0 = 45 hours*/week (30 hrs.)15 hours x 3.0 = 45 hours*/week (30 hrs.)

• BIOL 101BIOL 101 (3 hrs) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week (3 hrs) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week• BIOL 101 Lab (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per weekBIOL 101 Lab (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week• CHEM 101 (3 hrs) x 3.0 = 9 hours per weekCHEM 101 (3 hrs) x 3.0 = 9 hours per week• CHEM 101 L (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per weekCHEM 101 L (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week• HIST 101 (3 hrs.) x 4.0 = 12 hours per weekHIST 101 (3 hrs.) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week• MATH 101 (4 hours) x 3.0 = 12 hours per weekMATH 101 (4 hours) x 3.0 = 12 hours per week***attending SI’s and tutoring counts towards ***attending SI’s and tutoring counts towards

study hoursstudy hours

• Monday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s Monday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecturelecture

• Tuesday – attend lecture and take excellent notes (use tape Tuesday – attend lecture and take excellent notes (use tape recorder, study buddy, etc. if necessary); review notes and fill recorder, study buddy, etc. if necessary); review notes and fill in holes before the end of the dayin holes before the end of the day

• Wednesday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s Wednesday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecture; review Tuesday’s noteslecture; review Tuesday’s notes

• Thursday – attend lecture/take excellent notes and review Thursday – attend lecture/take excellent notes and review notes and fill in holes before end of day; review Tuesday’s notes and fill in holes before end of day; review Tuesday’s notesnotes

• Friday – review notesFriday – review notes• Saturday – review notes; write lab report, read for next lab*Saturday – review notes; write lab report, read for next lab*

• Identify all time available for studyIdentify all time available for study

• Take advantage of breaks between classes, Take advantage of breaks between classes, travel time, etc. to studyKeep a planner and travel time, etc. to studyKeep a planner and note all assignments, tests, quizzes, note all assignments, tests, quizzes, assignmentsassignments

• Post games, travel and other fixed Post games, travel and other fixed commitmentscommitments

• Write down times you commit to study 6 days Write down times you commit to study 6 days per weekper week

• Choose times where you are mentally sharpChoose times where you are mentally sharp

• Remove distractions (cell phone, texting, Remove distractions (cell phone, texting, facebook, certain friends, etc.)facebook, certain friends, etc.)

• Cannot afford to travel every weekendCannot afford to travel every weekend

• Set aside one hour block of undisturbed timeSet aside one hour block of undisturbed time• First 5 minutes are to get organized and First 5 minutes are to get organized and

decide what you want to accomplishdecide what you want to accomplish• Next 50 minutes are to study intentlyNext 50 minutes are to study intently• Last 5 minutes are for break for food, Last 5 minutes are for break for food,

bathroom, etc.bathroom, etc.• If setting aside several hours, study different If setting aside several hours, study different

subjects (science, math, history)subjects (science, math, history)

• 50% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in 50% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in 24 hours without review24 hours without review

• 80% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in 80% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in two weekstwo weeks

• 95% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in 95% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in four weeksfour weeks

Question: In General, how many weeks of Question: In General, how many weeks of lecture are there for an exam?lecture are there for an exam?

• The number one factor in student success is The number one factor in student success is attendanceattendance

• Sit in “T” zone – front row(s) and/or center of Sit in “T” zone – front row(s) and/or center of class. Avoid back rows. Make eye contact class. Avoid back rows. Make eye contact with professor, ask questions, see them after with professor, ask questions, see them after class (put up phone, laptop, ipod)class (put up phone, laptop, ipod)

• The number two factor in student success is The number two factor in student success is good lecture notesgood lecture notes

• Active listening – completely focused; well Active listening – completely focused; well restedrested

• Thorough notes – Outline, Cornell, BlockThorough notes – Outline, Cornell, Block• Allow space to fill in holes and make Allow space to fill in holes and make

something noticeable where you missed something noticeable where you missed details so that you know you need to get details so that you know you need to get information to make notes completeinformation to make notes complete

• Rewrite or retype notes, say them out loudRewrite or retype notes, say them out loud• Review them oftenReview them often

• ProfessorProfessor• SI’sSI’s• Tutors – on campus and privateTutors – on campus and private• Graduate AssistantsGraduate Assistants• Study GroupsStudy Groups

• Read no more than 10 pages at a timeRead no more than 10 pages at a time• If you highlight, be sure that you are If you highlight, be sure that you are

highlighting a fraction of the information; if highlighting a fraction of the information; if you highlight everything, what is the useyou highlight everything, what is the use

• Highlight from left to right, just as you read, Highlight from left to right, just as you read, and use pastel highlighters (underlining also and use pastel highlighters (underlining also works well)works well)

• Monitor comprehension (end of chapter Monitor comprehension (end of chapter questions)questions)

• Budget at least 2 hours per day for 5 days Budget at least 2 hours per day for 5 days prior to examprior to exam

• Start with oldest material firstStart with oldest material first• Review previous days work each dayReview previous days work each day• Save last day for review and to address areas Save last day for review and to address areas

you continue to struggle withyou continue to struggle with• Active Study Strategies (ICOW – identify, Active Study Strategies (ICOW – identify,

condense, organize, write it out)condense, organize, write it out)

• Tuesday Tuesday Ch. 1 Ch. 1 2 hours2 hours

• Wednesday Wednesday Ch. 2Ch. 2 2 hours2 hoursCh. 1Ch. 1 30 min.30 min.

• Thursday Thursday Ch. 3Ch. 3 1.5 hours1.5 hoursCh. 2Ch. 2 30 min.30 min.Ch. 1 Ch. 1 15 min.15 min.

• Friday Friday Ch 4Ch 4 1 hour1 hourCh. 3Ch. 3 30 min.30 min.Ch. 2Ch. 2 15 min.15 min.Ch. 1Ch. 1 10 min.10 min.

• Sunday Sunday Ch. 4Ch. 4 30 min.30 min.Ch. 3Ch. 3 20 min.20 min.Ch. 2Ch. 2 10 min10 minCh. 1Ch. 1 10 min.10 min.Self-testSelf-test 1 hour1 hour

• To reduce or eliminate test anxiety, BE PREPAREDTo reduce or eliminate test anxiety, BE PREPARED• Carefully read and follow directions and all items on Carefully read and follow directions and all items on

exam (“except”, “incorrect”, “best”)exam (“except”, “incorrect”, “best”)• Pace yourselfPace yourself• Skip questions you cannot easily answer, but make Skip questions you cannot easily answer, but make

large mark to draw attention back to this questionlarge mark to draw attention back to this question• Use questions for cluesUse questions for clues• Recheck your answersRecheck your answers

• Use notes when looking at items missed on Use notes when looking at items missed on examexam

• If you could answer question with your notes, If you could answer question with your notes, it indicates a study or preparation problemit indicates a study or preparation problem

• If you cannot answer the question with your If you cannot answer the question with your notes, it indicates a problem in the lecture notes, it indicates a problem in the lecture class or keeping up with assigned readingsclass or keeping up with assigned readings

• Calendar all commitments 2-3 weeks in Calendar all commitments 2-3 weeks in advance of final examsadvance of final exams

• Know that you need a minimum of at least 5 Know that you need a minimum of at least 5 days (5 day study plan) for each final examdays (5 day study plan) for each final exam

• Push hard last 1-2 weeks of semesterPush hard last 1-2 weeks of semester• Evaluate needed grades and where to invest Evaluate needed grades and where to invest

effortsefforts• Attend all classes for possible reviews/hintsAttend all classes for possible reviews/hints

• Class A Class A 82, 84, 8382, 84, 83• Class BClass B 81, 76, 7981, 76, 79• Class CClass C 74, 85, 7774, 85, 77• Class DClass D 14, 40, 5614, 40, 56

Assume standard 10 point scale and final exam Assume standard 10 point scale and final exam worth ¼ of grade. Rate classes in terms of those worth ¼ of grade. Rate classes in terms of those needing most attention to those needing least.needing most attention to those needing least.

• If the final exam will contain 25 new questions If the final exam will contain 25 new questions on chapters not covered on a previous exam on chapters not covered on a previous exam (chapters10-12) and 75 questions evenly (chapters10-12) and 75 questions evenly distributed over chapters 1-9, what would the distributed over chapters 1-9, what would the 5 day study plan look like for this final?5 day study plan look like for this final?