Academic Survival Tips

1. Identify the questions being answered by your notes and summarize the main points. 

2. Date and title each new lecture. 

3. Generate a glossary of course terms and a list of abbreviations. 

4. Write down as many of the keywords and thoughts as possible.  If you miss something draw a line and continue to write.  After class, ask a classmate or the instructor to help you "fill in the blanks." 

5. If you get lost or confused, draw a "?" and continue to write.  Check with someone after class for clarification. 

6. Write a one-sentence summary of your notes for each class meeting. This includes discussion classes and labs. 

7. Use questions and/or main points to generate charts, quizzes, etc. 

8. Take notes, charts, quizzes, etc. with you when you see an instructor or tutor. 

9. Use notes to generate mock exams. 

10. Use notes daily to clarify and connect reading assignments, course concepts, etc. 

MORE STEPS FOR BETTER NOTES

 DON'T CONFUSE NOTE TAKING WITH LEARNING

Recognize and accept that note-taking is a way of gathering information necessary for learning.  

• ESTABLISH A NOTE-TAKING GOAL BEFORE CLASS.

Determine what type of information you need.  For example, if your syllabus says the topic for the day is "factors leading to the uprising," your goal will be to look, listen, and gather carefully any information about those factors, i.e., how many factors, their respective impacts.

• LOOK FOR VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL CLUES AS TO WHAT INFORMATION THE INSTRUCTOR PERCEIVES AS IMPORTANT. 

If the instructor writes the information on the board, repeats it, leans or moves forward toward the class while stating it, raises his/her voice, asks if there are any questions about it, PUT IT IN YOUR NOTES with a note to yourself that it is important. 

• DEVELOP A SHORTHAND SYSTEM. 

You can keep up with the pace of the lecture and understand what you wrote when you review the notes later. 

• USE YOUR NOTES AS A STARTING POINT FOR LEARNING. 

You spent time and energy gathering the information, the raw material.  Now, spend time and energy thinking about it, checking it for accuracy, expanding on it, analyzing, synthesizing, and extrapolating it.  Your notes are now tools for learning.

Are you...

• putting enough time into preparing for your classes and exams 

• reading your assignments before going to class 

• going to class 

• listening and taking notes in class 

• sitting in a class where you can see the board and hear the professor 

• identifying and studying the ideas/concepts that end up on the exam 

• studying in a location that is supportive of learning 

• studying at a time that is supportive of learning 

• using study techniques that will do the job required 

• using all the resources available to you - i.e., your professors, study groups, labs, etc

No? 

Different habits could make a significant difference in the grades you are receiving.  Talk to your advisor about how you can make some positive changes.

SET GOALS FOR YOUR READING 

Write down what information you want to gather in your reading, i.e., "I want to find out the chronological order of the 8 factors leading to the uprising." 

PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE READING 

Simply stated, if you do not actively attend the reading, the information will not "get in."  A good way is to generate questions from the text while you are reading. 

BE CREATIVE 

Develop some mental pictures, mnemonics, and associations to help rehearse material as you gather it. 

PRACTICE RECALLING INFORMATION 

Practice recalling information silently, in writing, aloud, using pictures, standing in line, brushing your teeth, etc. 

PRACTICE USING THE INFORMATION IN CONTEXT 

For example, once you have recalled the 8 factors leading to the uprising, practice answering questions about them.

CONCENTRATION - Not Just a Mind Game

Create a study environment

• Find a place to study and keep it for study only.

• Make sure the environment has all the study tools you will need.

• Minimize the noise level and the visual distractions.

• Avoid relaxing while working.

Try some of these techniques to improve your concentration while studying

• Keep a paper handy to jot down thoughts that cross your mind while studying, get them out of your mind and on to paper.

• Set study goals before you begin each period of study (i.e., number of pages, number of problems, etc.)

• Give yourself rewards after specified goals are reached.

• Break up the content of study by mixing up subjects and building in some variety.

• Make the most of break periods - do something very different.

• Don't try to mix work and play.

• Start with short study periods and slowly build to longer periods.

• Plan the length of your study period by the amount of material you have decided to cover not by the clock. (A clock can be a serious distraction.)

REMEMBER...  

You will be able to concentrate best if you:

• Study during the day and early evening.
• Study when there are the fewest competing activities in progress.
• Take short breaks and STOP studying when fatigue or lack of attention occurs.

• Make an appointment
• Establish a rapport
• Present your concern
• Provide background information
• Redirect for clarification
• Summarize the resolution of the problem
• Thank your instructor
  
  

1. Prepare for the exam using study techniques that are best for your personal learning style and the course.
   

2. Avoid cramming.  You just can't master large amounts of material in a short period of time.
   

3. Anticipate what questions the instructor may ask and practice answering them using material from the lecture and text.
   

4. Take care of yourself before the exam:  sleep, exercise, and eat properly.
   

5. Take short, scheduled breaks as you study.
   

6. Relax the hour before the exam.
   

7. Arrive at least 10 minutes early for the exam so that you can organize yourself.
   

8. Pace yourself during the exam so you don't run out of time.
   

9. Concentrate on doing your best.  Keep your thoughts positive.  DON'T compare yourself to classmates.
   

10. When it is all over, reward yourself.

1. Allot enough time for study. 
   Studying is a major priority in college.  While 6 hours may be too much for one student, it may be what is necessary for another.  Therefore, you must examine your own needs and then allocate your time appropriately. 

2. Make use of your free hours between classes. 
   If your schedule permits, the hours between classes can be used to review notes before a class or to begin an assignment. 

3. Study at the same time daily. 
   Having specific hours set aside each day will maintain the systematic organization of your schedule and keep you actively involved in studying. 

4. Schedule a weekly review. 
   Plan to review each class's notes from the beginning to end once a week.  This only takes a short time and will reduce the amount of study time needed before an exam. 

5. Schedule daily reviews. 
   Spend 15 - 20 minutes reviewing your notes immediately following class or when classes are done for the day.  Again, this will reduce the amount of study time needed before an exam. 

6. Account for project time. 
   Remember to allow an appropriate amount of time during the course of the week for long-term projects (i.e., papers, group projects, journals, etc.) 

7. Allow for flexibility. 
   Although your schedule should be very systematic, you should allow for some flexibility.  It is important not to over-schedule thus allowing for a variety of "non-academic" activities.

Develop a plan to get off Probation

How to calculate your GPA

Now that you are paying particular attention to your GPA you need to know how to calculate what you may be expecting next semester. Your GPA (grade point average) is calculated by dividing the sum of all grade points earned at FAU by the total number of credits attempted. Courses in which grades of “P”, “W” or “WM” have been received are not used in calculating GPA.  

To calculate your cumulative (this is a bit more tricky), you can use the GPA Calculator located on our webpage. Follow the instructions on the page. You can also use the GPA calculator to determine exactly what grades you will need to achieve to get the GPA you are working towards. 

Grades A through F are given the following point values:

Grade             Grade point per credit hour  
  A                                 4.00  
  A-                                3.67  
  B+                               3.33  
  B                                 3.00  
  B-                                2.67  
  C+                               2.33  
  C                                 2.00  
  C-                                1.67  
  D+                               1.33  
  D                                 1.00  
  D-                                0.67  
  F                                  0.00

Suspension and Dismissal 
An undergraduate student on academic probation who fails to earn a 2.0 average in all work attempted in any term and who has a cumulative FAU GPA of lower than 2.0 at Florida Atlantic University will be suspended from the University. If at any time after having once been suspended, an undergraduate student fails to earn a 2.0 average in all work attempted in any term and has a cumulative FAU GPA of lower than 2.0 at Florida Atlantic University, the student will be dismissed from the University. -   FAU Catalog.

Returning After Suspension   
A suspended student is eligible to re-enroll after a minimum of one semester and will return on academic probation due to the previous suspension. All students returning from suspension are required to meet with an academic advisor, at which time the terms of re-enrollment will be specified. Students suspended with 59 or fewer earned credits will meet with an ACCESS academic advisor. ACCESS Program information may be found here: http://wise.fau.edu/access/index.php. Students with 60 or more earned credits will meet with an academic advisor in their college.  

Returning After Dismissal 
A dismissed student, after a minimum of one year away from the University, may seek re-entry by reapplying to the University and petitioning for approval from the student's last college/major. If a student is seeking admission to a college different from the original college, the petition process will include notifying the new college regarding the student's intent. If at any time after having once been dismissed, an undergraduate student has a term and cumulative average below 2.0, the student will be dismissed from the University permanently. -   FAU Catalog.

Deferred Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal 
If an undergraduate student takes a single course (or a single course and linked laboratory) in a term and earns a semester GPA of less than a 2.0,  and  if this would result in the student being placed on probation or being suspended or dismissed, the action will be deferred until the end of the next term in which the student is enrolled. At that time, any academic action will be based on the grades earned in the "next term" and/or the cumulative GPA. In the event of deferred action, the student's academic status will remain the same action as at the end of the semester preceding the "single course" semester. -   FAU Catalog.