Top Study Tips For First Year Students

Classroom Discussion

Many people are afraid to discuss in class, but open dialog provides an excellent learning situation. If you have a different opinion from your teacher, go ahead and say it. Make certain that your opinion is based on facts and evidence, not just something you made up.

To take part in a discussion, follow what everyone is saying. When something is said that you feel should be noted or discussed more, write it down. Don't be afraid to ask a question if you do not understand something or follow the thread of the discussion. Answering questions can be quite beneficial in a classroom situation.

It is a good idea to briefly summarize your point when you enter the discussion. Sometimes restating the idea is a way to start talking. By restating the idea, you have reinforced the statement and possibly provided some clarification.

Refer to your notes if necessary, and don't be afraid to state your position. Just don't ramble and keep talking. Make your point then let somebody else answer you or give another idea.

People may or may not agree with you. Don't get upset. Keep an open mind. Open dialog is important in the classroom, and academic freedom is highly regarded. Remember to respect others opinions and reactions.

If you are aware of class discussion, look over your textbook and notes before coming to class. Think about your opinion and ideas before coming into the classroom. Have an idea of your opinion

The Ten Study Habits of Successful Students

Successful students have good study habits. They apply these habits to all of their classes. Read about each study habit. Work to develop any study habit you do not have.

Successful students:

1. Try not to do too much studying at one time.
   
   If you try to do too much studying at one time, you will tire and your studying will not be very effective. Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time. Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.
2. Plan specific times for studying.
   
   Study time is any time you are doing something related to schoolwork. It can be completing assigned reading, working on a paper or project, or studying for a test. Schedule specific times throughout the week for your study time.
3. Try to study at the same times each day.
   
   Studying at the same times each day establishes a routine that becomes a regular part of your life, just like sleeping and eating. When a scheduled study time comes up during the day, you will be mentally prepared to begin studying.
4. Set specific goals for their study times.
   
   Goals will help you stay focused and monitor your progress. Simply sitting down to study has little value. You must be very clear about what you want to accomplish during your study times.
5. Start studying when planned.
   
   You may delay starting your studying because you don't like an assignment or think it is too hard. A delay in studying is called "procrastination." If you procrastinate for any reason, you will find it difficult to get everything done when you need to. You may rush

Group Study Tips

One of the most effective ways for preparing for class discussions and exams is by using a study group. Study groups provide a number of benefits to the learning process. For starters studying with others in a small group is helpful to everyone because you think out load, share ideas and learn from one another. Below we've listed some of the major benefits of study groups, guidelines for putting together and some ideas for how to maximize the value of each study group session.

Benefits of a Study Group

• Improve you notes
  Study group members can help the individuals improve their class notes but sharing notes.
  
  
• Sharing talents
  Everyone has different strengths and weakness. By participating in a study group you are able to benefit from the talents of other group members.
  
  
• Support system
  Study groups can provide by emotional and physical support. If you're feeling down a study group member can help motivate you. If you're going to miss class one day a study group member can take notes for you when you gone and fill you in on the details when you get back.
  
  
• Cover more material
  Study groups can help you cover more material. Having three people working on a difficult math problem is more effective than having just one person work on it. Also, when you have a lot of ground to cover you can make assignments and then report back to the group what you learned. Study groups can be very effience.
  
  
• Its makes learning fun!
  Sitting in a library cubicle studying day in and day out can get very boring and tedious. Working with a study group can make learning fun. Consequently, you apt to spend more time learning and studying.
  
  

Putting Together An Effective Study Group - When putting together an effective study group there are five questions you need to answer. How many? Who? Where? How long? and When?

• How many
  The best size for a study group is four to six people. In smaller groups its too easy to get off track and you don't have the man power to get things done. Larger groups are harder to manage and you end up having individuals that get left out or a few free lopers.
  
  
• Who
  The best study groups are composed of individuals that share the same interest in doing well in class and on tests. You'll want to include individuals who pay attention in class, take good notes, ask questions and generally participate in class discussion.
  
  
• Where
  Study group sessions should be held in a location free from distractions and that has room to comfortably study and interact.
  
  
• How long
  Study group session should be not longer than two to three hours. If study sessions are longer members tend to loose interest and focus. Conversely, if you don't spend a least an hour in each study session you typically can cover all course material adequately and the study group becomes ineffective.
  
  
• When
  Try to meet at the same time and place each week. Creating a set routine will help each member to plan ahead and come prepare to each session.
  
  

Maximizing the value of each study group session - Here are few tips for getting the most out of each group study session:

• Create clear objectives and goals
  Set clear objectives and goals for each study session. This will ensure that study sessions stay focused and that time is well spent.
  
  
• Be prepared
  Its had to contribute to a study session if you come unprepared. It also difficult to benefit from other members if they come unprepared. Make sure that you and your group members always finish your assigned reading, that you each review your class notes, and list topics you want to go over in the next study session.
  
  
• Ensure participation
  Each member should take turns teaching the other members in the group. Teaching reinforces what you learn and also ensure you're understanding of the subject matter is correct and comprehensive.
  
  
• Stay focused
  Each group study session should have a leader. Its the leaders responsibility to make sure that the group stays focused on the correct topic(s). Its also useful to schedule breaks every half hour or so so that team members don't get worn out.

Improving Your Memory

Remember information is essential for your ability to excel in school and later in your career. If you are unable to remember what you’ve learned then you won’t be able perform well on tests and you will be unable to apply what you’ve learned in the real world. Remembering information is an essential skill.

The following are a few proven tips and strategies for improving your ability to remember information.

• Make the information meaningful
  One of the most common reasons that students don't remember is because material is presented in a way that is confusing or doesn't make sense. Students who try to memorize information they don't fully understand struggle to remember what they've read or heard. Don't try and memorize the author's words. First, put the information you're reading or hearing into your words as your own words are going to be meaningful and easy to understand. If you can't put information, a concept or idea in your own words its very unlikely that you're going to be able to remember the material for very long.
  
  
• Organize the information
  Organizing material into to logical categories will help you learn, memorize and recall information more effectively. For example, if you have several dates you need to remember for a history test putting the dates in chronological order according to a sequential storyline can make recalling each date much easier. Instead of memorizing random dates you associate each date with specific event that lead to another event. Information that is well organized is much easier to learn and remember than information that is
  

Listing Tips

Learning requires perception. Acquisition effectively reqquires effectively hearing. Change tho' sensing is one of the most beta skills for efficacious acquisition most students are not healthful listeners. Since most of what you are required to study in refine is leaving to be communicated to by a teacher or professor it is crying that you read to identify. And don't head the mistake of mentation that hearing and perception are the very objective - they are real divergent. When you centre to what someone locution you are not exclusive chance what they are expression you are also processing what they are expression.

The following are tips for improving your ability to listen:

Listen for meaning
Pay attention not only to the words being spoken by your teacher but to the thoughts and messages they convey. Identify the main idea, concept or subject being addressed and the relating issues. Listen for explanations, descriptions and clarifications. Again, don't just hear the words. Listen to the meanings being communicated.

Adjust your note taking style to the lecture
Poor listeners try writedown everything, believing a detailed outline and effective notes are the same thing. They get frustrated when they cannot see the meaning behind what they are writing down or they go to review their notes and don't understand the concepts that were taught in class. Effective listeners adjust their note-taking to the lecture style. They listen to whats important, they try to understand concepts and they take notes that clarify, organize and reiterated important details of the

Becoming a Flexible Reader

To become a flexible reader, you need to know how to select and use a reading style that is consistent with your purpose for reading. There are three important reading styles you should learn to use. Each has its own purpose. Knowing when and how to use these three reading styles will make you a flexible reader. Read to learn about the three reading styles used by flexible readers.

Study Reading is the reading style used by flexible readers when their purpose is to read difficult material at a high level of comprehension. When using the Study Reading style, you should read at a rate that is slower than your normal reading rate. Further, as you read you must challenge yourself to understand the material. Study Reading will often require you to

Math Exams Tips

Taking math examinations can be made easier by keeping up with your homework. Do the problems as they are assigned. Math usually builds from one problem or chapter to the next. If you understand the first step, you can start to understand the next one. Be sure to pay attention in class. Not paying attention will lead to much more time spent studying.

Try to get into a study group with several other students. By talking about the problems, you can find out how well you know them. Have an idea of what to expect from your teacher. Either find old tests or talk to others who have had the professor. Time yourself while doing your homework to see if you are ready for a test situation.

When you get your test, look over the entire document. Get an idea of what is being asked so

NCUK offering UK degrees in Pakistan

LAHORE-The Northern Consortium of the United Kingdom (NCUK) is offering studies for some of the best UK degrees right here in Pakistan, without even the need to travel to the UK for the purpose.

Another good news is that students from Pakistan could undertake one, two or three years of their undergraduate studies here, and then transfer to the UK at whatever point they felt comfortable. They would also be at liberty to study at some of the best institutions here in Pakistan and still end up with a UK university degree from one of 11 of the best UK universities.
The NCUK’s Project Director, Geoff Evans, who formerly served with the British Council in

Australia announces new visa measures for students

Melbourne, Nov 9 (IANS) The Australian government is introducing new measures to assist overseas students, including many Indians, affected by the closure of an international education provider, a minister said Monday.
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans said that from Jan 1, 2010, overseas students who require a new visa to complete their studies at another school or college will be exempt from paying the A$540 (approx. Rs.22,500) student visa application charge.

Just this year alone, 12 education providers have closed affecting about 4,700 students.

Evans said that although most students will be able to complete their studies on their existing student visa, some may need to enrol in a new course that finishes after their existing student visa expires and will require a new visa.

“In situations where an education provider can no longer offer a

Career Information, Descriptions and Resources

Deciding which career opportunities are worth pursuing and which are not requires reliable and up-to-date information. Unfortunately, so many individuals are quick to make life altering career decisions that ultimately do not enable them to achieve their long-term personal and professional career goals. This section of the EducationAtlas.com website is designed to provide students and aspiring professionals alike relevant career information on a variety of careers and career topics that will help them select a

Early Childhood Education

High quality early childhood education has proven to be a great investment for our country and we believe that this is a necessary investment, which should not be passed up. Studies have shown that a strong focus on education for children under five has produced long-term benefits.

A well-known study found that people who were in a quality preschool program later in life earned up to $2,000 more each month than those who were not. Children who were in preschool programs usually graduate from high school, own homes, and have

Higher Education

Higher education, as provided by 4-year universities and colleges (i.e. Harvard, Stanford, Yale, etc.), is usually theoretically inclined. Alternatively, higher education and training provided by vocational universities and schools (i.e. University of Phoenix, DeVry, ITT Technical Institute, etc.), usually emphasizes both practice and applied theory. Additionally, professional and career education is included within higher education, as many postgraduate academic discipines are professionally and vocationally oriented, such as law, medicine and

Strong Growth in Online Education; New Study Shows Enrollment up 12 Percent to Nearly 4 Million

For nearly 5 years, growth in online enrollments in higher education program has outpaced growth in traditional enrollments at campus based higher education programs. It is the opinion of academics and professionals alike that online enrollments will continue substantial growth for many years to come.

A 2008 Sloan Survey of Online Learning reports that online enrollment in career and degree programs has increase nearly thirteen percent during the last year alone. The survey also revealed nearly 4 million students were enrolled in one or more online courses in the

Study Skills Resources by Subject

Accounting Biology Business Chemistry Computer Science Economics Education English Engineering History Law Math Physics Political Science

Study Skills Guide for Students

Developing effective study skills, improving reading comprehension, discovering your own personal study style, learning to manage your time more efficiently and learning the best way to prepare for exams are just a few of the topics covered in "The Study Skills Guide for Students". We're confident that if you take the time to learn and apply the concepts and principles taught in this section you'll not only improve your performance in school but you'll also increase your ability to learn. Whether you're a freshmen in high school or a senior in college you'll find the study skills guides, tutorial and information included in this section invaluable.

Caribbean Medical Schools : A Good Option?

By Jessica Freedman, MD

President of MedEdits: Medical Admissions

Because the competition for admission to medical schools in the United States is extremely strong, many applicants consider attending medical school in the Caribbean. In fact, a great many bright and talented applicants are now opting to obtain their medical education in the Caribbean.

How can you decide what is the best choice for you? What must you consider in evaluating these schools? And will you be able to obtain a residency in the United States after you graduate? To help you decide if attending a Caribbean medical school is a good choice, this article provides a framework for evaluating these schools and the success of their graduates.

A Little Background

In the last four decades, the Caribbean has seen a steady increase in the number of medical schools on the islands as well as the size of their student bodies.  In the

Why I Chose Podiatry School

By Joseph Baker

For many students looking for a career in healthcare, allopathic medical school is the only option that they have considered. While information exists on podiatry as a professional career choice, it can be missed behind the stacks of information on allopathic and osteopathic medicine.
Podiatry school, or podiatric medical school, is very similar to its allopathic and osteopathic medical school counterparts, with some key differences.  The biggest difference is the degree earned.  A graduate of podiatric medical school receives a doctoral degree of podiatric medicine, or a DPM.  This degree certifies the graduate to be a complete and specialized physician of the foot and ankle.
Following graduation from a four-year podiatric medical college, a podiatrist will then go through three years of

MCAT Study Guide Roundup

Venture inside any bookstore and you know there’s a book for just about everything, and studying for the MCAT is no exception. There are shelves and shelves of MCAT prep books, some of which you’ve probably already heard of (or own) and some you may not.

Here’s a rundown of the tip of the iceberg of what’s available in the MCAT prep world:

The Gold Standard MCAT, by Dr. Brett Ferdinand, covers all science sections in detail, and includes a review for verbal reasoning, a “Five minute, Five step” approach to the writing sample, conversion tables for MCAT scores, and over 100 diagrams and

Country guides

i-studentadvisor produce six country guides annually to answer any questions international students may have about studying in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. The country magazines contain a variety of interesting articles and institution profiles to capture the experience of living and learning in that country.

Each of the country guides begin with the Study Guide section, which is a tool to help the student through the application process from the initial choice of institution through the visa requirements to what to do on arrival. The Study Guide can be downloaded and printed to use in class sessions or emailed to students and parents using the