1. Start Early! – This is the most important one. The internet provides plenty of ways to waste your study time, but you’ll be happy you stayed away from Netflix and Reddit when the final finally comes.
2. Study in Chunks – Your brain works best in 50 minute intervals. You may feel studious after your 6 hour study marathon, but a tired brain doesn’t absorb information like a fresh one. Take 5-10 minutes breaks every hour to make sure you’re making the most of your study time.
3. A Clean, Well-Lighted Place – Studying in bed may sound like a good idea, but once you’re in bed, so will a nap. Find a place that works for you. It should be somewhere where you can focus, spread out your notes, and get in a studying groove. And if you get sick of one place, switch it up!
4. Know Your Teacher – Ask questions, take notes, review old worksheets. Figure out what your teacher thinks is important because that’s what will show up on the final.
5. Study Alone – Start with what you don’t know. Review your old tests, quizzes, and homeworks, and take notes on what you missed. Then spend some time on your own with each of these topics. Write down any questions you have because the next step is…
6. Study in Groups – Once you’ve figured out your own strengths and weaknesses in each subject, form a study group. Here you can ask questions you had on your own and answer some of your study buddies’. Explaining concepts and hearing them explained in new ways will strengthen your understanding of the material.
7. Exercise – Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, and you may need all the brain blood you can get for finals week. It’s also a great way to take a break from book to soak up some sun.
8. Sleep – It may be tempting to cram all night, but
it may not help as much as you think. Give your brain a rest! When the night before the test comes around, be confident in the studying you’ve been doing all week and get some extra sleep.
Staying Organized: One of the most important things a student of any age can do to stay on top of their academic game is to keep all necessary materials and information for every class in a place they’ll always find it. This definitely includes keeping and up-to-date and thorough weekly planner. How can anyone prepare for a test without knowing when it is scheduled?
Notecards
In-class Notes:
Proactive Studying: Studying is so much harder the night before the test. By doing just a bit of studying after a new lesson, the information will be much easier to remember when the time comes to prove you know it. Cramming for tests at the last minute only hurts your chances of actually retaining the material.
Improving Test-Taking Skills: Test-taking is a skill. In fact, it’s an entirely learned skill. You were not born knowing how to fill out a Scantron. In this way, any student who struggles on tests can develop the skills to ensure that their best efforts are reflected in their grades. Simple things like recreating test-taking environments while studying and working with practice tests and quizzes can improve scores by miles!
Eliminating Careless Errors: Perhaps the most common point deduction of all, small mental errors can ruin an otherwise heroic effort. This is essential with subjects like math, where one small mistake can turn into a whole page of mistakes. The best way to eliminate mental errors is to set aside time at the end of a test or quiz to double and triple-check their work. Everyone makes mistakes, but the key is to fix them before turning in your work.
Doing All Homework: This seems terribly obvious, but many students fall victim to leaving free points on the table in every class. Anything that yields credit and points for your student should at the very least be attempted. Of course there are extenuating circumstances, but when a simple worksheet can be the difference between an A and a B, it becomes crucial to cumulative grades.
Paying Attention to the Teacher: This is something that sounds obvious, but there’s a bit more to it. No two teachers are the same, and this can present a challenge in preparing in the most effective ways for any given assignment or tests. The all-star student should always be focused on the tendencies of their instructor. If your math teacher favors word problems on tests, you can focus the majority of your studying on those.
As your junior year winds down, it’s time to start coming up with the list of colleges that you will be applying to. Maybe you’ve had a dream school in mind since you were a little kid, or maybe you haven’t even started thinking about it, but you’ll need to come up with a mix of reach schools, safety schools, and a few in the middle of the road. There are around 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, so trying to narrow them down can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula for choosing your mixture of schools, but here are some criteria you can use to find schools that would be a good fit for you.
Kind of college- Are you looking for a two year or four year school? Public or private?
Location- Do you want to be able to do your laundry and eat dinner at home, or only fly home for winter break from a whole new environment?
Size/Setting- How do you feel about being at a school where everyone knows your name? Or would you rather find your niche in a large, diverse student population?
Life Outside the Classroom- Do you see yourself in a fraternity or sorority? How important is school spirit to you? Do you want to be able to go to “the big game” every weekend? What about volunteering, or an active student government? What kind of balance are you looking for between being academically challenged and having a fun-filled social life?
Major- If you’re not sure what you want to do with the rest of your life, or want a lot of variety before you work on a major, don’t worry! That’s totally normal. If you want a specialized degree, such as engineering, it’s important to find schools that have the right program for you.
Cost- This is one of the most important factors in choosing a college. Talk with your parents about college costs, look into applying for financial aid, and research different scholarships.
Once you’ve come up with a manageable list of schools, go on some campus visits to get a feel for the school’s unique vibe. Each school has its own “X-factor” where even if it sounds perfect on paper, it might not feel right in person, or you might fall in love with a school you didn’t think you would. To make your search easier, the College Board website has a school search, information about schools, and background on the application process. Visit https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/how-find-your-college-fit to start searching for the school that’s right for you!
The El Segundo Run for Education 5K and 10K are tomorrow so get pumped up!! The Study Hut will have a booth at the event and some of our tutors will be running in the race!
Here is good information from their website about the event tomorrow:
Course Description:
As one of the more unique USA Track & Field certified road courses in Southern California the Run for Education features a moderate coastal climate and a tour of downtown El Segundo, as well as, it’s neighborhoods and schools.
The 5K Run/Walk is an easy-to-moderate hill course through local neighborhoods while the 10K Run offers up a more challenging 2nd loop incorporating central downtown El Segundo and Grand Avenue’s prominent hill.
The Kid’s Fun Run will be split into a 1K and 1/2K event. The 1K is for Kids ages 6-12 years old while the 1/2K Kids Run is for the younger 2-5 year olds. All Fun Run participants will receive a kids goodie bag with gift from Mattel.
USA Track & Field Sanctioned Event:
We are proud to announce that the El Segundo Run for Education is a full USA Track and Field sanctioned event with both the 5K and 10K courses having been certified by the USA Track and Field Road Racing Technical Council.
USA Track & Field Southern California Grand Prix:
New for this year the Run for Education has been selected to be one of the official road races in the elite 2013 USATF Southern California Association Road Running Grand Prix Series.
Schedule of Race Day Events:
6:30 AM: Packet Pick-Up & Late Registration Opens
7:20 AM: Group Pre-Race Warm-Up | Zumba
7:35 AM: Starting Line Corrals Open
7:45 AM: Opening Ceremony | National Anthem | Final Race Instructions
8:00 AM: 5K/10K Dual Start | Health & Fitness Expo Opens
9:15 AM: Kids Fun Run
9:45 AM: Awards Ceremony
12:00 PM: Event Concludes
Starting Line Corrals (NEW):
In an effort to provide every one of our participants with as comfortable a run as possible, Starting Line Corrals will be incorporated into this year’s event. The corral system assures a smooth and safe start by lining up participants of similar pace in the same area.
Runners who identify themselves as Elite Male (<18:20 5K or <38:00 10K) or Elite Female (<19:50 5K or <40:00 10K) during registration will qualify for the seeded corral up front. All other participants are asked to line up in the appropriate corrals. Large signs identifying each corral will be displayed along the starting line area. Please be courteous and look for the corral that fits you best.
Corral A: Elite Runners
Corral B: General Runners
Corral C: Walkers
Corral D: Participants with Strollers
Awards:
5K/10K: Male and Female – Overall 1st place finishers will receive race trophies. Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers in each age category. All 12 and under 5K finishers receive medals while Kids Fun Run participants receive prizes donated by Mattel (while supplies last).
Family Fun Zone:
The Family Fun Zone has plenty to do for families of all ages! Challenge your friends and family on the many carnival games and inflatable slides. We have the little ones covered too with numerous fun creative arts and crafts activities. Proceeds to benefit local non-profit service organizations and school groups. see all the great running and fitness accessories available today.
