World University Rankings by Subject 2011 - Arts & Humanities

Rank Title
1 Harvard University
2 University of Oxford
3 University of Cambridge
4 University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
5 Yale University
6 Columbia University
7 University of Toronto
8 Stanford University
9 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
10 University of Chicago

Study Tips


Check out WLU's Study Skills Program - resources and workshops are offered on a variety of topics, including Time Management & Procrastination and Preparing for Midterms.

If you have difficulties in handling more personal issues, such as anxiety or gaining self-confidence, or even more serious issues, you may want to contact Counselling Services.



The following is a collection of tips for studying mathematics. These have been gathered from a number of sources (texts, websites, personal experience) over a number of years.

General:

Keys to success include desire and discipline. You must want success and you must discipline yourself to do what it takes to get success.
Keys to success include motivation and time management (rewording of the above).
Everything that you learn increases your value.
If you need help, get it! Find out what resources are available to you.
Math is cummulative - what you learn today will be used tomorrow.
Take responsibility for your education.
No two students will learn in the same way. Discover what it takes for you to learn math.
Don't expect to understand every new topic the first time you see it. Learning mathematics takes time, patience and repetition. "All mathematics is easy, once you understand it."
You must practice speaking a foreign language regularly in order to become fluent in it. Mathematics is like a language - you must practice it regularly and become fluent.
If you memorize procedures without understanding, you will soon forget the procedures.
Being a full time student is a full time job. For each in class hour of instruction, two to four hours of studying (including doing homework) should be completed.
Account for how you spend every half hour of your time for one entire week. Add up your totals for sleep, study, work, recreation, and social activities. Does the amount of time allocated to each seem appropriate?
The ability to concentrate depends on adequate sleep, decent nutrition and the physical well-being that comes with exercise.
Lectures:

Read the related sections of your text before it is discussed in the lecture. Even if you do not totally understand what you've read, hearing it in class will now be the second time you've seen the material.
When taking notes, leave space. Later you can go back, adding details, extra notes from text, examples, etc.
If lecture notes are provided (such as via a course website), make use of them. Read them before the class and then you'll actually have a chance to listen to your instructor during the lecture.
Attending a lecture is more than just showing up and taking notes. Be attentive. Each is an hour of your time - why not make proper use of it?
Ask questions in class. This will keep the lecture more active and interesting, and will also ease your comfort in approaching your instructor outside of class.
If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what was discussed.
After each class, rewrite - or at least reread - your notes, filling in details and/or making corrections as you do so.

Homework/Studying:

Don't simply work problems to get answers. Try to understand the big picture - how does this relate to what we did last? where would we go next?
Research shows that we remember only 10% of what we read, 20% of what we see, but a full 90% of what we say and do. So, whenever possible say and do.
Find a group of students (3-5) to work with outside of class. Explaining concepts out loud will deepen your understanding. But remember that working a problem with help is not the same as working a problem on your own.
Mathematics is personal - make sure that you can do it.
Check your answers with those provided in the back of the text or solution manual only after having worked through the problem yourself. But do get in the habit of checking your work to gain confidence in your abilities.
You work a problem and get the wrong answer. You rework the problem and you get the right answer. Be sure to go over your first solution and find out where you went wrong. This is a great learning tool and will help you avoid making the same mistakes again.
Working one hour per day every day is better than working 7 hours in one day.
Keep reviewing. After doing the current work, go back a section or two and try to rework a few problems. You will be amazed at how much your knowledge will improve with regular review (and you'll be able to avoid those all night cram sessions!).
At the end of each week, take note of the progress that's been made. What do you now know that you didn't know on Monday?
Don't use excuses to avoid studying. Use them to take half hour breaks from studying, about every hour or two.
Eliminate obvious visual distractions when you study. This includes magazines and texts from another class.
Tests:

Cramming for a test only creates text anxiety. Keep up with homework and there's no need to cram. Start studying several days before the exam and get a good sleep the night before.
Scan the test and pick out the problems that are the easiest for you. Do these first to gain confidence and jump start your thinking.
Use the marks allocation to judge the amount of time that should be spent on each question.
When you've completed a question you are confident about, place a check mark beside it. Place a question mark beside problems that you want to go back and have another look at if time permits.
When a test is returned, rework all problems checking to see what you did correct, what you did wrong. Consult model solutions and get help on anything you still don't understand.

Study tips
Go on, prove something to yourself
Archimedes did it in the bath, Isaac Newton used the end of his bed and Tolkien hid himself away for days. Great minds have always found their own unique ways to ponder and create. That's one of the reasons we let you study where, when and how you like.

Finding your feet
University study isn't really like anything you'll have done before. Becoming an independent learner is a real challenge. At times you'll need to show your initiative and not be afraid to ask for help if you need it (but don't worry there's plenty available).

Taking control
It's important not to let your university course just 'happen' to you. You need to take ownership of your degree and get out of it what you want to. Being really organised will help you feel in control, and taking advantage of all the help and resources that are available to you will help you to make the most of the time you spend as a student.

The Open University offers tons of support and resources. Visit The Open University iTunes U site for free downloads of sample course material. Join in with debates, tutorials and study groups via our unique online conferencing portal and gain access to thousands of valuable books and studies via the Open University library. It's totally queue free!

Staying happy
There's no bigger barrier to good study than a bad mood. Digesting books as thick as a doorstep and fitting study around your busy life can seem a bit of a challenge at first but don't let it get you down. Remember you're doing this for you!

Focus on the aspects of your course that you enjoy and are good at. Break your study down into bite-sized chunks. Develop your own filing system to keep your notes in good order. Chat to other students about how they're feeling. Bend your tutor's ear. Most of all, remember that you're normal and that any challenges you face are normal too.

Polish up your skills
Because university study is a bit different to anything that you do at school or college, you're going to need different skills to get you through.

Some of the study skills you need include:

Debate - you're going to need to learn to set up opposing views and ideas against each other to draw useful conclusions. This means telling both sides of the story and then presenting what you think and why.

Background - you'll need to show how your ideas fit in with the literature and history of your subject. What do the leading lights in your subject think? Do you agree with them or not? Why?

Argue - can you present your argument in a logical and persuasive manner both verbally and on paper? Why do you think what you think? Can you back it up? Can you communicate your thoughts in a logical manner?

Critical Analysis - can you take other people's ideas and arguments apart and show their strengths and weaknesses? Do they have strong evidence to back up their opinions? Could they be biased or unreliable in some way? Can you prove them wrong?

Evidence - when you put together arguments, you'll need to back your points up with hard evidence. This could be statistical data taken from research, quotes from texts or the results of your own controlled experiments.

Objectivity - it's important to present your ideas in an unbiased way. With the right evidence, your arguments should be able to stand on their own merits. Try not to colour your work with too much emotion either, although a bit of passion never went amiss.

Keep it concise - keep your work precise and to the point. Don't be tempted to ramble or go off on tangents. Remember that tutors often have hundreds of assignments to mark so they really appreciate clear, well-structured work which keeps to the point.

Style - don't be afraid to stamp your own academic style on the work you produce. Make the course your own and take it where you want to go. Just make sure you don't go for wacky fonts or weird colour schemes when you produce assignments though. There's nothing worse!

Become a successful bookworm
Most courses at university have a pretty lengthy reading list. So how are you going to cope with all that reading? How will you find the time? And how will you remember all the facts, figures and opinions that you come across? Here are some tips to help you:

Make a weekly to do list - this way you can schedule in enough time to do the reading you need to each week.

Be patient - try to relax and give yourself time to read and digest information.

Don't be passive - actively make notes or highlight interesting phrases while you read. This will get your more involved in what you're reading and keep you focused.

Learn to skim - this will help you suss out if a book or article is going to be helpful without you having to read it all. It makes finding things on an index or contents page much faster too.

Learn to read at different speeds - try to consciously slow down or speed up depending on what it is that you're reading. Complicated texts on subjects that you don't know much about will require more careful attention.

Take the deep approach - try to make sense of the article or chapter you're reading as a whole rather than getting bogged down in the individual words. What's it really about? What is the author trying to say?

Taking notes
As a student you'll need to do a fair bit of note taking. Whether you're using books, lectures, podcasts, or dvds to support your study, thinking on paper will help you to digest information, retain facts and form opinions.

The type of notes you take will depend on how much time you have, how your mind works and what you want the notes for. Different people favour different methods from scrawling on post-it notes and scribbling in the margin, to highly organised shorthand systems and summary cards.

Whichever method you decide to use, you will need to make sure that you capture the key concepts and ideas, useful statistics or examples and important names and dates so you can accurately reference them in your own work.

The dreaded essay
One of the most challenging parts of being a student is having to produce well-structured, clearly written essays. Often you will be given a question or statement which you must then present a logical argument to support or disprove in around 1000 - 2000 words.

Sounds scary? It is and it isn't. The more you write essays at this level the more naturally you'll find that they come to you. You will also find that you have quite a lot of freedom to research and discuss what interests you most, so use this to your advantage.

Try to keep some of these useful guidelines in mind when you're feeling the pressure, and remember that you can get a lot out of this process so try to stay positive!

Use a logical argument - your whole essay should flow as a structured argument with each paragraph leading on to the next. Everything should link back to the question that you're answering or the statement that you're supporting.

Make your points clearly - you need to make sure that you explain what you mean in a way that can't be misunderstood. Remember that your reader isn't psychic so spell out your meaning.

Back everything up with evidence - your argument will be so much more powerful if you back up every point you make with strong, well-researched evidence.

A strong conclusion - make sure you include a powerful conclusion that shows that you've answered the question. Your conclusion should briefly summarise the main points of your essay and leave the reader in no doubt as to what your final opinion is.

Use polished English - you don't have to write like you've swallowed a dictionary but you should make sure that your sentences are clear, well constructed and free of spelling and grammar mistakes. Errors like these will just undermine your arguments.

Reference your quotes - when you use a quote from a study or source, make sure that you do so accurately and that you reference all of your quotes in a footnote. You'll need to give the title of the book or study that you're quoting from, the author, the publisher and the date of publication.

The dreaded exam
University exams probably enjoy a worse reputation than they deserve you know. When you take an exam with The Open University you'll never be asked to write about anything that you haven't covered in the course. And believe it or not, everyone involved in setting the exam wants you to pass. Including the squeaky-shoed invigilator pacing up and down the room!

But how can you make sure that you don't get a mind blank? How do you know what to revise? And how can you make a big impression no matter how challenging the question?

Always be prepared - it may be the most simple and obvious answer but there's no way around it. If you really know your stuff then you're never going to be stuck for something to write about in your exam. And remember, it's not a test of memory but a test of understanding and ideas so don't drive yourself to distraction trying to learn great lists of facts and figures by heart when you revise.

Go backwards to go forwards - try to think of revising for an exam as a constructive activity where you look back over the content of the module to put your thoughts in a clear order. And try not to leave your revision until the last minute! Start by getting all your notes, handouts and books in order, and then draw up a timetable to help you divide up your revision time effectively.

I know what you did last summer - to get a good idea of the kind of questions they'll ask in your exam, have a look at the question paper from last year or the year before. A full selection of past exam papers are available from The Open University Students Association website or by ringing 0870 013 4334.

Check your writing - nowadays we hardly write anything by hand anymore. So how will your writing hold up under the pressure of an exam? Will it be readable? And will you be able to write quickly enough to answer all the questions in the time that's allowed? Try practicing with a past exam paper and timing yourself. You may have to do a bit of work to get your writing speed and style up to scratch.

Keep it relevant - one of the most common mistakes people make in exams is not answering the question. Make sure you read your paper carefully and then give a structured response which accurately reflects the question. You should also make sure that you use key terms from the course, an objective standpoint and correct punctuation and spelling. Don't be afraid to map your answer out on scrap paper before you start either, it will help you to think clearly.

Keep a lid on the stress - everyone feels stressed at exam time, it's a fact of life. But it's important to realise that even if you don't do as well as you'd hoped, it's not the end of the world. Instead of thinking the worst, concentrate on giving yourself the best chance possible by preparing well and channelling your nervous energy into practical revision tasks.

What day is it again? - in all the drama running up to your exam, make sure you don't forget to check where and when it's taking place. It's easier than you'd think to make a mistake about the date, time or venue when you're wound up with nerves and last minute cramming.

What about email submissions? - If you're asked to sit an exam at home and submit your answers via email, you'll need to make sure that you submit the work on time and in the right format. If your answers are on multiple documents, zip them together into one reasonably sized file - below 2MB is best - and don't forget to keep a copy for yourself in case anything happens to the file while it's in transit!

Coping with depression
What is Depression? **
Depression is more than just feeling sad or a depressed mood. Depression will affect people differently. Although there may be similar symptoms it can look very different in people’s lives.

Clinical depression involves a cluster of symptoms, which may include:

An unusually sad mood that does not go away
Loss of enjoyment and interest in activities that use to be enjoyable
Lack of energy, and tiredness
Loss of confidence in self and poor self-esteem
Feeling guilty when you are not really at fault
Wishing you were dead and/or thinking about harming yourself
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Moving more slowly or alternatively becoming agitated and unable to settle
Having difficulty sleeping or alternatively sleeping too much
Loss of interest in food or alternatively eating too much.
Not all people will have the same symptoms, and not all people will have all these symptoms. The severity of depression can vary.

The symptoms of depression are thought to be due to changes in natural brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which send messages from one nerve cell to another in the brain. Depression often means that your brain has less of these chemical messengers such as serotonin, a mood regulating brain chemical.

What causes Depression? **
There is no single cause of depression. It often involves a complex interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.

Depression can often be a response to a situation when something very distressing has happened, particularly if you cannot do anything to control the situation such as:

Past trauma or abuse – e.g. child sexual abuse, physical abuse etc
Current trauma or abuse – e.g. domestic violence
Relationship break up
Having a baby (10 – 15% or women experience depression after childbirth)
Loss of job, difficulty finding a job
Having an accident that results in disability
Significant loss e.g. death of a loved one
Developing a long-term physical illness (or caring for someone with this)
Being a victim of crime
Depression can also occur from…

A medical condition e.g. Stroke, Parkinson’s disease
The side effects of certain medication/drugs
The stress of having another mental health issue (e.g. severe anxiety, schizophrenia)
Alcohol abuse or drug abuse
Changes in hormone levels
Lack of exposure to bright lights in winter (seasonal affective disorder)
Some people will experience depression in a distressing situation whereas other may not – some people may be more prone to it where as other people may be more resilient to it. Studies have shown that those most prone to developing depression are women, people with depression running in their family, and people who have experienced abuse during childhood (sexual, physical or emotional).

What are the effects of depression? **
Depression may have you feeling:

Sadness
Anxiety
Guilty
Angry
Mood swings
A lack of emotional responsiveness
Helpless
Hopeless
A mixture of feelings that are hard to identify and feel all rolled in to one
Depression may have you thinking:

Self criticism – “I always do things wrong”
Self Blame – “It’s all my fault”
Worry – “What if…” Suicidal ideation “The world would be better off without me”
Pessimism – “Everything sucks”
Confusion – “I can’t think straight”
Self Doubt – “I can’t do anything”
Self Hatred - “I’m disgusting”
That others are judging you – “they wouldn’t like me if they really knew me”.
Depression may have you:

Crying or even emotionally flat (e.g. beyond tears)
Withdrawing from others
Neglecting responsibilities
Losing interest in personal appearance
Losing motivation
Self-harming
Depression may affect your physical body:

Lack of energy
Sleeping too much or too little
Constipation
Appetite – to much or too little and subsequent weight gain or loss
Irregular menstrual cycle
Loss of sexual desire
Unexplained aches and pains
Depression may have you believing about yourself:

That you are crazy
That you are a worthless person
Depression can have a significant impact on your life. Depression may even have you questioning your connection to life. If you are feeling overwhelmed, or are thinking about hurting yourself, it is important to seek help. You can speak with a counsellor from Counselling Services at Adelaide University by phoning 8303 5663. If it is after business hours, support is available by ring Adult Mental Health Services for 24 hour crisis and emergency assistance on 13 14 65 or lifeline on 13 11 14.

How can you manage depression?
There are lots of different options to manage depression that may work for different people such as:

Physical activity
Physical exercise is a proven mood lifter as it increases the release of endorphins and other ‘feel good’ chemicals to the brain and body. It does not have to be an organized sport that you do to feel the benefits. Going for a walk, gardening, or taking a bike ride is equally as good. Anything that get your heart rate moderately lifted for about 30 minutes a day will have significant benefits for your physical and mental health.

Anti-depressant medication
For some people, anti-depressant medication can make a real difference to their ability to manage the depression. It is important to note however that depression can be successfully managed without the use of medication. Try to find a doctor you feel comfortable with, who can talk with you over your issues and concerns about the depression and the right medication for you. You have a right to ask your doctor questions about the depression, the medication prescribed and the possible side effects. Some people might worry that if they start using medication that they will be on it for the rest of their lives, however anti-depressant medication can be time limited. In some cases your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist who can then monitor your mental health and medication.

Counselling
There are many different options available if you want counselling. The Counselling Service at Adelaide University has experienced counsellors who can offer you support. This is a free service. To make an appointment you can phone the service on 8303 5663. You can access a private counsellor or psychologist with no referral. Many are listed in the phone books or you can search for them on-line. If you are on a mental health plan by your doctor you may be eligible for some sessions with a psychologist that can be bulk billed through Medicare. Some of the things a counsellor may do with you in a session include listening non-judgmentally to how you are feeling, discussing with you issues in your life that may be affecting your mental health and well-being, helping you to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns, and offering you practical strategies to help manage the depression. Sometimes depression can have you feeling like ‘what’s the point?’ Taking some time out to reflect on what is important in your life may help you to find motivation to keep going. You may find speaking with a counsellor helpful in this process.

Alternative therapies
These may work for some people to help them relax and release tension. Some popular therapies available include acupuncture, massage therapy, and aromatherapy.

Yoga and meditation
Yoga and meditation can be used to help you relax, tune in to your body and your “inner awareness”, and reduce the effects of stress on your life. The Counselling Service at Adelaide University runs free lunchtime workshops on meditation and yoga practices. Drop in to the centre to pick up a timetable.

Stress reduction/lifestyle changes/self care
Being aware of personal self care needs such as getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol and other drugs, eating healthily, and taking time for yourself will make a difference to how you feel and cope with daily life pressures. Do things that make you feel good and take time out for yourself. Have a bath, read a good book, watch a funny DVD…

Good supports
It is important to seek out supports in your life and avoid social isolation. You may not feel like socializing or going out with friends when depressed, however isolating yourself will usually make it worse. Create a support network in your life – this could include friends, family, pets, on-line chat groups or social network sites, support groups, sporting clubs, interest/hobby groups, spiritual connections and communities, and professional support (e.g. counselor, GP).

Get creative!
Journaling
Drawing
Music
Mosaics
Craft
Scrap-booking
Painting
Singing…
Get informed!
Learn about depression and find out what other people have found helpful.
Usually the best approach is a combination of all of these strategies. Try things out. Little steps combined over time do make a difference. Different strategies may suit different people depending on their personal style. It is important to be gentle on your self and remind yourself that you can reduce the impact of depression on your life.

Where to go for help and resources?
The Counselling Service provides appointments Monday – Friday from 9:00am – 5:00pm and a drop-in service Monday – Friday from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Contact the service on 8303 5663 or drop in at the centre located ground floor, Horace Lamb Building.

Your local GP

There are lots of great websites with information and support around depression. Try these as a start:

www.beyondblue.org.au
www.reachout.com.au
www.moodgym.anu.edu.au
www.headroom.net.au
24 hour support is available through contacting the following services:


ACIS – 13 14 65
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Youth Health line – 1300 13 17 19

Getting Back On The Study Track
Sometimes students find that the focus of their lives has shifted away from study and that they have fallen behind and want to refocus. Here are 10 simple tips to help get back on track with study.

1. Understand how much time you have and allocate it appropriately
There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. Allocating those 24 hours and 7 days effectively will get you back on track. Each of the next nine topics describe what needs to be done with your time to get you back on track and to study effectively.

2. Go to all lectures, tutorials and practicals
Just going to lectures is likely to keep your study life on track and prevent you from getting too entangled with non-study activities. You may be thinking “I do not have to go to lectures because I can get the information off the web, or from the text book, or from a friend”, however often this does not work. When you go to lectures you organise your life so that it is focussed on study. When you do not go to lectures you are often organising your life so that it is focussed on things other than study. Going to a lecture begins the process of learning long before exam time, and lecturers have a tendency to emphasise what they think is important and this is not always clear in their lecture notes. Also hand up all practical reports and practice assignments. In some subjects, there are many small assignments for which you do not get many marks. These are not as important for grades but they are important for learning.

3. Do not overcommit yourself
You may have interests that take time and effort from study. For example, sports, hobbies, politics, clubs, social life, art, crafts etc. These activities in the correct amount can support study, or they can detract from study if you do them too much. Adjust your commitments to support study. There should be 35 hours (or more) available for full time study. It is similar to a full time job. Some students get deceived by the contact hours which are less than 35 hours and then think that they can fill all that extra time with other activities. However, the non contact time is needed to do the assignments, reading and learning. Do not overload your enrolment if you are having trouble keeping up with your study. A normal full-time commitment at this university is 12 units.

4. Do not let employment interfere with study
It is important to not let work interfere with your study.

Ask yourself the following questions:

After the time you spend at work, is there enough time to sleep and study effectively?
How many hours do you work a week?
Take into account the time it takes to get to work and the fact that most people can not study for 2 hours after work – they need to wind down.
Is your job the best one to support study?
Are you working because you need to? – In which case, you must keep doing it.
Are you working because you want to or want to spend the money on something? If you are failing because you do not have enough time to study, then perhaps you need to reduce or stop working. Sometimes it helps to reduce work hours during exam times, if your employer will allow it. So ask if you can reduce your work hours and explain why to your employer. Ninety five percent of employers are quite reasonable if they understand that you will fail if you do not find more time to study.
5. Be realistic about the effect of unexpected events
Are there demands on your life that you can not control and that make it difficult to study?

Are you:

Needing to work to live, pay off debts etc?
Managing an illness (yours or others)?
Affected by a family matter?
Grieving over the death of someone?
Required to do things other than study?
Then:

you may be better off reducing your study commitments
or
reduce your expectations for grades
6. Study in an effective and efficient way
Many students study until they can not study any more. Time sitting at your desk trying to study but not studying is wasted time, it is psychologically exhausting. It is much better to get up have a break and then return when your mind is clear. It is even more efficient to stop studying while it is going well, because it is much easier to return to study that was going well. During the short break, do things that refresh you: go outside, do something physical, dance, walk, play a musical instrument, whatever gives you a break from study. Then return to your study.

Very few people can study for more that thirty to fifty minutes with full concentration. Have a short break, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, then continue to study. Take a break again — keep this rhythm going. People can study for a long time like this.

For more information see the Managing Stress and being a Successful Student.

7. Take care of yourself - so that you can study effectively
Study is most productive when alternated with proper relaxation. Relaxation then becomes a valuable support for study. This balance between study and non-study is best maintained by having a number of non-study activities in your life. Doing too many non-study activities, you will not do well at university, because too much of your time and effort will go into them rather than study [see section 4 & 5]. With too few non-study activities, you may get so stressed that you will not be able to study effectively. Non-study activities can include sport, hobbies, part-time job, relationship, friends, partying, movies, clubbing, walking, sleeping, pets, friends, gardening, sports, hobbies, music etc. All these in the right amount will give you a useful break from study. If you rest and relax, you can return to study refreshed after time off and can have something to look forward to when you are studying. Rest is most efficient when it is worry and guilt free.

For more information see the Managing Stress and being a Successful Student.

8. Get enough sleep so you can study effectively
When you are sleep-deprived, it is very difficult to be motivated to study or concentrate properly. You can do many things when sleep-deprived such as surf the internet, chatting online, speak to friends, play sports, and work (sometimes). Although you can do these things, it may create the illusion that you can get by on little sleep. However, it is very difficult to effectively study when sleep-deprived. When students have too many non-study activities, they often manage by reducing sleep. On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, it is best to go to bed at the same time and get up eight hours later. Once you set the alarm, lights should be out eight hours before the alarm goes off. It helps to leave at least 30 minutes for the transition from waking activity to sleep. In this time, you should not do things that will wake you up. It is a time to calm down. Many sleep problems are caused by trying to sleep and trying to think at the same time, which is impossible. The simplest solution to this problem is to commit eight hours to rest and do your thinking after you wake up.

For more information see Sleep - Improve it!.

9. After falling behind - set realistics study goals
It is better to pass one or two subjects than to attempt all of your subjects and fail them all. It is also better to aim for a pass than to aim for a high grade and not hand in the assignment. It helps to prioritise study or assignments.

Ask yourself:

Which is the most important?
What will be easiest to finish?
What one should I start with?
Once you have clear priorities, there are two ways to proceed.

Do one assignment or subject until it is finished putting others aside until you have finished the first assignment. It can sometimes help to put the books associated with other topics away so you do not think about them, until you are ready to do them.
Only study one subject at a time. For example, for half a day, study only one subject and do not to think about any other subject during that time. Then for the next half day, study another subject and only think about that subject during that period of time.
10. Negotiate with academics to hand in late assignments
You may need to negotiate with lecturers to hand assignments in late. Academics are often willing to do this so seek their help.

Starting University can be an exciting time. It is often accompanied by many lifestyle changes such as new routines, meeting new people, making new friends, and generally adjusting to campus life. In the midst of all of this, students are expected to develop effective study skills in an environment that may be very different to the one they were use to in school.

Below are some tips to help you manage your time and your work load, cope with the stress of study and hopefully have you well on the way to academic success in your chosen field!

ESTABLISH A TIMETABLE: Schedule fixed commitments (e.g. lectures, tutorials, sports training). Also schedule in due dates for assignments, projects and presentations etc. It is useful to bring these dates forward by a few days to give you extra time, which can provide you with an opportunity to reflect and can also compensate for the unexpected (e.g. illnesses). Decide how you can best use the remaining time, recognising the importance of allocating time for recreation, socialising, family, and yourself. Establishing study/life balance through effective time management is one of the most important study skills you can develop.

PLAN YOUR DAY: Begin each day with a list of things you both “have to” and “want to” accomplish. It is better to have more items on your list than less. A task will tend to expand with the time allocated for it. If you have one or two items on your list it is likely to take all day to do them. However if you have ten items on your list you may not complete all ten but you are likely to have completed seven or eight during the same allocation of time.

PRIORITISE THE LIST: This is about knowing what is important. Rate the tasks in order of priority, and tackle them in order of importance doing the most important first.

ORGANISE YOUR PLACE OF WORK: Ensure that your study area is a pleasant environment. Organise your books, papers etc. so that they are easily accessed. Searching for things is a big time- waster. Have a tidy desk.

KNOW YOUR PEAK TIMES: Decide when you have the most energy as this corresponds with when you are most able to focus and concentrate. Schedule your most demanding work for these times and less demanding work for other times when energy is not as high.

STUDY BREAKS: Study for about an hour at a time then have a short break. This is an efficient study method because while you are taking a break the brain is still processing the information. Breaks between study blocks also ensure that your levels of concentration are more likely to be maintained. Ensure that you have time off from study each day and that you have some period of holiday time in semester/mid-semester breaks. Non-study time is essential to effective study as it allows you to refresh, manage stress and provide a balance that will enable you to sustain your efforts over your whole degree. It is also important to make sure that you don’t over commit yourself with extra curricular activities to the point that it starts to negatively impact on your allocated study time. See our pamphlet “Managing stress and being a successful student” for more information on this.

DIVIDE AND CONQUER: A large assignment or project may appear overwhelming however it becomes manageable and achievable when broken down into several smaller parts. Set realistic, achievable goals and complete one part at a time.

ALLOCATE THINKING AND REFLECTION TIME: After having completed a piece of writing it can be very useful to leave it for a day or two and then to return to it with new ideas and enthusiasm. Effective time management can allow you the space to do this.

AVOID PROCRASTINATION: Develop strategies that help you resist being hindered by procrastination. Make decisions that are valuing of you and undermining of procrastination. It can be useful to start early in the day. Completing one small task soon after waking up is very empowering and can reduce the risk of procrastination. Reward yourself when you have successfully resisted procrastination and completed your tasks. See our pamphlet ‘The Perfect Procrastinator’ for further details on how to overcome procrastination.

LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH INTERRUPTIONS: Let the person interrupting you know that you are studying and that you really need to continue. Effective time-management allows you free time, so learn how to politely and assertively invite people to phone or visit you during these specific, non-study times.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: Make sure you are attending to the three basics for health and well-being, which are sleep, nutrition, and physical activity.

Healthy Eating

Ensure that your diet is nutritional and that you eat regularly. The brain is not able to convert stored energy (fat) into energy it can use and requires energy directly from food. Keep your blood sugar levels consistent by eating regular, nutritional food (whole grain breads and cereals, lean protein, fruits and vegetables). This will ‘feed’ your brain and will assist you to be able to concentrate.

Getting enough sleep

If you are not getting enough sleep you will not be able to concentrate or focus at your optimum level. Try to establish a sleep routine that allows for about 7- 9 hours of sleep per night. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine that will allow you to unwind and “send a signal” to your brain that it is time to sleep. See our pamphlet “Increasing your zzz’s” for more information on getting a good night sleep.

Regular Exercise

Exercise daily – physical activity helps to manage stress, lifts your mood and improves concentration. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. This can be an organised sport of just going for a brisk walk. .

TIME FOR A SOCIAL LIFE: Ensure that you schedule time for socialising, catching up with friends, seeing a movie, visiting family members etc. This contributes to achieving balance in your life which is beneficial to effective study.

STUDY WITH FRIENDS: Sometimes it can be hard to get motivated to study. Feeling deprived, lonely and bored can make the prospect of study almost impossible. It may be worthwhile trialling a study arrangement with a friend. It doesn't need to be with someone doing the same subject or even the same course. Ideally it is with someone you enjoy spending time with. Some students find this invaluable. It's a bit like joining a gym - you are more likely to keep going if you go with someone else. Given a choice we usually prefer to work alongside others to reassure ourselves that we are not alone in the world when it comes to effort and hard work.

If you try it, there are some pretty important things to think about. Studying with a friend (or group of friends) can't be an excuse for a chat. It is a mutual commitment to encourage and support each other, not distract and sabotage.

KEEP THE BIG PICTURE IN MIND – VALUE YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU’RE WANTING TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR LIFE

If you want further support or information around any of these ideas then you can talk with a counsellor at the University Counselling Service. Phone 8303 5663 to make an appointment or drop in to the centre.