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A Student's Study Set-Up

As a high school senior, adults would often tell me that college is a lot harder than high school. I didn't believe them at first but, four years into my Dartmouth career, I've decided they were right! One key difference between high school and college is the speed of the courses. At Dartmouth, each academic term lasts ten weeks. In that time, you'll likely face two rounds of midterms exams, a few presentations, and daily readings. It's daunting at first, but it's manageable! The pace of classes helps you develop strong study habits to make the most of your time. Plus, there are plenty of resources to help you succeed. So, without further ado, here are some study habits I've learned over the years. 

1: Plan Ahead

This one's pretty straightforward, but it's easy to forget! In a Dartmouth term, students usually juggle lots of responsibilities both in and out of the classroom, so it can be easy to accidentally overbook yourself. To avoid this, I go through my class syllabi at the start of classes and put every assignment on my calendar. That way, I can plan around them as other activities come up. And make sure you schedule in some free time — burnout is real, but you can avoid it with some rest and fun activities.

2: Talk to Your Professors

Looking back, I don't think I attended office hours until my second year at Dartmouth — don't be like me. Professors can seem intimidating at first but, trust me, they want to see you succeed! Office hours are a great way to clear up anything that didn't make sense in class or get help with assignments. Plus if there are other students there, they might ask some good questions that you hadn't thought of yourself. So, make sure to put your professors' office hours in your weekly calendar.

3: Find a Good Study Spot

This one is key! The environment in which you study can greatly affect how well you focus. As you search, think about how much background noise, sunlight, and space you prefer. Dartmouth has more study spots than I've been able to try out in my four years here, so I'm sure you'll find a good fit.

4: Figure Out with Whom You Can Study

I love my friends but, unfortunately, I've figured out I can't study with them. For me, it can be easy to get distracted and start chatting if I am with a large group of people. So, I prefer to do my work during the day and hangout with friends afterwards. However, I've found that forming study groups in class can be helpful when studying for big tests. Other students might know things that you don't, and vice versa, which can help speed up your study sessions.

So, these are my study tips! One last thing I'd like to mention is the Academic Skills Center. If you're ever in a jam, they can help you find tutors, study groups, study coaches, and anything that you can think of to help you succeed at Dartmouth. I hope this helps!

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