The following numbered tips are presented at a Study Skills Help page created by Dr. Carolyn Hopper, Learning Strategies Coordinator for the Developmental Studies Department at Middle Tennessee State University.  The responses to each tip have been formulated based on informal interviews with several college students.

(Your first-aid kit--9 tips to keep you afloat.)

1. If you haven't already registered, try not to schedule back to back classes. You'll wear yourself out besides missing the best times to study--right before and right after class.

. To really survive college: First off, find out from your friends which classes are "a joke."  You will not survive a full coarse load without at least one blow-off class.  If you don't feel like taking a lot of credits, don't worry.  You can make the credits up another semester. Make an effort to work closely with an academic advisor to ensure that you are on track to graduate with the bare minimum number of credits.  That way, you'll know you didn't do any unnecessary work.  In terms of scheduling back to back classes, do it if, and only if, it means that you will not have class on Fridays.

2. Begin the first day of class.  Know what's expected of you.  Take notes from the first day even if it's routine stuff you think you already know.

. To really survive college: The first day, even the first week, of class is strictly optional.  Usually the syllabus is passed out and the professor goes over it.  If material is covered, it's either basic, or a review of stuff you already know.  If the professor asks you why you missed the first week of class, tell him that you were still "working out scheduling difficulties."

3. Establish a routine time to study for each class.  For every hour you spend in class, you will probably need to study two hours outside class.  Studying for each subject should be at the same time, same place, if possible.  Study includes more than just doing your homework.  You will need to go over your notes by class, labeling, editing, and making sure you understand them.   Study your syllabus daily to see where you are going and where you have been.  Be sure to do reading assignments.  (Don't put them off just because there's not a written assignment.)  Read ahead whenever possible.  Prepare for each class as if there will be a pop quiz.

. To really survive college: Don't kid yourself, you're not going to review your notes daily.  They are not necessary until the night before the exam. Don't waste money on an assignment book, remembering everything is pretty simple. On your syllabus, pen in a star next to test dates and when assignments are due. Try your best to remember those dates. If you ever forget a paper or something, just skip class. Next class; tell the teacher that you have no excuse for missing class even if your parents are going through a rough divorce. Never read ahead; just pray that the class will get behind the syllabus and readings will be cancelled.

4. Establish a place to study.  Your place should have a desk, comfortable chair, good lighting, all the supplies you need, etc., and of course, should be as free of distractions as possible.  It should not be a place where you routinely do other things.  It should your study place.

. To really survive college: If you can, find a place to study near a TV, stereo, and some kind of video game system.  This way, you will have stuff to do during your study breaks.  The night before the test, find a place to study in close proximity to a classmate who has attended every class and taken detailed notes.  Ask them nicely if they will give you a "Cliffs Notes" version of what will be on the test.  If they give you a dirty look, ask them if they would like some pizza--your treat.

5. Do as much of your studying in the daytime as you can.  What takes you an hour to do during the day may take you an hour and a half at night.

. To really survive college: Realize that what usually takes you an hour to do normally can take about twenty minutes if you knock down a cafe mocha, a Red Bull energy drink, and two No-Doze caffeine pills.

6. Schedule breaks.  Take a ten-minute break after every hour of study.  If possible, avoid long blocks of time for studying.  Spread out several short study sessions during the day.

. To really survive college: Take most of your breaks before you start studying.  A good way to do this is to make promises to yourself that you will get to your assignments after watching "Must See TV."  If you ever end up breaking your promise, just make another similar one.

7. Make use of study resources on campus.  Find out about and use labs, tutors, videos, computer programs, and alternate texts.  Sign up for an orientation session in the campus library and computer facilities.  Get to know your professors and advisors.  Ask questions.  "I didn't know," or "I didn't understand" is never an excuse.

. To really survive college: Don't look like a dork.  Labs are for scientists, not popular college students.  Moreover, getting help shows weakness.  Act as if you know what's going on at all times even if you don't.  Be confident that you will figure things out before the test.  You may even want to poke fun at students who get tutoring or ask "stupid questions" in class.  Avoid asking questions yourself.  For one, you will look like a nerdy school-lover.  Secondly, you run the risk of prolonging class by raising an interesting point.

8. Study the hardest subject first.  Work on your hardest subjects at a time when you are fresh.  Putting them off until you're tired compounds the problem.

. To really survive college: Do all of the easy stuff first, so that you will be ready to bear down on the tough job.  Chances are you will perform best under pressure.  If you save the hardest stuff until the end, you will do the best job.

9. Be good to yourself. Studying on four hours of sleep and an empty stomach or junk-food diet is a waste of time. A void food and drink containing caffeine just before or just after studying.

. To really survive college: Four hours sleep is more than a sufficient amount, regardless of whether you have school work to do or not.  If you have a test to study for, pizza or greasy foods, in combination with high levels of caffeine, are your best friends.  If you avoid caffeine, you will fall asleep before you finish cramming.  Thus, if you avoid caffeine, you might as well not study at all.