How to tackle BIG reading assignments in college

You know that feeling you get when you realize you have over 100 pages to read in a week for school? Instead of letting that feeling take over (i.e. making you avoid reading at all costs) do this instead:

How to Get Good Grades in College

How good does getting good grades feel?

You'll have to see the episode below to find out. ;)

But seriously, it feels great. And if you haven't experienced the elation of getting straight-A's, this video will show you how it can be possible. 

(spoiler alert: I dress up like a pageant queen and a wrestler; I'm waiting for my oscar nomination in the mail any day now.)

Ask Isa: 3 study strategies that helped me get 100's on exams

From the Ask Isa inbox:

Dear Isa,

This semester has started and my classes are pretty hard already. I looked at my syllabus for each class and I notice there are a lot of days where I have two or three tests from each class on the same day. 

How do you manage to study WISELY for tests that are packed on the same day? What type of study habit do I need to go through? I've never been in a situation like this.

Sincerely,

Too Many Tests

Dear Too Many Tests,

This is a great question to ask - as exams can often fall in the same day, especially at the end of the semester. 

Below are the three things I did to manage many tests. 

I became a master test taker - me, who did NOT get a good SAT score. But I often got 100's on my tests using the methods below. I really hope they help you as much as they helped me - because one of the best feelings in the world is approaching test day with confidence. 

1) Study every day
There wasn't a day in college that I didn't study. And no, I didn't spend hours and hours in the library. And yes I did have a social life. When I say "study" I don't mean staring at your textbook for hours. That doesn't work. 

Instead, I developed a habit of getting to every class at least 10 minutes early. During that time I would review the notes I'd taken so far in that class, as well as scan the reading.  

During these short reviews if there was something that wasn't easy for me to grasp I'd make a note of it and schedule time during my professor's office hours to ask about the concept.

That kind of studying never took more than one hour each day, and it made studying for the exams the week  before test week almost feel too easy.

2) Meet with a study group
Study groups aren't for everyone, but they were huge for me. The biggest mistake students make with study groups is thinking they will get major "studying" done during that time. 

The best study groups are the ones where you've already done all your studying before meeting with others. I would meet with a study group usually the day before a test. I'd often create flash cards or make up some sort of game we could play.

Then we would test each other and essentially "talk out" the test concepts. I loved it because it gave me an opportunity to reiterate what I knew and boost my confidence. As a social learner it also helped me to talk it out (but again, that depends on your learning style, this is just mine). 

Often others in my study group hadn't studied a lot before the meeting, which gave me the chance to be "teacher" which really helped. One of the best ways to embed the information is to teach it to someone else. 

3) Relax the day of the tests
Cramming for a test does not really work. If you've spread out your studying over the semester you should be set up for a relatively relaxing test day.

Intensify your studying the week before the test and schedule time in the library every day to study. And again, don't just stare at the book. Create practice tests for yourself, use Quizlet.com when relevant, and build activities for yourself to test your knowledge so you can check what you know and what you still need to work on. 

Study early enough so that you have time to talk with your professor and/or go to the tutoring center for any concepts you're struggling with. 

It's vital to do all this BEFORE the day of the tests. 

On the day of it's best to let your brain relax so you're not stressed; you've done all the work and test day is just the time to reap the benefits.

Get at least eight hours of sleep. Eat a big, healthy breakfast. Take a walk or do some stretching. Listen to your favorite music as you drive or walk to the class. Arrive a few minutes early. And don't take out your notes that day.

Just sit in class and breathe as you wait for the exam to be passed out. You'll see everyone else frantically scanning their notes, and you'll be able to sit peacefully, knowing you're ready.

It's one of the best feelings in school. 

Good luck!! You can be a test master.

Video: Tips to avoid writer's block

It's mid-semester and chances are that means you have some essays due. Check out the video below from the Pearson Students blog for some tips to overcome writer's block and make your essay process yield less stress and better grades.

5 things to improve your grades

One of my most popular YouTube videos is the one that shares what to do after you fail a test. I love the questions I receive in the comments section of the video because most come from students who are so eager to do well in college. 

I've met enough students who had GPA's of 1.0 their first try in college and who came back later - when they were motivated - and got 4.0's to know that grades are more about strategy and focus than any kind of inherent intelligence. 

Sometimes students struggle in classes simply because they don't have the right strategies.

And unless you're already easily getting a 4.0, there's probably more you can do to get better grades and limit stress (e.g. I never pulled an all-nighter).

So below are the top 5 strategies I used in college that helped me and so many others get straight-A's: 

1) Schedule daily library time
When I built my schedule each semester I purposefully left time in between classes to force myself to work in the library. As a commuter, it's hard to resist the temptation to just go to class and go home. Spacing classes out is a great way to make the most of your campus experience.

Create a block of time each day you're on campus to spend in the library. I was usually in the library for a few hours Monday-Thursday and it worked great. 

I never had to do homework at home, at night, or on the weekends. I never had to turn down friends to hang out because I had to study. I was always ahead, and it felt great.

Even if the library isn't your favorite place, dedicate yourself to spend time on campus in a place that motivates you to do your homework. Schedule it in and go without fail.

2) Use your professors' office hours
In addition to meeting with every professor as a potential mentor, I always talked to professors about big assignments and exams. 

For example, when assigned an essay I'd do my initial research and then come to the professor with any questions that came up and to run my thesis by him or her for feedback. 

I also brought my exams back. For example, when you get math or science exams back, check over the answers you got wrong; if you can't figure out why you got any one wrong, bring the exam to your professor and ask for help.

When you're diligent with this, professors are more than happy to help because they'll see your motivation. 

3) Choose classes (and a major) you really like
I'm sure it would have been possible, but I'm not as confident I would have gotten straight-A's if I'd taken calculus or organic chemistry. 

I chose a major I loved (communications), and when it came to science and math-based general education requirements, I chose only what I needed for my major (which I knew by checking the catalog of the transfer university I planned on attending).

When it came to requirements like history, I chose courses that truly fascinated me. 

Don't choose classes based on convenience. Choose them based on what you find interesting, and do your research. When you like a class it's so much easier to do well. 

4) Put syllabus reminders in a calendar
Stay on top of due dates and develop an organizational system that makes staying on top of assignments in multiple classes easy. My life saver was my palm pilot (lol I know, I know - I went to college before the iPhone, okay?) and Google calendar reminders sent to my phone (see #2 in this blog post for how to set this up). 

5) Go to class
I know this seems obvious, but I cannot tell you how many people boasted to me that college was so great because professors don't take attendance so you really don't have to go to class. (Note: all of those people took 5-6 years to get their bachelors degrees and failed a few classes).

Show up every day unless you're really sick. Sit in the front row. Make it a point to contribute at least once every class. 

Getting good grades is less about natural intelligence and much more about being fully engaged. You can do this. 

What other strategies have worked well for you in getting good grades? Please share on the Facebook page!