Appropriate study group etiquette

As a follow up question to How to start a study group, part II, the same reader writes:

"Is it appropriate to ask my study group questions of my own only, and repeatedly after the first and the next....?" 

One of the most important things to keep in mind when you are working with a study group is what you want out of the study group itself.  Most first generation and low income college students use study groups as a way to get to know other students, discuss their assignments with other students, share input and perspective on assignments, learn course material more in depth, and prevent or deal with academic difficulty.


All of these reasons for being in a study group are partially selfish, but meant to help everyone in the group. Study group member should be sharing information, bouncing ideas off of each other, and otherwise working as a collaborative team.

So, it is definitely appropriate to ask questions when you have them, but also help answer questions when you understand the material. If you are willing to help out whenever someone else in your study group has questions, it should not be a problem that you ask a ton of questions.

Just don't take over study group sessions and make them all about you and your questions. Hijacking all of the study group time for your only your own benefit is inappropriate.

Honestly, from your question, it sounds like you may be trying to get more from your study group than you are willing to give. Remember that it is a study group, so things should run smoothly if you contribute to a positive group dynamic and share in the question asking and answering.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

How to start a study group, part II

A reader writes:

"I have always wanted to form a study group on my own, perhaps around a group of 4 - 8 people.  I have replies email from them (all of us do not know each other, rather we have the initial course that we have in common) but didn't know that what to do after that.

Can you give me hints to start the ball rolling? I have an assignment with me, apparently not sure should I just type out the question and email to the group and wait for any reply?"

I've written about starting a study group before, so please check out that post for additional hints to getting the ball rolling for your study group. But I must say congratulations, you have already done one of the first steps to forming a study group by emailing a few students in your class.

Now that you have already contacted a couple of classmates, what you do next will largely depend on what you want out of the study group itself.

If you want to use this as an opportunity to get to know other students and/or discuss the assignment with other students, definitely try to arrange a time for everyone to get together to go over the assignment you already have. Keep in mind the due date and how much time you think the assignment will take when thinking about a meeting time.

When it comes to getting everyone's available times and setting a time for everyone to meet, try using a handy scheduling tool like Doodle to make it easy on yourself. If your campus uses an online student calendar, that might be a handy tool to use for study group scheduling also.

If you want to get other students' input and perspective on the assignment, but don't necessarily need the face-to-face interaction, you can email them your questions, comments, and concerns about the assignment and ask for their feedback. This can be a good way to ease into having a study group without the pressure of coordinating a group.

If you are really unsure about what you want out of the study group, it would be appropriate to email your fellow study group-mates and let them know that you are open-minded to how the study group should function and you want to get their input in forming the group.

Remember, it's okay to let them know that this is the first study group that you have formed. Chances are that another student with more experience working with study groups will help you out. If that is not the case, check out your campus' tutoring center. Often, tutoring and study skills centers have more information about forming study group.

Really, it boils down to being clear about what goals you have for the study group and plan according to that. Good luck with your study group!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

How to start a study group

I am a big fan of recommending forming study groups as a great academic tool for first generation and low income college students. Study groups give you the opportunity to really understand the class material and build relationships with your classmates. Study groups are awesome.

Photo credit: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/

But, I realize, you may not know how to go about starting a study group of your very own. So here are a few tips for you to get a study group started:

Put the word out. First, you have to let your classmates know that you are starting a study group. You can create a sign up sheet and pass it around class, talk to your friends in the class or major, post to your class' website or email listserv, make an announcement before lecture or discussion (with instructor's permission), or ask the instructor to make announcement on your behalf.

Logistics, logistics, logistics. Get available times and contact information from your study group members and set a time for everyone to meet. Arrange to reserve a room or space on campus or at a convenient local spot. Let everyone know when your first meeting will be and to bring study material like textbooks, notes, or lecture recordings. , decide on how often to meet

Get on the same page. At your first study group session, talk with your study group to agree on how often the group will meet, how the group should function, and what roles people want to take on. Roles might include leader, organizer, moderator, and notetaker. Also make sure you talk about expectations, accountability, and commitment to the study group.

Nip it in the bud. In any group setting, problems might arise like a lack of attendance, preparation, or motivation. Whenever issues like these come up, make sure to openly discuss it with the group so everyone can benefit from the study group.

Don't go it alone. Study groups are great to bounce ideas off of each other, but you may come to an impasse sometimes or may not collectively understand a particular topic. If this happens, go to the instructor when the group disagrees about course material or are all confuse. The instructor is the ultimate authority when it comes to class material.

Have a great day of academic achievement with your study group.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

3 tips for surviving finals

The end of the semester or quarter is here, and that means that finals are here for all the first generation and low income college students out there.

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Here are 3 tips to help you survive and thrive during finals week: 

Get your grub on. Eating right sets you and your body up for a great finals week, so make sure to stick with fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins like chicken breast or tofu. Check out MIT Medical's handy list of brain food for exams to help you make healthy choices.

Hydrate yourself. You will feel much better if you drink plenty of water. If you want something other than water, choose juice instead of tea or soda. Also, avoid coffee and alcohol. Yeah, I said no coffee... stick to decaf if you just like the taste. see the next tip if you're unconvinced...

Hit the hay. One of the best ways you can keep yourself at your best is to get some sleep. This means no all-nighters and take a nap every now and then.

These tips will help keep you healthy, alert, and ready for the week so that you can have a great week of academic achievement.

Oh, and while you're at it, here are a few other blogs and shameless self promotion with other pieces of wisdom to help you have a successful finals week:

• Hack College: Survive your finals hell weeks
• Grades Blog: How to get through finals
• Ask an Advisor: 6 steps to get ready for a test
• Ask an Advisor: Just say no to cramming
• Ask an Advisor: Dealing with stress
• Ask an Advisor: Boosting your self-esteem
• Ask an Advisor: More ways to boost your self-esteem

Good luck on finals!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Using to-do lists

Getting everything done when you need to finish a bunch of stuff can seem crazy for some first generation or low income college students. It can even feel downright overwhelming as finals are fast approaching.

But one of the easiest ways you can juggle all that you need to juggle is to keep track of it all by using to-do lists. A good to-do list will help you figure out your priorities, keep track of what you've accomplished, and help you plan out your day.

Photo credit: http://www.lifehack.org/

When making a to-to list, here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

Be specific. Provide yourself with details, like instead of saying "Go to office hours" put down "Go to Psych 101 office hours to ask questions about midterm" on your to-do list. Do yourself a favor by laying it out.

Break down larger tasks in smaller steps. For the big tasks you have on your plate, always think of them as a bunch of little tasks. "Write 10-page research paper" is easier when you break it down to "Write 1-page intro," "Research sources at library," "Write 8-page body," "Write 1-page conclusion," and "Finish reference page." Things will be less scary if you take it one step at a time.

Prioritize tasks and set deadlines. Make sure you know what is most important, when it needs to be finished, and plan to get that done first. You can use numbers, ranks, pluses and minuses, smiley faces, or whatever to note what you need to accomplish first. This is definitely where paying attention to details will come in handy.

If you really want to write a killer to-do list, check out 43 Folders' Building a smarter to-do list. As you craft your to-do lists, have a productive day of academic achievement.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Just say no to cramming

Tons of first generation and low income college students attempt to study by cramming and pulling all-nighters. Um, both of these are really, really bad ideas.

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CRAMMING DOES NOT WORK! The main reason that cramming and all-night study sessions don't work is that you're not giving your brain the time it needs to process the information you're trying to remember. Cramming only commits information to your short-term memory.

If you're at the point of cramming as a study method, you're already starting from behind. Might this be due to a little procrastination? Following a regular study plan is a much better way to go to have a great day of academic achievement.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it. 

Measure twice, cut once

I am feeling much better after a brief stint in the hospital during which I had the genius idea to expand the Ask an Advisor empire! So I ditched the blogspot url, ponied up for a domain of my very own (woo hoo, http://www.askanadvisor.org!!!), and decided to start consulting... and I have two clients already!

For one project, I'm working on an awesome campaign to promote first generation college student pride at my alma mater. First, I'm helping with the marketing materials for the campaign and got to work designing this graphic:

I was in love with this graphic, I was so excited to be a part of this project, I was ridiculously thrilled with my handiwork... Then I reviewed the specifications and was crushed, just utterly heartbroken. As awesome as I thought this graphic was, I couldn't get it to fit the specifications without looking like hell. Then I got really angry with myself for not starting with the specifications and going from there...

The moral of the story? Before tackling assignments, always, always, always read the specifications, grading rubric, guidelines, syllabus, or whatever first. In construction, there is the saying, "Measure twice, cut once." Basically, this means know exactly what you need to do and have a plan before you get started.

Reviewing the specifications given to me before putting time into designing a graphic I can't use now would have saved me a lot of time, energy, and heartache...

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

6 steps to get ready for a test

Midterms, oh how you can make first generation and low income college students quake in their boots (or other fashionable footwear of choice).Why? Because midterms can bring up feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety--especially if you are feeling under-prepared for the upcoming test.

Photo credit: www.janegoodwin.net/

But don't be scared of your midterms! Preparation is the key to walking into class and laying the smackdown on a midterm. How do you prepare for a test? Easy, you follow these 6 steps:

1. Figure out the format. Because you've been going to class, visiting your professors in office hours, and following a sound study plan all semester, you already know what format the test will be, right?. If you don't, refer to the syllabus first or ask your professor if it's not in the syllabus. Is it multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blank, essay, in class, take home, open-book? Figure it out!

2. Review everything. Go over your notes with a fine-tooth comb and make additional notes or highlight the really important stuff. Look back at the assigned readings to see if anything pops out for you.

3. Identify your weaknesses. Don't spend time reviewing material you are comfortable with, instead focus on the areas where you aren't as solid.

4. Revisit the past. If available, check out the department or library reserves for previous tests from the class. Use the older tests to better acquaint yourself with the material and format of the test. If old tests are not available, create your own test. If you are in a study group or tutoring, work with your group or tutor on this.

5. Practice makes you better. Now that you've got those old tests or do-it-yourself practice test, take them! Create a similar environment and go through the motions of taking the test. For example, sit at a desk, set an alarm, and take the practice test from start to finish just as you would on test day.

6. Make your own study guide. After reviewing your notes and and taking your practice tests, summarize the highlights on a single sheet as your own study guide.

Now go forth, study well, and have a great day of academic achievement!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it. 

6 steps to efficient proofreading

Another expectation you may or may not be aware of as a first generation college student is that any written work that you turn in for a class in college is expected to be free of any grammatical or spelling errors. It is expected to be your very best work, so only relying on good ol' (or bad ol') spellchecker is a surefire way not to present your best work. Spellchecker is not your friend!
 
When it comes to the last steps of the writing process, you cannot put all your faith in a machine to do your very human task of proofreading and final editing. Spellchecker will tell you that principle and principal are spelled correctly, but which one did you intend to use? Same thing goes for their, there, and they're, compliment and complement, two, to, and too, its and it's, and so on. 

Photo credit: www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk

You may fear the evil red pen used to correct your papers in the past. You might assume your paper will look like it's hemorrhaging with all of the red marks on it. Regardless of how you feel about it, you can avoid being screwed over by spellchecker dependency by following these 6 steps to efficient proofreading: 

1. Print out your paper. People tend to notice things more when reading a hard copy, so don't just sit and stare at your monitor. 

2. Read it aloud.  Don't just read it, say it and pay attention. Does something sound off or doesn't flow just right? Hearing yourself can help you figure these things out far better than a cold reading. 

3. Begin at the end. Go sentence by sentence from the end of your paper and work your way to the start. Reading it backwards will keep your mind from assuming you know what's on the printed page.

4. Share your work. Ask someone you trust, someone who will be honest with you, to read it to see if he or she can pick out any mistakes. Better yet, get a few folks to look at it. You might even be spellchecker buddies with a friend, where you both help proofread the other person's work.

5. Take it to a pro. If your campus has a writing or tutoring center, have your paper reviewed by someone there. And don't forget to actually follow their advice.

6. Wash, rinse, repeat. Now that you've gone through the above steps, do them all again after you've made any changes to make sure your changes were for the better.

These 6 steps will help ensure that you are turning in your very best work!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

6 ways to prevent academic difficulty

Like procrastination, just the thought of being in academic difficulty (my nice way of saying "being at risk of failing out of college") brings up feelings of inadequacy, anxiousness, and guilt for most first generation and low income college students.To ward off these feelings, the best thing you can do is be proactive to prevent being in academic difficulty.

Here are 6 ways you can prevent academic difficulty:

Talk to an on-campus advisor. It's time to realize that this is going to be one of my broken record rants. You absolutely have to talk to someone on your campus for the campus-specific information you need to prevent academic difficulty.

Go to office hours. This is going to be another of my broken record rants. Talking to your professor about the class material and assignments is one of the easiest ways to prevent academic difficulty. It gives you have the opportunity to ask questions and get intimate with the material. Don't waste this chance.

Ask for help as soon as possible. I know it can be tough for first generation and low income college students to ask for help, but you have to do it to prevent academic difficulty. I hate asking for help, but if I can suck it up and ask, you can too! And because you've been taking your butt to office hours regularly, it should be easier to ask your professor for their advice to get additional support.

Set up a study plan. Don't just study when you feel like it, actually plan ahead when, where, and what you are going to do study. But, if your study plan is not working for your, think about your study habits and plan and consider changing them if needed. You might also want to plan for extra study time on the things you are struggling most with. And remember, trial and error is ok.

Form study groups. Consider this an extension of your study plan. At the start of the semester or quarter, ask your professor if you can make an announcement in front of class and pitch your study group. Or pass around a sheet of paper as a sign up list. Take it to Facebook or use your class email listserv to get a group started. Chances are you are not the only one wanting to study together.

Get a tutor, if available. This is yet another extension of your study plan. If your campus offers free or cheap tutoring, always try to sign up before you think you'll need it. If they don't offer tutoring for the class that you need, check with the department for tutoring options. (I wouldn't recommend paying for tutoring unless you absolutely can afford it and can't get it any other way.)

There is no magic pill you can take to prevent academic difficulty, but these 6 steps are not insane. In fact they can help you have a great day--then week, quarter or semester, and year--of academic achievement.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Procrastination is like...

...masturbation because in the end, you're just screwing yourself. (Insert immature giggle. Go ahead, it's okay to laugh...) This is a little (or a lot) crass, but I will straight up tell first generation and low income college students this because sometimes you just need to hear the unfiltered truth to get your butt back in gear.

And, in addition to screwing yourself, procrastinating also tends to make you feel some combination of lazy, inadequate, anxious, just plain stupid, and/or straight up guilty for screwing yourself... which makes you not want to do whatever it is you're avoiding, and so the vicious cycle continues. For first generation and low income college students, it can be intensified because success in college tends to be tied to family pride and maintaining grades to keep financial aid and scholarships. So, what can you do about it?

Here is how you can stop screwing yourself (aka deal with procrastinating):

First, ask yourself why you are procrastinating? Whatever it is you're avoiding, why don't you want to do it? Do you not value it, don't know how to do it, or don't have what you need to do it? Once you know why you are trying not to do something, you can address that issue and deal with it.

Next, create a plan to get done whatever it is you're avoiding. Break it up into smaller, more manageable tasks. And for each small task you accomplish, plan to celebrate it or reward yourself in an appropriate way, like reading your favorite blog (hint, hint!) or eating a piece of candy.

I know, I know, it's easier said than done, but overcoming procrastination is not just a college survival skill, it's a life skill!

For more on procrastination and not falling into the screw-yourself trap, the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has some great information about it.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Trial and error is ok

When it comes to studying and otherwise maintaining a balance between study time and fun time, it can be tricky for first generation and low income college students. Although I suggest some cookie cutter study tips, these tips are not the end-all-be-all. Maybe highlighting your notes from class doesn't work for you because you learn better from hearing the material. If this is you, maybe recording lectures and listening to them while you review your notes is a better idea.

Maybe studying at the library is not your scene, but a coffee shop, park, or a campus center is more conducive to studying for you. You won't know until you try it.

Photo credit: www.royshaff.wordpress.com

Ultimately, you have to figure out what works best for you as an individual. This might require a little trial and error on your part, but the effort is definitely worth it. When something isn't working, tweak it or try something else.

Not sure what tweaks to make or what to try next? Ask me or an on-campus advisor about it!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Go to class! Part 2

For the first generation and low income college students who decided something else was more important than your college education and ditched class recently, check out the Should I Skip to Class? Calculator.

Photo credit: www.skipclasscalculator.com

If you make your way to this calculator and answer its 10 questions, it's supposed to estimate whether or not missing class is a good idea. And if aren't sure how to answer some of the questions, that should tell you to take your butt to class... After you answer the 10 questions, the calculator pops out a message like this:

"You MUST GO to class.

Not only is your mother going to be mad if you skip this class, but your prof might actually enjoy flunking you!

By the way, you have already skipped 20% of this semester's classes. Your next test or quiz is 7 days away."

I find this calculator kind of sad and funny, but enlightening at the same time. Either way, missing class is no laughing matter. I'm not the only one that thinks you should go to class!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Read textbooks BEOFRE class

After yesterday's study tips courtesy of College Lifestyles, I thought about one more very important piece of advice that a very wise man once gave me and a bunch of other first generation and low income college students during a summer bridge program that I attended before starting college: Read your textbooks before class.

Photo credit: www.darton.edu/

Chances are in high school and even at community college if you are/were a transfer student that you could get away with reading the chapters from the textbooks covered in class after class. Change this (bad) study habit immediately! The syllabus should lay out what chapters are being covered when, so plan accordingly and read before class.

There are some awesome advantages of reading before class--and some professors will expect you to anyway, even if they don't say it or it's not clear from their syllabus. First, you will already have a familiarity with the material when your professor goes over it in class. This means you won't feel so lost and confused if you you had questions and it gives you the chance to ask those questions while it's still fresh in your mind. (If you didn't think of any questions during class, but have them later on, go to your professor's office hours!)

Reading before class also helps you build a road map for your notes because you already know what to expect. You might be able to pick up on the important concepts and key words already, and now you know what to look and listen for. So now go be productive and have a great day of academic achievement while you are reading before class.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

It's study time

Earlier this week, I talked about three ways to start the academic year off on the right foot as a first generation or low income college student. One of those things you can do is to plan your semester or quarter to balance study time and play time...

Check out our friends over at College Lifestyles for a great set of study tips!

Photo credit: www.musthavemenus.com

 Have a great day if academic achievement!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Go to class!

If you do not live at home and commute to school, chances are that now that you're in college you will have freedom like you've never had before... Like the freedom to sleep in and not go to class when you don't feel like it. Resist this urge and go to class!

Photo credit: http://www.ct.gov/

As a first generation and low income college student, think about being a student as your full-time job (even if you have another job). So going to class should be a priority of yours. Even if you see your friends and peers not going to class, resist following their bad example.

Think about it this way, if you are taking out loans and working to pay for college, you should get your money's worth. If you have grants and scholarships (aka free money) to pay for college, don't waste the opportunity by not going to class. And if your scholarships require you to keep up a certain grade point average (GPA), going to class is the first step to help maintain your GPA. So go to class and have a great day of academic achievement while you're there.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

3 Ways to Start the Academic Year Off Right

If you've just started or are about to start the academic year, now is the time to set yourself up to do well. As a first generation or low income college student, this is especially true.

Photo credit: www.openmoves.com

 Here are three things you can do help you have a successful academic year:

1. Meet with an on-campus advisor. At the beginning of every academic year, you should meet with someone on your campus to talk about your academic plan. Talk about what classes need to take to meet your requirements. Talk about what a reasonable amount of classes to take is. Set specific goals for the academic year, like finding an internship related to your major. Ask about campus resources that will help you achieve those goal--and actually use those resources.

2. Plan your semester or quarter. After you have attended all of your classes for the first time and have gotten a syllabus for each of them, plot out when all of your assignments are due and when your tests are. Pay attention to when you have a lot going on and when you have less stuff due. Use this to plan your study time and fun time for the semester or quarter.

3. Go to your professors' office hours. Professors hold office hours to be available to students. One of the biggest complaints from professors is that students don't go their office hours, and when they do go it is often too late. Don't wait until you have a problem or a bunch of questions to talk to your professors. When you visit professors at the beginning of the academic year, introduce yourself and let them know what interests you about their class. Ask if they have any advice about being successful in their class, ask them about their research or academic interests. Establishing a relationship with your professors early on can lead the way to things like internships and research opportunities (you want these types of opportunities!).

In my experience working with first generation and low income college students, taking these three steps really can make the difference between having a not-so-good year and a good year. Here's to you having a good year.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.