study tips from someone who has already been there
here are a few things i’ve learned along the way. in case you’re asking for credentials, i have an honours bachelors of arts in sociology with a concentration in criminology and am currently in the last year of my second degree in public health. these are some of the most important things i’ve retained over the years in terms of studying/finals/midterms/etc.
- start studying early: when i say early, i don’t mean like 2 days before the test. i mean like at least a week before the test. even better, look over your notes after each class for a little bit to get a grasp of what was said.
- go to review sessions: if your TA or professor holds them. they usually give away some valuable tidbits about the exam and go over all of the relevant content that you should know.
- actually do the readings: it’s a lot easier to do them during the semester than it is the night before the exam. so keep up with them.
- use online tools: my favourite for studying is . it works wonders when you have a class that’s heavy in memorization. i usually add all of my terms in and them print out tests to practice. i do this multiple times.
- invest in a whiteboard: yes. such a simple tool but oh so effective. whiteboards help you to visualize what is in front of you. mind maps on paper are great but on a whiteboard, even better.
- use your friends for help: engage in study groups. believe it or not, there are some people out there who know more about a particular topic than you do. this is effective when you hate the class.
- prioritize: try and figure out where you should be devoting the majority of your brain power. coordinate lecture notes with readings and see which content overlaps. this = goldmine.
- use office hours: professors do so much more than just stand in front of the class and teach. can’t tell you how many times i’ve gone and sat with my professors and just chatted about what was going on. build rapport. this also helps later on with grad school letters or references.
- go to class: just do it.




