Starting university can be a bit daunting whether you’re a first year student or a continuing student coming back from the uni break, but it doesn’t have to be like that! Here are some tips on how to make your academic workload just a little bit more manageable.
1. Attend your lectures and tutorials
This sounds like a common sense thing to do, but it really can’t be overstated. Studies show that there is a direct correlation between students who attend classes and students who score in the top percentile.
Lectures
This means that lecture capture, although convenient, shouldn’t be used to substitute lectures. Sometimes it’s not always possible to go to classes, life can get in the way – it happens! But it’s important to remember that lecture capture doesn’t convey the same audio-visual experience that people gain while being present in the lecture room. So go to class and your future self and your GPA will thank you for it later!
Assessable tutes
In some courses, tutorial participation and/or tutorial preparation counts to your overall mark. Be sure to check the ‘Assessment’ tab of your course profiles to see if this applies to you. Those marks gained in tutorials can really make a difference to your overall grade!
2. Complete your weekly readings
A handy exam revision tip is to go over the required weekly readings during the semester as they tend to relate to content covered in exams and assignments. These readings can also provide useful information that’s not covered in lectures or tutorials. Lecturers and tutors may flag important readings, pay attention if/when this happens!
Another tip is to make summaries of your course’s weekly topics, so come exam time you can compile your exam notes without much hassle.
3. Ask questions!
Talk to your lecturer and tutors if you don’t understand topic covered in class, there is no such thing as a silly question! It’s possible if you don’t understand something there are others in your class that feel the same way. And if you don’t feel comfortable asking a question in-person, you can always send an email instead.
Attending university is about learning and that means asking questions, even those that might seem really obvious to everyone else. Everyone learns differently, and sometimes all it takes for everything you learnt to make sense is a rephrasing of a concept or just looking at a topic from a different perspective.
4. Find a balance between your uni work and the rest of your life!
As important as studying is, finding a balance between your academic, social and work life is just as important. How we feel affects how we learn, and consequently our grades. So take breaks every now and then, hang out with your friends, watch a movie, and get involved with the Griffith University community because there is something there for everyone! Want to know more about uni life balance? Check out Dave’s time management suggestions.
If you’re looking for ideas for social activities at Griffith check out:
Comment below if you use any of these study tips or if you have some of your own that you’d like to share.
I hope everyone has an amazing semester and good luck with your studies!
– Erika
