Guide to Studying in College

Quick Tips

• Avoid distractions at all costs. It will interrupt your ability to retain information.
• Approach each effort with a willingness to study and do the work.
• Use highlighters to emphasize certain points for easier reference later on.
• Take notes as you read new material. This will help you retain what you read.
• Don't write down everything your professor says. Only make note of the most important points.
• Always review your notes after a lecture. You will be more likely to remember everything you've learned.
• Prioritize what you need to study, and get the most important work out of the way first.
• Take breaks every now and then while you study. A five to ten minute refresher every hour will help you work better.

Come to Terms with Studying

When you are in college, there is always something better to do than study. This is why you need to come to terms with the fact that you are in college and need to study. If you choose fun over study time every chance you get, you will be lucky to pass your required classes. If it makes things easier, think about college as a full time job. You need to put in at least 40 hours into classes, labs, meetings, study groups, and homework. If you attend a school based on a foundation of rigorous coursework and competition, you might need to bump that number up a little higher.

Create a Study Schedule

Once you get a syllabus from each professor, you should probably start planning your quarter or semester. Planning early may help you stay on track. There is nothing worse than being forced to chug caffeine so you can stay up past 3 o'clock preparing for the next morning's class. Scheduling can also allow you to spread out the work, thus helping you to feel less overwhelmed. When writing down your schedule, try to make it realistic as well as challenging. Make note of important days like when papers and projects are due and when you have midterms and finals.

Stick to Your Study Schedule

It's great to make a study schedule, but the next step is sticking to it. Staying committed to your plan will probably help you to be more successful as well as reduce your stress level. When planning your schedule, you should allow a little wiggle room for unexpected life events. You never know when a party or a date might come up. If you need to put something off, it shouldn't dramatically interfere with your plan. Flaking out too often will leave you behind and overwhelmed.

Find a Good Place to Study

Finding a good study haven is as essential as making a study schedule. Some students prefer reading out on the lawns where they can sunbathe as well as study. Others prefer the library because they have access to a variety of materials, not to mention silence. Many libraries offer group study rooms, tons of desks, and common rooms. Still, other students simply prefer studying in the comfort of their own rooms. Regardless of what place you choose, make sure you feel comfortable and can concentrate.

Use the SQ3R Method

If you want to study smarter, not harder, consider using a proven study method, such as SQ3R. The SQ3R method is based on simple principles:

Before you read, Survey the chapter:

§  the title, headings, and subheadings

§  captions under pictures, charts, graphs or maps

§  review questions or teacher-made study guides

§  introductory and concluding paragraphs

§  summary

Question while you are surveying:

§  Turn the title, headings, and/or subheadings into questions

§  Read questions at the end of the chapters or after each subheading

§  Ask yourself, 
"What did my instructor say about this chapter or subject 
when it was assigned?"

§  Ask yourself, 
"What do I already know about this subject?"
 Note: If it is helpful to you, write out these questions for consideration. 
This variation is called SQW3R

When you begin to Read:

§  Look for answers to the questions you first raised

§  Answer questions at the beginning or end of chapters or study guides

§  Reread captions under pictures, graphs, etc.

§  Note all the underlined, italicized, bold printed words or phrases

§  Study graphic aids

§  Reduce your speed for difficult passages

§  Stop and reread parts which are not clear

§  Read only a section at a time and recite after each section

Recite after you've read a section:

§  Orally ask yourself questions about what you have just read, or summarize, in your own words, what you read

§  Take notes from the text but write the information in your own words

§  Underline or highlight important points you've just read

§  Reciting: 
The more senses you use the more likely you are to remember what you read Triple strength learning: Seeing, saying, hearing
Quadruple strength learning: Seeing , saying , hearing, writing!!!

Review: an ongoing process

Day One

§  After you have read and recited the entire chapter, 
write questions in the margins for those points 
you have highlighted or underlined.

§  If you took notes while reciting, 
write questions for the notes you have taken 
in the left hand margins of your notebook.

§  Complete the form for a critical reading review

Day Two

§  Page through the text and/or your notebook to re-acquaint yourself 
with the important points.

§  Cover the right hand column of your text/note-book 
and orally ask yourself the questions in the left hand margins.

§  Orally recite or write the answers from memory.

§  Develop mnemonic devices for material which need to be memorized.
Make flash cards for those questions which give you difficulty.

Days Three, Four and Five

§  Alternate between your flash cards and notes and test yourself 
(orally or in writing) on the questions you formulated.

§  Make additional flash cards if necessary.

Weekend

§  Using the text and notebook, make a Table of Contents - list all the topics and sub-topics you need to know from the chapter.

§  From the Table of Contents, make a Study Sheet/ Spatial Map.

§  Recite the information orally and in your own words as you put the Study Sheet/Map together.

§  As you have consolidated all the information you need for this chapter, periodically review the Sheet/Map so that at test time 
you will not have to cram.

15 things you should do in the 15 minutes before a job interview

Use the time before your interview to get into the right frame of mind.

The 15 minutes before a job interview can be harrowing, especially for job seekers who aren't sure what to do with that time. "Those 15 minutes are your opportunity to get yourself into the right frame of mind, and set your energy and focus on who you'll be meeting with, what you want them to remember about you, and what you want to ask them," says Deborah Shane, a professional branding strategist and author of "Career Transition."

Here are 15 things you should do in the 15 minutes before a job interview:

1. Stay calm

When you become stressed, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. Depending on the level of your stress, these can slightly or greatly inhibit your ability to think clearly, says David Parnell, a legal consultant, communication coach, and author of "The Failing Law Firm: Symptoms and Remedies."

"Ensuring that you remain calm, collected, and cool in the minutes leading up to the interview is necessary to avoid this hormonal elixir, and keep your mind clear," he says.

Career coach Anita Attridge agrees. She says staying calm before and during an interview allows you to listen better and to stay focused on how to best respond to questions.

"In addition, you are better able to think how you can best present your accomplishments in alignment with what is important to the interviewer - and being calm also demonstrates your ability to deal with stressful situations."

2. Breathe

This will help you remain calm. "Counting your breath is one of the most immediate and impactful techniques for calming your nerves," Parnell says. "Simply focus on your breaths, counting each until you reach 10, and repeat."

3. Arrive early, but don't go inside

Few things can shake you more than running late to an interview, so always arrive early. But be sure to wait in your car or a nearby cafe, as being too early can place unnecessary pressure on your interviewer and start the meeting off on the wrong foot, Parnell explains.

Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based career coach, says you shouldn't walk into the office building more than 10 minutes early. "It can come across as an imposition, as if you are expecting the interviewer to drop whatever he or she is doing to attend to you."

4. Be friendly to all receptionists and security guards

When you do walk into the office's waiting room (which should be about 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time), remember to be nice to the receptionist, security guards, or whoever greets you. "It's very likely that he or she will be reporting back to the hiring manager about how you behaved," Friedman says. It's always good to be nice.

5. Decide on one or two things you want to be remembered for

Is it your communications skills? Project management skills? Knowledge? "Keying in on a few things that will impact your memorability and likeability is a smart way to approach the interview," Shane says.

6. Stop rehearsing

You don't want to use this time to over-prepare or rehearse responses, which can make your conversation seem scripted and inauthentic. "You want to know your stuff, but remember your interview is a conversation. Trust that you know what you know, and that the interview will take on a flow of its own," Shane says.

7. Focus on your posture.

Sit in a power pose while waiting to go in for your job interview. "You'll come across as looking more confident and poised," Friedman says.

8. Don't check your voicemail or email

You may hear or read something that will get you all worked up, Shane says. It will distract you and throw you off your game, which is one of the worst things that can happen. Skip the email and head straight to the company's Twitter page.

9. But do check Twitter

"Take a glance at the company's Twitter feed just to make sure no major game changers or hot topics have popped up since you did your research," Friedman says. "If something relevant has started trending in the last couple of hours, you don't necessarily have to be the one to bring it up, but you'll want to appear in-the-know in case it's what everyone is focused on."

10. Briefly review your notes

Before the interview you should write on a few note cards some key information like your interviewers' names, titles, and relationships to the position, Attridge suggests. Also include answers to questions you hope you won't be asked so you can worry less about them, as well as your pitch for when someone says, "Tell me about yourself."

Take the 15 minutes before the interview to review these notes. "You don't want to walk in asking for 'Jim' when you really mean 'John,'" Friedman says.

11. But don't do any additional research

You should be done researching, preparing, and rehearsing. "This is not the time to be using your phone to look up the company's recent achievements or earnings report. Giving big numbers of projects a glance at the last second is a good way to misinterpret key information," Friedman says.

12. Look in a mirror

Duck into a nearby restroom or clothing store to check yourself out in the mirror, Friedman suggests. "You may have left the house looking like a million dollars, but you could still arrive looking like a vagabond." This is also a great time to wash your hands and make sure your fingernails are clean and your palms are dry. If you wore comfortable shoes and plan on changing into dress shoes, be sure not to do this in the office. No one needs to see this.

13. Organize your bag

"Make sure you can easily pull the copies of your resume out of your bag without rummaging through it or exposing any personal items," Friedman suggests. "You don't want to look disorganized while you're presenting your qualifications."

14. Notice what is happening around you.

Observe what the office environment feels like, what's on the walls, and what mementos are in the reception area. “These indicate what is important to the company," Attridge says.

15. Think happy thoughts

This may sound cliche - but thinking of pleasant things that make you smile and feel good will help put you in the right state of mind going in to the interview.

Find the age, by the phone number

AMAZING - TRY IT!!!

Your Phone number will reveal your Age. I do not know who discovered this?
Really accurate.

It will take about 15 seconds,  read and do it at the same time so that you will not lose the fun.

[1] Take a look at your last digit of your cell phone number

[2] Use this figure and multiply by 2

[3] Then add 5

[4] And then multiply by 50

[5] And then add the number 1763

[6] The last step; with this number, subtract your birth year.

Now you see a three-digits number.

The first digit is the last digit of your phone number, the next two digits are your actual age!
Surprising?

Do not believe? Try it...
Really amazing!!

Dressing for Success

Arthur Ashe once said, "Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance." And true are his words in the corporate world. In order to make an impression you need to be able to deliver goods but the right attitude and image play an important role when you finally do deliver! It’s like icing on the cake!

Here are some things to be kept in mind while dressing for success:

• Your clothes SHOULD BE neat, ironed and clean
• Shoes should be in a good condition and clean. Men should polish their shoes as often as possible
• Your hair should be neat and clean. Styling should be conservative.
• Women - Lots of make up should be avoided. Wear light pastel shades. No make up look should be also avoided unless you have flawless complexion. Wear lip gloss and kajal if you prefer the no make up look
• Nails should be clean, neat and should be of reasonable length. Avoid very long nails.
• Skirts should be of conservative lengths and should not be too short. Preferably stick to knee length skirts.
• Heels should be low. It’s all about being comfortable.
• Teeth should be clean. Your smile says a lot about you!
• Carry tissue instead of a hanky. A tissue is cleaner and germ free as you usually dispose it after one use.
• Men - Shirts should be tucked in!
• Women - Avoid wearing gajras as much as possible.
• Women – Bindis should be conservative; not too big!
• Sun glasses should not be worn indoors. It is NOT cool and fashionable unless you work for a fashion house.
• Jewelry should be simple. Don’t come bedecked in diamonds and gold to work / interview.

Finally, wear your best smile and have confidence in yourself. You do not need to wear expensive designer clothes to make an impression. Clean, neat, conservative and ironed are the keywords to be kept in mind.

Dressing Table

Dressing YES	Dressing NO
Clean clothes, polished and clean shoes	High heels, sports shoes, slippers, colorful socks
Cut Nails	Jeans and other casual clothes
Combed hair and conservative hairstyle	Body piercing, tattoos that are visible
Conservative colors	Bright vibrant colors
Smell good – take a shower / bath before you go	Sweaty, un - bathed, straight out of bed look

Sample HR Questions (and how to answer them)

Here are some extra questions that you need to be ready to answer if you want to ace your interview. 

1. Why do you want to work in this company? 
   
   Your Answer Should: Involve your experience with the company, if any. It should be honest and also make the interviewer know that you have done your research on the company.
2. What are your hobbies? (Also be prepared for - why you like a particular hobby?)
   
   Your Answer Should: Be true. It should reflect you as a person with interests. Hobbies tell a lot about a person. So think carefully while answering this one.
3. What are your strengths and weaknesses? 
   
   Your Answer Should: Tell the truth yet not sound either boastful (while mentioning strengths) or self critical (while mentioning weakness). Try not to mention more than one weakness. If you go on and on about your many flaws, the interviewer may think that you lack self esteem and are under confident.
4. Where do you see yourself five years from now? 
   
   Your Answer Should: Not be boastful and full of fluff. Do not use terms like”  I see myself as CEO of a prestigious company, etc.” It is safer to stick to a practical answer. Something like “I see myself working in the same area of expertise but at a more responsible position”,  etc. will reflect honesty and loyalty to a field of experience. 
5. Tell us / me something that your résumé does not cover about you? 
   
   Your Answer Should: Emphasize on your extra curricular activities where you have shown leadership abilities, team spirit and individual responsibility. It should cover arenas that you have not mentioned in your résumé It could be a personal interest that you pursue like a passion for photography, etc. or it could be a foreign language that you are currently learning. Along with that you should make it a point to talk about why you were part of that activity.

Public Speaking

Here are a few tricks from the trade of public speaking:

If you are writing your own material, then make sure you have done ample research on the same. This will make you feel more confident as you will know the topic inside out. Whenever given a topic to speak on, make sure you write your own speech. It is seen that when you write your own speech you tend to remember what you worked on rather than getting the material and reciting it as is. If material has been given to you to speak from, find out if you can change it to suit your style. If the material cannot be rewritten then go through the article / material thoroughly and do your own research on the topic to feel more comfortable with it. If possible write it down once so you can remember it better. Once you have made yourself comfortable with the material you can now begin practicing. The best place to practice is in front of the mirror. This way you will see yourself in action and can change your posture, expressions, etc. Always make sure to have your grammar and pronunciations are correct. Spoken English is different from written English so make sure you have your punctuations where they are meant to be. Pauses should be well timed and not too often and definitely for not more than a few (3 – 4) seconds. Practice in front of your own audience. Get you family or friends to listen to you before you face the real audience. Tell them to be objective in their criticism and listen to them when they give their inputs. Finally rewrite the speech without looking at it; this way you will be able to figure out how much you remember. Remember a good presentation / speech will work only if you are confident and believe in what you are speaking about. A smile also takes the speech a long way. So smile, practice hard and talk to your audience. Good luck!

During an interview – Interview Skills and Etiquette

Your résumé reflects a lot on what you have achieved in your past but the final decision is made when you actually meet your interviewer and are able to prove what you have given him on paper is what you have to offer in real life too. Interview etiquette unfortunately is not stressed upon in our country. Colleges and schools too should develop activities that involve teaching students the right way to act, communicate, dress and behave.

The first impression is a lasting one, so it is very important that when you walk out after the interview, you leave with confidence that you have not only given it your best but have been able to carry yourself with poise, confidence and in a well mannered way. During my college days in the United States, we had career building work shops and also seminars on Interviews. Such workshops helped us a lot, especially when we were told about minor details that we as interviewees may miss out but the interviewer pays attention to. Here are some tips to do well in an interview:

Dress Smart – It is important to dress smartly for an interview. Wear comfortable and conservative clothes. Indian western both are good for women but ensure you don’t wear something too flashy or too modern. For men the safest bet is a suit or a shirt, trousers and a tie. 
Wear comfortable shoes. Women shouldn’t wear very high heels or shoes that they cannot carry off or are uncomfortable in. the way you dress says a lot about you so make sure you keep that in mind when picking up something from your closet.

Greet the Interviewer – Make sure you greet the interviewer with a Sir / Madam. If he/she tell you to refer to him/her by their name then do so. Do not call them by their first name unless asked to do so. Referring to them as sir / madam looks professional and can get you brownie points.
Depending upon your comfort level you can either shake hands or fold your hands for a namaste. Usually people tend to shake hands. If you are shaking hands then make sure you don’t hold the interviewer’s hand too tightly. Have a firm grip and smile. A smile is very important; it shows you are relaxed and confident.

Break the Ice – An ice breaker statement will put you at ease. You could talk to the interviewer about how beautiful the office campus / building is or how nice the city is (if you have come from out of town). This will make you more comfortable and will make you look confident and will show your communication skills. 
For on campus interview you can ask the interviewer if this is his/her first visit to the city; if they are having a good stay and if they have gone sight seeing, etc. Refrain from personal remarks. It is safest to talk about the weather, the city or the office building. 

Answer Confidently – If you have done your homework on the job profile, the company and yourself then you should be able to confidently answer the questions posed to you. Make sure you look directly at the interviewer while answering questions. 

Take Time Before Answering – You can pause for five seconds before answering. This way you don’t look like you have like you are reciting something you have learnt. Also do not take up too much time while answering. Answer to the point and be brief.

Don’t Fidget – Don’t be restless during an interview. Do not answer your cell phone; better still turn it off before going into the interview. Do not play with anything; keep your hands free of anything distracting. Do not tap your feet or bite your nails.

Don’t Boast – It is much better to stick to what you have on your resume. If you do have anything to add then do so in a modest manner. Do not boast. It gives a very negative vibe to the interviewer.

Smile – It is very important to smile during an interview. It shows that you are relaxed and also makes you look and feel confident. Everyone wants to work with a friendly face!

Ask Questions – If you have something you want answered, ask the interviewer. Do this towards the end. Usually the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions, make use of this opportunity. Keep questions away from money and monetary related issues. You will have ample time to discuss this later. Ask what you “next steps” should be, etc.

Thank the Interviewer – Make sure to thank the interviewer after the interview is done. Shake hands, smile and thank him / her for their time before leaving the room.

Now that you know what you should and should not do during an interview, you are ready to nail it. Just make sure that you have researched the company and the job profile thoroughly before going in for the interview. 
Once you are done with you interview there are a few dos and don’ts to be followed after it. But that is next time. So do make sure to read next month’s article on “After and Interview – What NOT to do and what you SHOULD do!”

Good Luck!