One of ASU's Best Kept Secrets

Where will you spend the majority of your time this semester?

The average student spends between 12 - 15 hours/week in class.  Professors often use this as justification for filling the other 25 hours of your 40 hour 'work week' with homework, study guides, projects and term papers.  Do you want to spend 25 hours/week studying on top of going to class?

I know that I sure didn't.  When I was a freshman, I decided that I would rather spend 10 hours/week studying effectively somewhere on campus rather than 25 in an apartment full of distractions.  That's when I found one of ASU's best kept secrets - Noble Library's Silent Study Room (or SSR, as I call it - not to be confused with the Society of Skeletal Radiology, which actually exists by the way).

For those of you who don't know, Noble is located on Tyler Mall in the Northeast corner of campus just across from the Goldwater Center for Science & Engineering.

Unlike Hayden Library, Noble is less well-known, less crowded and closer to most of the parking structures.  On top of that, it has a wonderful, Silent Study Room on the 2nd floor.

Now, you might be asking yourself, "Why is Noble's Silent Study Room so awesome?"

I'll tell you.

Not to mention, the computers in the Silent Study Room run way faster than those in either Hayden or any of the various computing commons locations around campus.  Plus, look at all this desk space!  Throw in the comfy chair and the fact that the desks aren't splattered with graffiti and I'm sold.

In short, it is a quiet, comfortable, less crowded place that is close to many of the classes on campus, has faster computers, comfy chairs and you know what else?  It's quiet.

I'd love to hear what you have to say.  What/where do you think is one of ASU's best kept secrets?  Comment below!

"Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

Coming out of high school, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the world.  I’d just graduated at the top of my class, had a scholarship to ASU and, despite having no idea what I wanted to do for a living, felt pretty confident about the future.  Then I walked into my first semester of classes at the W.P. Carey School of Business and got a reality check.  I barely understood what studying “Business Management” meant, couldn’t figure out which textbooks I actually needed and wondered why everyone kept talking about internships—and worried whether I should be searching for one myself.

 Tools to Succeed at Your Fingertips

The faculty and staff of WPC know that coddling us into denial about how prepared we are for life would only trip us up in the long-run.  Fortunately, though, they provide us with all the tools we need to succeed.  Each student has access to their own “My WPC” dashboard that links them to resources and information regarding news, scholarships, academic advising, career counseling, events, email and more!  They also periodically send out newsletters with internships, events, and scholarship opportunities.  I, personally, have received multiple scholarships, an internship and became a WPC 101 instructor because of that newsletter.

What If You Don't Know How to Use the Tools? 

That is precisely why WPC gives us access to other students who were in our same position only a few years ago.  Tutoring programs such as SI Study groups as well as comprehensive mentoring programs like the Business Ambassadors are just a few of the many ways to connect with other, more experienced students.  Not to mention WPC 101, an introductory class taught by qualified peer facilitators (consisting of sophomores through seniors in the business school) that want to help their fellow students get the most out of their college experience.

So despite the fact that most freshmen have no idea where to start, WPC gives them the tools they need to succeed and the experience-driven guidance to use them wisely.  The decision is ultimately up to us, though—will we use the tools and guidance available to us and reach the potential they keep telling us we have or won’t we?  I hope that we do because, as Dr. Seuss put it,

[i]

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[i] Seuss, D. (1990). Oh, the Places You'll Go! New York: Random House.

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3 Tips to Succeeding from Day One

You know what I like about tips?  They're free and, hopefully, worth more than you paid for them!  Here we go:

Chart Out Your Semester

Generally speaking, professors spend the first day of class going over the syllabus and talking about what textbooks you need.   The exception to this rule is Eddie Davila - awesome Supply Chain professor - who intentionally dives into course material on the first day to reward those who attend the first class (or to punish those who don't, however you want to look at it).

Use the first few days to review the course schedule and write down all of the assignments (at least the major ones) and their due dates into either your planner or smartphone.  If you are really bright, you'll give yourself automated reminders that sound at least 1 week in advance; that way, you'll never end up doing things at the last minute.

I can tell you, from experience, that this has been an invaluable tool in helping me stay on track - especially once the semester gets rolling and it feels like you have something due every other day!

Sit in the Front Row

Why?  Here a few reasons:

1. Helps Develop Rewarding Professor/Student Relationships - Professors notice/get to know the students in the first row (unlike those who sit in the middle or back of a class of 300).  If they know you and vice-versa, it is easier to ask for help and/or future recommendation letters.
2. Motivates Consistent Attendance - When you don't show up, the professor often notices and comments.
3. Encourages Punctuality - It is a long walk to the front of a classroom if you are 15 minutes late.
4. Helps You Focus - Most of the kids in your classes will have laptops and at least 3/4 of those will be on Facebook, YouTube, ESPN or some other website.  Sitting in the front will help you to focus on the material, rather than on the YouTube video the guy in front of you is watching.
5. Less Time Studying Later - If you sit in the front row, you'll likely pay attention and take good notes.  Do you know what that means?  You'll spend that much less time studying outside of class because you already learned it in class.

Start Studying at Least 1 Week Before the Test

Question: What is more effective?

• Studying for 20 minutes every day for a week or...
• Studying for  3 Hours right before the exam?

If you have taken MAT 210, you might have noticed that 3 hours is more total time than 20 minutes each day for a week (140 minutes or 2.33 hours).  Nevertheless, I can promise you that 20 minutes effectively spent reviewing for an exam each day for a week will help you to internalize/understand the material better than if you were to try 'cramming' 6 weeks of material into your head in 3 hours.

Studying in short bursts:

1. Encourages productivity (because you only have 20 minutes).
2. Prevents drowsiness (so long as you don't study in bed).
3. Is easier to talk yourself into doing!  It is much easier for me to tell myself that I will study for 20 minutes and then go eat some ice-cream than it is to condemn myself to 3 hours of cramming followed by a 1 hour mid-term!

If you will spend the first week charting out your semester, consistently sit in the front row and start studying at least 1 week before each test, I promise you that, at least by comparison, your grades will soar and you'll feel a lot less stressed!

I'd love to hear any "Tips for Success: that you may have.  Please, comment below!