1) Attend each lecture.
Nothing beats the real thing!  Your mastery of the material will be much greater and easier to obtain if you attend the live performance.  Copying a friend's notes, reading the text, or listening to a tape of the lecture are great supplements to your own lecture notes, but they are poor replacements.

2) Ask questions.
I strongly urge you ask questions during lecture!  If you are confused about anything e-mail, call, or stop by my office hours.  Concepts build on one another.  You need to grasp what we are talking about now so that you can comprehend what will come up next.

3) Do quality studying.
It's quality, not quantity, that counts in studying!  You should find a comfortable, quiet place to concentrate on your courses.  20 min. in a prime spot can equal 3 hr. in a place full of distractions.  I am going to be asking you questions on the exams, so you should study by asking yourself questions.  Instead of rereading your notes 500 times (passive studying), try making up your own exam (active studying).  Study groups can be great ways to quiz each other.  For each lecture I announce the review questions in the text and the study questions on the handout that apply to that lecture.  You should work on these the same day as the lecture.  Take advantage of the 10 min. before your friends are ready for lunch by reviewing questions you answered the night before.  This is the easiest way to keep up on the material!

4) Study for exams early.
Do not wait to study for the exam until the night before!  Your brain has only so much ability to integrate information in one night, no matter how long a night it is.  Psychological studies have shown that comprehension and recall ability diminish rapidly after two hours on a subject.  Plan on studying 1-2 hours for each course every night.  You wouldn't try to run a marathon without training for it.  Think of the semester as a brain marathon -- you must train for it through regular workouts!

5) Ask for help.
Everyone needs help along the way!  We all have different brains and, therefore, learning styles.  If you are having problems, please see me right away.  I can make suggestions on note taking, exam preparation, etc.  The Academic Skills Center is also available for you (in the Wright Center, campus ext. 2454).  The center provides tutoring and great workshops on all sorts of topics.

6) Get enough sleep every night (6-7 hours at least).
Exhausted brains make mistakes, and exhausted bodies get sick!  Avoid exam mix-ups and the dorm flu by treating your body and mind to enough dream time every night.  If you do get sick, stay in bed.  Sleep and fluids are the only cures around for viral infections; so, resting up early on can greatly shorten your illness.  Go to the Health Center if your symptoms are severe or prolonged.

7) Exercise at least 3 times a week.
Stronger heart and stress relief!  Our bodies are still adapted to cope with physical stress (e.g., Leopards chasing us).  That type of stress called for a physical response (e.g., spot a safe place, and run like crazy) that selected for a physiology involving epinephrine (a.k.a. adrenaline) and glucocorticoids.  These hormones are great for muscles contracting and lungs expanding, but they're lousy for memory recall of exam material (psychological stress).  Also, stress hormones depress your immune system and, hence, your ability to fight off pathogens.  Work off your stress by physically responding at least 3 times a week for 20 min.  You'll feel better, and your heart should start beating less often (i.e. resting pulse decreases with increased fitness).

8) Relax and have fun.
College is great!  Stress is not.  Allow yourself some guilt-free downtime.  Get your homework done ahead of time, and then do something you really enjoy.  This is the time when you will recharge, which will improve your performance in classes, in meetings, in sports, in relationships, etc.