Happy Tuesday, Monarchs,

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Congrats you made it to week three of classes! By now you have most likely made some grounds on your course material, but that also means you may have an exam in the coming weeks. Exams, especially science ones, are tough! BUT, if you follow these tips and prepare now, you are only putting yourself in a better place to succeed!

Build a strong foundation in the material you've learned so far.

Chances are the science courses you are taking now are going to build on top of itself as the semester goes, and as you get further into your major. As someone who has taken more science classes then I can count, I can truly speak to how vital it is to build a foundation in the material now. Here are some tips that have helped me immensely:

Review, review, review the material you are learning. I found it easiest to do 30min of flashcards when I woke up, 30min after homework for that class, then 30min right before bed. Study for small chunks of time frequently. I also like the pomodoro technique to study, its 25min of studying followed by 5min of a break. Click here for a pomodoro timer.Links to an external site.
Form a study group. Everyone in your course is going through it together, working to get the best grade they can. Grab the phone numbers of at least one (hopefully more) people in your course and create a study group. Work together to learn the material and survive the course.
Teach the material to your peers. It has been proven time and time again that if you can explain and teach a topic you truly understand it. Grab a group of your peers and talk to them about a topic, hear their feedback, and have them explain it too. You will get different perspectives, and challenge your depth of understanding of a topic.
Go to office hours early in the semester. It can feel uncomfortable to approach a professor but the sooner you get to know them the easier it is to talk with them. Remember that professors office hours are protected time for you to meet with them one on one to ask questions, get clarification or introduce yourself. Your professors are on your team, they want you to succeed.
- BONUS: Your professors are your best resource for course specific material. Go to them early and often for help.

Use other resources to enhance your time outside of class. Sometimes reading a text book doesn't cut it. Look for other resources.
- Tutoring is incredibly helpful. Instead of showing up not know where your struggle, write out topics that confuse you or start your homework and mark questions you don't understand. Tutors aren't professors, but they may be able to help clarify where you are getting stuck and walk you through how to navigate it. Click here for ODU science tutoring resources.
- Watch YouTube videos explaining specific concepts. I found videos from creators like Crash Course, Khan Academy, the Organic Chemistry Tutor, and Professor Dave Explains, exceptionally helpful for explaining specific topics.
- Switch up how you are learning. Sometimes you have to change how you're note taking in a course or how you are learning. Some classes I can't type my notes, I have to handwrite it. If something isn't working for you, change it now, and find what does work.

You got this! Start studying now and follow these tips to make it smoother. If you need anything please reach out!

Good luck,

Your peer mentors!

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