Derek, 29, They/Them, Vegan, Astro/Biophysics major. Nonlinear systems = LIFE
85 posts
One of my favorites (and there are a few pictures)
Here, have some thermo notes
đ§ vibin 2 by Ryan Celsius
In this post, Iâm going to talk about the study methods that have worked for me and that I learned during my time at UCLA!
(see another post like this about being healthy here)
Short Term Productivity
Use a stickynote/index card and write a couple goals for today only. Donât write too many or you will feel overwhelmed! Stick it on your laptop or planner or notebook (somewhere you will see it)
Have a whiteboard at your desk and write down things you need to remember (like a simple equation or some vocab)
While waiting for something (the bus, your coffee, the shower to warm up) have something to recite in your head (probably something you already know, but would like to reALLY KNOW)
When you read, try to tie big concepts to things you would remember easily (like acronyms or symbols) like for example i remember gen chem oxidation as OIL RIG: Oxidation is Loss (of electrons) and Reduction is Gain (of electrons) and I remember the first four unordinary hydrocarbons from Me Eat Peanut Butter (lmao): Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane
Longer Term Productivity
Plan out your weeks!!! Plan when you will study on each day of the week and keep track of due dates
Make it a habit to do homework/assignments AS SOON AS YOU CAN (like right after you snack or something after classes)
Try not to think about how long you will study and rather think about the number of topics you will study
Donât stop until you feel confident in your knowledge OTHERWISE YOULL JUST LOSE IT IT ALLÂ
Keep your notes organized because you never know when something is gonna bite you in the butt again in the future
Review everyday. Like, Serioouslyyyy. It helps a lot.
Read before going to bed instead of being on your phone for 400 hours :C I THINK ITS TRUE THAT THE STUFF YOU READ BEFORE BED STAYS WITH YOU BETTER BC YOU GET TO SLEEP ON IT
Try to keep your area quiet or have only white background noise because if someone is talking about the weather and youâre studying math, best believe youâll only remember the weather
Reading a Textbook
Most of the time, you donât need to read the introduction paragraphs.
Read the bolded titles to see what you will be getting into
Before class you can skim lightly!! It will help you not feel lost in class
AFTER CLASS you will now FOCUS YOUR READING ON WHAT WAS SAID IN CLASS because most of the time, class-covered topics ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT! save yoself some time!!
When reading after class, do NOT just read. If you go over something that makes you go ??? in even the slightest way, read it again to understand. Look it up. Do it in THAT moment because youâre gonna forget to do it later.
If you donât wanna read the whole darn book because ur lazy (like me) or you are cramming, READ!! THE!! SUMMARY!!!Â
The back of the book might have some seriously useful appendixesÂ
Try not to skip the diagrams and pictures lol theyâre there for a reason
Taking Notes in Class
dont be on your phone or whatever during class time Like actually PAy attention because if you learn it now, you wonât have to try to learn it again later (you can be on your phone later)
Take down everything written on the boards FOR SURE because if the professor/teacher thinks itâs important to write it, you better think itâs important too
Be an engaged listener! Donât let it slide straight thru ur head
Try not to scribble your notes so you can read it later
Make CLEAR HEADERS for the topics so you can find those notes quickly
Def make friends in class in case you miss something on the notes ://
Doing Practice Problems and Homework
Get yoUR HOMEWORK DONE FIRST OF ALL
Homework is seriously a great study tool because your instructor assigned that FOR A REASON (aka itâs prob gonna be tested on)
Try to know what you are doing before you start the homework so that you donât feel lost as heck doing it
When doing practice problems, if you have the answers, donât be afraid to look at the answer the first time around if you donât know how to do it. IVE SELF TAUGHT MYSELF SOOOOO MUCH by just looking at the answer to a question.
DONT RELY ON THE ANSWERS THO
Donât memorize how to do the practice problems, you should memorize the method of solving the problem and understand each step clearly (and understand WHY you do that step!!!) just in case the test pulls some funky stuff on you
The more you can do, the better. But donât be sleepy and do them because you wonât really retain anything
Other Random Things
My organic chem professor actually did a funny study on sleep and test scores. He said on his final exam he asked âHow many hours of sleep did you get last night?âÂ
and like obviously the more hours of sleep reported, generally the higher the student scored on the exam
SLEEEEPING IS GOOD FOR YOUR LEARNING
WHEN YOU SLEEP AND HIT THE REM CYCLE, YOUR BRAIN PROCESSES THE INFORMATION BETTER and it will really stay with you. So yall need to sleep. Donât do the all nighters. You wonât remember anything
anyways like nike you should Just Do It
I hope you guys find this useful!! Remember that everyone has different needs and preferences, so take these tips as just tips and not rules!! Experiment with things, see what you like best, see what gives you the best scores.Â
Good luck with everything~ thank you for reading!
Feeling fairly productive today
Calc 3 notes âď¸
Calc 3 HW âď¸
3 min power nap âď¸
Today was pretty good, I got most of my calc 3 homework done, and still found time to catch up on most of my linear algebra notes.
Sending positive and productive vibrations
[click images for high quality]
Other advice posts that may be of interest:
How To Stop Procrastinating
How To Study When You Really Donât Want To
Unusual Study Tips
How To Do Uni Readings
Active Revision Tips
I want straight Aâs at least once in my life, but I find that I donât actually put in the work to get it done. Often times I find myself doing just enough to get by, and despite being a STEM student, I really havenât done much in the way of studying.
As much as I enjoy math and science, I find it painful to get into studying the material, and do just enough to get a decent grade.
All of this revolves around time management and coping with my adhd, but THE BOREDOM IS REAL and thereâs only so much I can do to combat that.
I know grades arenât a true measurement of success, but just once Iâd like to know the joy of being that student.
-28 years and counting đ
The infinite shades of gray.
The beauty of mathematics
An assortment of computer models rendered employing variations of the Lorenz equation.
Today was rough. Throughtout this time lapse I âfinishedâ 1 assignment ONE itâs dayâs like this that really make me dread going into STEM. Diminishing returns are regular, and the burnout is real. However, if my neurodivergent ass can sit in one spot and be miserable, then you can too
Fingers crossed I get accepted. This school is actually everything.
University of Washington
I have the most respect for this man. He was an icon and a legend. May his soul be at rest
Edward Lorenz â Scientist of the Day
Edward Norton Lorenz, an American mathematician and meteorologist, was born May 23, 1917.
read moreâŚ
Strange attractors.
Mathematics is beautiful. <3
An example of a Lorenz attractor as described by a color computer model.
found this gem of a... poem? in my notes app. enjoy.
morning study sesh and a cute cafe :)
a bunch of scribblesÂ
thereâs something about crisp notes that genuinely bring me peace.
{ 02-04-18 } 91/100 days of productivity
29 days until the start of my exams ⌠i am trembling âŚ
Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon
Studying is endless, but hereâs a nice picture