All you’ve ever wanted to know about university life

1. All you’ve ever wanted to know about university life From a third-year student’s perspective

2. Agenda • Teaching Styles and Class Format • Effective Note taking and Studying • Midterm and Final Exam Preparation • Budgeting • Q and A session

3. Disclaimer • Most of the tips and strategies that I discuss in this tutorial are according to my own experience and from my point of view. Things are subject to change depending to your own background, circumstances and the university that you are going to.

4. High school Class vs. University Lecture • Larger class size (100 to >500) • Studio room size to size of Imperial Oil Auditorium • You are responsible for your own education • Make your own schedule and choose your class times

5. Teaching Style • Lecture-style, could be online • Fast-Paced • Less interaction, clickers • Little or no repetition on content • Assumed knowledge

6. Support groups • Help Centre (Writing/Math Aid etc.) • Tutorial group • Prof. office hours • Frosh group • Residence group • Mentorship programs

7. Coming Prepared • Attend lectures and tutorials (Don’t skip!) • Print lecture aids and notes before class • Preview lectures and review material from last class • Prelab, know the steps and why, make flow chart even if you aren’t allow to take notebook out of lab • Do assignments before tutorial and ask questions

8. Note-taking • Don’t write at the expense of listening (print lectures to fill in or bring laptop, legible slides 4-6/page, font not too small) • Make abbreviated notes and make extra comments • If you miss something, come back later and ask a neighbour or Prof. during break • Note possible midterm/exam questions

9. Studying • “I could’ve done better if I had more time to study.” :’( • Review lecture the day of (positive reinforcement) • Revise/add to lecture notes with corresponding content in textbook • Study groups • Environment (place, organize work space, no distractions, lighting) • Learning styles (re-listening to lecture recording/video vs. taking notes)

10. Approaches • Retain high school knowledge and notes (don’t throw either away!) • Subjects (Taking notes vs. doing problems) • Memorization, doing problems, applying concepts, drawing diagrams and flowcharts • Deep processing vs. Shallow processing • Doing exercises > Taking notes > highlighting > reading > skimming

11. Midterm and Exam Preparation • Evaluated based on performance, not on effort • Find out as much as possible from lectures (Prof.) and from T.A. (format, length, content) • Weighting: Midterms (15-30%) Final (30-50%) • Look over lectures notes, extra comments, pass exams (what to focus on/emphasized) • Typical format (MC, short answer, questions similar to lectures and HW, mostly memorization) • Midterms (1-2 hours), Exams (3 hours)

12. Midterm and Exam Preparation • Time (at least 4 days to a week) • Prioritize and prepare for unexpected circumstances • Bell curve? • Read carefully, marks allotted • Blank out tactics • Relevant, to the point (point form for short answers)

13. Budgeting • Second-hand textbooks may come with past midterms, notes, assignments • Apply for OSAP early so funding will arrive by the first day of class • Bursary and scholarship • Housing, meal plans, transportation • Work-study positions (OSAP)

14. Q and A session • Ask your questions!

15. Thank you for listening 