STEM Summer Bridge Study Skills

What is the first thing you should do at the start of every study session?

• Turn off your phone.

• Set a goal for what you want to focus on or accomplish.

• Form a study group.

• Organize your notes.

Answer explanation

It's important that each study session is focused on a particular goal or task to avoid multi-tasking or feeling overwhelmed.

Which of the following is a good note-taking strategy?

• Write down everything the professor says.

• Make sure your writing is neat and your spelling is correct.

• Summarize the main concepts in your own words.

• All of the above.

Answer explanation

Focus on getting down the main points and concepts that are presented in lecture and your textbook vs writing everything verbatim. Creating bullet points of key topics is a quick way to write and read back the information. Practice rephrasing the information in your own words.

Practicing this activity can help you recall information almost 3x better.

• Reviewing.

• Memorizing.

• Re-writing.

• Reading out loud.

Answer explanation

Be sure to review your notes every day. Review your notes after class to make sure you haven't missed anything and to capture any questions you have. Review notes again before class to prepare.

True or False: Hand-writing notes is a more effective way to remember information

• True.

• False.

Answer explanation

Studies show that we have more brain activity when we write our notes by hand. We are also more likely to just transcribe what we are hearing if we type our notes, whereas writing them out makes us more likely to think about what we are listening to.

How long should study breaks be?

• 1 hour for every 2 hours of study time.

• However long you need to recharge.

• 30 minutes.

• 10 minutes.

Answer explanation

For every hour of study time, build in 10 minutes for a break. This is enough time to clear your head or take care of yourself without losing motivation. Break ideas: Get up, stretch, and go for a walk; grab a healthy snack; talk with a friend.

Your professor will only be interested in the correct answer and not the way you got it.

• True.

• False.

Answer explanation

For STEM subjects, the process of getting the correct answer is as important as the answer itself. You will be able to apply this to other areas and problems. Be sure to show your work on your exams; even if you did not get the right answer, your professor may still give you partial credit. This also allows them to give you specific advice and tips about how to adjust your approach to the problem.

A 5-unit math class will require how much study time per week?

• 5

• 10-15

• 40

• 3

Answer explanation

You should plan to study 2-3 hours per unit outside of class at a MINIMUM. Some classes may require more study time than this, especially if it's a subject that's new to you.

True or False: It's not necessary to complete the practice questions in your textbook-- just focus on the homework that is assigned to you.

• True.

• False.

Answer explanation

Practice. Practice. Practice. The best students in STEM often study and practice beyond the minimum that is required of them.

What is the best way to demonstrate that you truly understand a topic?

• Practice it every day.

• Google it.

• Memorize it.

• Teach it to someone else.

Answer explanation

Try to explain the topic to another student or friend. This ensures that you are understanding the concepts and key parts of the subject.

How should you prioritize your studying?

• Study the easiest subject first.

• Study the most difficult subject first.

• Randomly pick a subject or assignment to start first to get something done.

• Ask your classmates what they are studying.

Answer explanation

Tackle the most difficult or challenging subject/assignment/project first. It's easy to put these off until the last minute out of avoidance, but you need to give yourself time to work on challenging things first since they most likely will take longer.