8 Resumption Tips to Kickstart the New Session
Category : news
Starting the new academic session the right way will help you achieve your academic goals. Whatever mistake you made during the last session has certainly gone with it. The new session is yet another opportunity to do better.
It is the wish of many students to grow and get better in their academic pursuits. However, many only wishes to get better but do not know how to.
However, if you belong to the class of such students, you really need these resumption tips to start the new session amazingly and in the right way.
Here are the eight tips you’ll need to start the new academic session in a different way better than your last.
1. Attend Classes
Now, you might think this was an obvious one. But I speak from experience when I say that many students skip classes for one reason or another. But if you want good grades, there are several reasons why you should attend almost all your classes
Returning students will all agree with me that it is not possible to attend all lectures here in OAU. There are times when there will be clashes in lectures. In such cases, you go with the most important course out the available choices.
Absorb classroom material. Even if the lecturer follows a textbook pretty closely, sitting in the classroom and listening to the discussions will help you absorb the material easily.
Also, learn to participate in class discussions. One of the benefits of going to college should be that you form a mentoring relationship with some of your lecturers, and that’s not going to happen if you don’t attend the classes. Just say you’re about to apply for a scholarship and you need references from among your lecturers. If they don’t know you, they won’t help!
Often, some lecturers also have bonus points for attendance and participation. So, beyond just attending lectures, always make an effort to be involved in the class discussions.
Don’t forget to sit close to the front. According to some historical belief, students who take the front seats are usually the best students. On the other hand, back-sitters are usually the unserious students. This is not always true especially in OAU.
2. Master Your Lecturers
Every lecturer has a different personality and system for running his/her classes. Also, their system for setting questions and approach they take to solving questions differ. I believe it makes sense as early in the semester as possible to learn what the lecturer expects and give it to him/her.
Understand lecturers on personal level. Rather than viewing the lecturer as some figurehead at the front of the class who decides your fate in some abstract way, get to know your lecturer as a person. You may try paying him/her a visit during office hours, or at least, stay back after class for some conversation.
3. Get the necessary textbooks
Most lecturers will give you so little and expect much more from you during examinations and some, you only need their note to get a good grade. Most textbooks are available as PDF these days. If you don’t know how to get the textbooks you need, try ask your seniors for the ones they used in specific courses.
Reading textbooks ahead of classes will also give you more confidence to ask questions and make contributions in the class.
4. Prepare ahead of the class
Some OAU lecturers like surprises. A lecturer can decide to point at you to answer a question from his/her previous classes.
Preparing ahead of the class would help you build a good shock absorber. This practice however, will also bolster your academic confidence and help strengthen your CGPA.
5. Join a new club/society
If you ended last session associating yourself with clubs or societies on campus, you need to review that this session.
Although, playing active roles in any association you join could arm you with leadership skills. But most of these societies are BIG time wasters and would take all your study time away.
I am not saying you shouldn’t join clubs or participate actively in them, but you need to be conscious of how you spend your time during participation.
6. Start a healthy, daily habit
Do not limit your campus activities to attending lectures and studying alone, you also need to live a healthy lifestyle. Ensure you eat the right food and have enough sleep to stimulate your brain activities.
7. Study, Study, Study
Ensure you spend at least two hours daily going through everything taught during the day’s lecture. Study early and often.
In fact, breaking your study time into shorter periods or intervals will make it look less of a chore. Also, try to give your mind time to absorb the material you read before moving on.
Develop and practice good study habits. Make it a regular habit and studying will become second nature to you.
Know how you best study and what time of the day you comprehend better. Some people need complete silence to concentrate while others like a little noise. Some can read effectively at nights while some can’t. Just find what works for you and stick with it.
8. Be a Good Test-Taker
Just about all college classes have exams, and sometimes the exams are the major portion of your final grade, so it’s important to become a good test-taker.
Know what to expect on exams. Every lecturer has a style of test development, so obtain past questions and lay your hands on them before tests. Know the types of questions that will be asked as well as the content that will be covered.
Read questions carefully and plan answers. Take your time at the beginning of tests to read through all the instructions and make a plan of attack.
Pace yourself so you have plenty of time to complete all parts and know the point values of questions, so you can be sure to complete the most important ones first in case time does run out.
Ask questions if you don’t understand something, or need clarification on specific questions during tests. Don’t wait till you find out you have answered a question the wrong way.
The tips will surely help you to have an amazing semester. Repeat the cycle next semester and you’ll find yourself growing exponentially and academically.
Prepare yourself to enter the new academic year which awaits you with many opportunities to unfold. May you be blessed with high energies and positive mind to work harder and be successful.
All the best to you.
Abdulganiyu Taofeek Abiola
(President 2019/2020)