The new year (and new term ) is an ideal time to reflect on how your studies are going and everything you can do to take your university experience to the next level. Here are seven big ideas:
1. Build a weekly plan
Effective planning is the key to success. Create a comprehensive, realistic weekly schedule and stick to it. Your plan can include:
- Course scheduling: Block off dedicated study time around your classes.
- Extracurricular activities: Include your interests and commitments.
- Deadlines and midterms: Strategically plan for important university dates.
- Personal time: Prioritize self-care and relaxation.
The Faculty of Science鈥檚 tips on how to make a study schedule are useful for everyone.
2. Build strong study habits
- Be active: Adopt active learning strategies, such as summarizing, quizzing yourself or teaching others. Try using tools like or .
- Create a consistent study routine and find a distraction-free study space.
- Embrace spaced repetition: Review the material more frequently when you first learn it and then space out your reviews over time. This technique is known to build long-term memory. Cornell versus Ebbinghaus ( provides insight into the evidence behind this).
3. Use campus resources
If you think your grades could be better, reach out! There鈥檚 a lot of help available on campus.
- Join a study group.
- Talk to your TA or professor.
- Try the mentoring resources at your faculty.
- Develop your academic writing skills.
4. Engage in experiential learning
Transform the way you learn and start living hands-on experiences. You鈥檒l master your course subject matter when you put what you鈥檝e learned in the classroom into practice in the real world. As you hone a range of key competencies, you鈥檒l learn to identify what makes you unique and forge your own path.
- Seek out internships or volunteer opportunities related to your field.
- Participate in research projects, the Ideas Lab, case competitions or community initiatives.
5. Broaden your approach
Developing in-depth technical skills sets you apart, boosts academic performance and prepares you for real-world challenges. Take advantage of extra events, resources and workshops on campus to inform your academic approach.
- Consider taking part in applied workshops on data science and project management.
- Discover the Digital Skills Hub to learn about data visualization, digital content creation and more.
- Use learning resources such as research guides, tutorials and workshops offered by the Library. From to a , it鈥檚 worth looking.
6. Focus on your mental and physical well-being
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with plenty of sleep, a balanced and nutritious diet, regular exercise and time for yourself is truly a rock-solid foundation for learning. As a student, you have access to a variety of health, wellness and support services. Find out more by checking out the Wellness Caf茅 event January 29.
Here are a few other helpful resources:
- Peer Support
- Visit the Wellness Lounge
- Try the self-help tab on the uoWellness app.
- Seek support online, including Therapy-Assisted Online (TAO) resource.
- Book a personalized health education session with a health promotion specialist to discuss how to manage your workload and discover more support services on and off campus.
7. Set clear academic and career goals
- Take time to reflect. Evaluate your strengths, interests and areas for improvement.
- Define what success means to you: Is it landing a dream internship, contributing to research or developing a professional network?
- The Horizons program is a highly recommended way to develop a personalized roadmap for your studies and look ahead to your career. This program provides resources and guidance to help you set and achieve meaningful goals.