Tyler WhitfieldComputational Biology Senior and pre-dental student As a senior at Pitt, the most valuable skill that I have learned in college thus far is the ability to effectively study for understanding, rather than for memorization. Like for many other students, the transition into college academics was a tough one for me. In high school, I could simply study the material the night before, regurgitate it on the exam, purge the information from my memory, rinse and repeat. As many of you already know, this technique doesn’t fly in college, especially in STEM classes. While my first semester was a long adjustment period, I am writing this blog post so you can learn from my mistakes and hopefully find a quicker path to academic success. 1. Reading your notes is not enough! If you take one thing from this post, let it be this. I’m sure that you’ve heard this hundreds of times from your professors, but there is a reason for this – it is simply not enough. The BIOSC exams that I have taken over the last three and a half years always test to assess how deeply you understand the material. Reciting the parts of the lac operon is a good start, but you need to learn how to think critically. “What would happen if there was a mutation in the lac operon?” is a much better question to ask yourself when studying as compared to "what is the order of the lac genes?". Not only does this complex example question build upon basic understanding of the content (that you do need to know!), but it also forces you to start thinking like a professor. >> Trying to anticipate what questions could be asked is a very effective way of covering all your bases. 2. Teach your friends. Something that works well for me is to practice teaching the material to friends. Instead of re-reading your notes for hours at a time, get a group of friends together, and try presenting the professor’s slides. Surprisingly, this method will instantly reveal your weak areas. If you are unable to stand up and explain the steps of glycolysis, then you should spend more time on that section specifically. Whether they are biology majors or not, have your peers to ask you questions during your presentations. Often times, they can have different perspectives on the content, and really force you to know your stuff! If you are struggling with the material, I promise that you are not alone. Finding a good study group to actively study with can be the difference between an A and a C. Give it a try! And don't forget to take advantage of UTA, TA, and professor office hours. Even if you don't have questions - just going to listen to other's questions (and maybe even chime in with answers) can be a great way to challenge your understanding .
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January 2022
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