Study Habits

How much time do you spend studying for each class every week? 

I study a decent about a week for each of my classes. I know the recommended study time is two times the credit hour, and I try my best to stay on track with that. I spend at least five to six hours a week studying for each class. Saying that, there are classes that I spend less time studying for, English would be an example of that. Classes like history and chemistry I study more for each week. I would say that I need to spend more time studying for my history class. It feels like no matter how long I study; I should have studied longer. 

Where do you study? 

The majority of the time I study in my room. I do not find myself getting distracted very often. I usually keep my door shut while I am studying or doing schoolwork, and I usually do not get interrupted. To prevent the occasional distractions, I need to make sure I set aside a certain amount of time each day and let my whole family know ahead of time so they expect me to be in my room studying and will not distract or interrupt me. 

What time of day do you study? 

I prefer to study at night. This is the time of day that is most quiet and relaxed at my house. I feel very awake and alert during the time I study, which is typically after I eat dinner. I am a night owl, so staying up late is not a problem for me. The main reason I study at night is because I set aside time during the day for class, work, and being with family. Because of this, studying at night just makes the most sense and fits my schedule best. 

Learning Style

What specific study techniques do you think would best for you? How do these vary from class to class? 

The study techniques that work best for me and repetition and note taking. Repetition allows me to drill the information until I understand what is being taught. Along with that, classic note taking allows me to see on paper what I heard in class. These techniques vary from class to class because each class demands different ways to learn the material. For example, history is a very note heavy class, it is important that I take notes during the lectures in order to understand the material. One class that I use repetition in would be chemistry. I am constantly looking over my notes and reviewing the videos. 

What new study techniques have you tried this semester based on what you haves learned about learning styles? 

A new study technique that I tried this semester is repetition. Before being in college, I never looked over my notes of homework. Once I left the class, I never reviewed my notes until right before a test or quiz. When talking about learning styles I realized I needed to start reviewing daily in order to understand the material.  

Transition to college

Has college been what you expected? 

College is definitely not what I was expecting. I don’t think anyone was expecting college to be the way it is this year. My college experience is different than what I was expecting because my classes are on zoom. Along with having classes on zoom, I have a few classes where I have never met my professor or my fellow peers in that class. One thing that has surprised me about my experience in college so far is how willing to help everyone is. All of my professors have been quick to email back, understanding, and extremely helpful. This took me by surprise, but I am very grateful because the transition to college is very confusing at first. 

What is the toughest challenge with commuting to campus? Easiest to overcome? 

The toughest challenge while commuting to class would be not getting lost. Since I am not on campus but one day every other week, it took me awhile to find my way around, and I honestly still don’t know where I am going half the time. The easiest challenge to overcome when commuting to campus would be traffic. I make sure to leave at least thirty minutes early to make sure I have extra time to get there just in case there is traffic. 

Connecting to campus

Name one problem or challenge you have encountered this semester, and which resource(s) at ODU you have/can utilized to assist with the situation. 

One problem I have encountered this semester is knowing my financial aid opportunities. I reached out to the financial aid department and they helped me understand all the different availabilities that are offered to me. Now I know what I can apply for in the following years. 

Is there a friend, roommate, professor, advisor, or group in the ODU community who has helped you so far this semester? 

My boyfriend, who is also a student at Old Dominion, has been a huge help. Since he is a sophomore this year, he has been able to help me with the transition into college. Before classes started, we did a tour of campus, so I at least had an idea of where to go. Along with that he, along with my sister, have been able to make sure I am on the right track with tuition and classes for upcoming years. 

Have you attended an interest meeting for a club? Why did you decide to get involved or not get involved? 

I have not attended an interest meeting for a club yet. I decided to not get involved my first semester because I thought I would be overwhelmed. Along with that, I decided to wait to join a club or sorority until I am actually on campus. Having to do clubs on zoom just does not feel right to me. I also work two jobs, so I decided that I would let myself adjust to working and going to school, and then next semester I will look into joining a club.