CarbonCarnageGlitch13
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How to study like a Harvard student
Since many students are taking finals soon, I thought you might appreciate this.
I know life can get hectic and rough. Please, feel free to message me anytime you need to talk, vent, ask for advice, or just need a listening ear. Have a wonderful end to your semester and, if you are not in university/school, still have a wonderful day.
InqSerena
This person is smart. Glad I'm done with all of that...
ColdestOne
If you think you need a break you probably do. It will make further studying more effective. Use the pomodoro technique to stay on task.
BenSnow97
27. Draw the rest of the fucking owl
Krakazyabra
solid advice. I especially liked # 11
Jatok
This is stupid from the very start. Why? Because you can’t choose classes that interest you if gen ed’s are a requirement
penxv
I stopped paying attention about halfway through this post. I need a break.
ishotjfktwice
Where is the taking adderall at 3am and then trying to remember every episode of cheers
SKleen75
"Oh and if you think you need a break, you probably don´t." BEST way into anxiety depression an burnout. LMAO.
AudaciousCheeseburger
You can tell this post is really old because Angry Birds is referenced.
zephyruk
And Stumbleupon, I've not heard that name for 5 years or more
boxermotorsarecool
Step one simply isnt possible. Colleges force us to take BS classes that have nothing to do with our majors.
ZeroPersonalityDisorder
I'm headed to the library to print this advice and highlight every sentence. I won't eat, sleep, or bathe until I memorize every word of it.
DeniseReade
Hey, dont forget to underline the key phrases
Ghostofcats
Avoid people, don't make any friends until you memorize it!
DynamicWeight
Well, you weren't vague, so good on you for improving, buddy!
canto54
Make sure to fit in a marathon Angry Birds session or two as well.
MatissesPieces
I used to love highlighting, but auto brain took over and I ended up with pages mostly highlighted with no memory of the material.
pianoNoodleTraveler
Know yourself and how you learn best. For me, I learn best by studying daily well before so I don't need to cram.
shadowforcey
Brainscape app helps a lot with memorization
TheStargateIsReal
1) understand your learning style 2) play to it. Incidentally OP is clearly s Tactile learner
Narwhilian
25 is crazy important, if you can identify the theme and the profs view of it you can beat the class easily. Always know your audience
Thisbefluff
^^ it literally feels like you’ve unlocked something- suddenly all the materials presented fall into place with each other
Narwhilian
Yeah it makes college so much easier!
NoisyPulsar
I feel attacked by this post, and I finished school years ago.
RajaTheBear
Solid advice. Absolutely solid.
Blergbot
As a doctoral student, this list is exactly right.
LookingOutAtTheDoomedEarthSheBreathedaSighAsEverythingHadBecome
I did this once. Academically expelled because exams are 80% of the final grade being bad at those is irredeemable
PiGiSpi
"take classes that interest you" okay stopped reading
AsAHistorian
For the record, Harvard students aren't all geniuses. I've worked with them. They're smart, but they're not smarter than students at 1/2
AsAHistorian
most other universities. They have better connections and brand recognition, and probably more pressure, but Ivy League =\= genius.
ChallengerDeep
Guy who created this website is an Ohio U grad. Lotta Linux folks are from state schools. Sergey Brin (Google) is a U of MD grad.
CarbonCarnageGlitch13
I fully agree. Thank you for your comment.
PhilipCoulson
Exactly what degrees allow you to just pick classes you like? I chose a couple, but probably 90% were mandatory
CrosswordBoy
I interpreted that as: when you have a choice, choose things that interest you. Kinda sounds obvious but I guess people don’t always.
PhilipCoulson
Fair enough! I filled 2 slots with music classes because I love singing/playing instruments, had nothing to do with my degree but were 1/2
PhilipCoulson
2/2 extra credits that actually gave me something fun to look forward to 2x a week, even joined an acapella group & made some great friends!
CrosswordBoy
The whole construct-a-degree thing you chaps have over the pond there has always sounded an interesting way of doing things. Good for 1/2
CrosswordBoy
2/2 broadening the horizons. I got to choose the contents of my cheese toasties (grilled cheeses to you I believe) at the cafe.
Maahes0
Where is the step where you buy Adderall from that one guy down the hall?
Tango22
What do I do when the Adderall barely works on me?
BibliophileEngineer
You study
Tango22
Right. Why hadn't I thought of that?
DirkNurple
I just gave it away.
AlCo94
a friend of mine was banking on Adderall to crash for finals but his supplier fell through, decided to 'micro dose' on MDMA for 10 days 1/2
AlCo94
said he worked out a dose equivilant to aderall, Studied like a machine, barely ate or slept, like a different person, first 2 exams went 2/
AlCo94
well, the last one he looked in a bad way, then went to bed for days, nearly died, house mates almost called an ambulance. does not recomend
ColonelCasual
How much do you need?
AtomicCarp
I knew several engineering students that went one up and got into cocaine, thinking it'd be even better
AtomicCarp
Actually worked super well if they never got caught, all straight A's and early graduations
in70x
Amphetamines will work better because of duration and the DATs they hit. Cocaine gives you nervous energy that isn’t productive really.
EneZio
Does it actually help?
Maahes0
For people with otherwise untreated ADD/ADHD. I was mostly making a joke because Adderall abuse is rampant at top universities.
EneZio
Yeh I got the joke was just wondering if it actually helped with studying
HolyOldMackinaw
1/2 Studying in the library was the best way for me to focus. No distractions and you want to work efficiently so you can go home sooner.
FutureProfessor
It's not saying don't study at the library. It's saying don't study so much you forget to take care of yourself.
thebigpeen
I used to study at the bar. Anything is more fun when drinking, and once you're buzzed and can't focus anymore, that's 4 hours of studying.
dancingsquared
Studying at the bar is how I passed physics. "Tim - I can't order another drink until I get through problem 20!"
HolyOldMackinaw
2/2 "Only pick classes you like" A lot of majors have basically all your classes predetermined. I had to take shit like organic chemistry
prozack8356
I'm with you. I did that step all I could. Then classes I hated happened
TroyDowling
My degree had three electives in three terms and each time only offered one satisfactory course. Illusion of choice...
DeniseReade
What I came to comment! Trust me, I didn't like most of my classes
whynomemes
OChem is the worst
WinoCrimesand69s
Yeah, id say this only works of you chose a field with considerable passion, not i chose engineering cause job market and money
DireSickFish
I took classes I knew were going to be useful. Not interesting.
Ticketingzero
Yeah organic sucked but everything is going to suck if that's your attitude. Tell yourself to enjoy it and you will do better
tomyironmane
I know, right? She sounds like someone studying for gender studies or comparative studies, or communications.
mksu
I don't get why people hate orgo so much. The solution to that class is a large stack of flashcards, which is far simpler than others.
ambiguouslybenevolentcryptid
One of the best things about grad school is actually having freedom to take classes because I find them interesting or relevant to my work.
ZanarkandAbes
And then they hit you with the "statistics" classes you gotta take. Yay stats.
phenomanII
Fucking statistics.
ZanarkandAbes
Yeah, my favorite was being forced to take any minority studies class. Analytic degree but I can now talk about Mexican pointy boots... FFS.
IamMelonLordeYaYaYa
Rounding out education is pretty vital. No learning is wasted learning.
ZanarkandAbes
Nah. I understand the concept of being well rounded but that was a big waste. They wouldn't count my French Africa courses as minority. Dumb
IamMelonLordeYaYaYa
Why would they...? “Another country” is not the same as “minority”
Zardo03
I would love to take just the classes that interest me and not the other random bullshit that I'm forced to take.
bigfatmadcowmoo
This! 95% of my degree was crap unrelated to what I was going for. Made it the longest 4 years ever. (Disclaimer, math was not my major)
BluePaladin42
I was wondering about that. I figured most things that do interest you would also require a lot of supplementary classes that don't.
applesforjuice
Same I almost had to go an extra semester for one dumb bullshit class. I even had 100% exam average, just turned in one hw late instant F
everythingisnominal
true story : my university had a rule where if you failed one semester you could go to the next year provided you retake (1/?)
everythingisnominal
the classes you failed. Those morons at the end of the year, just before the last exam they told us "you have to validate (2/?)
everythingisnominal
everything or you retake the whole year". We went to complain and ask to put this rule the year after since (3/?)
everythingisnominal
it was a little late to inform us of such a rule. we were told we had "no right" and long story short, i had to (4/?)
tomyironmane
They wouldn't even give me an extension when my house caught fire.
applesforjuice
In my experience the professors at higher level classes understand but the ones in freshman level classes think they are hot shit
tomyironmane
Sounds pretty close, though it's more by person than by level.
applesforjuice
True, I was making a generalization. Definitely doesn't hold for everyone of course
wotemer
I stopped taking this serious when it said 'stop highlighting'. Thats just bullshit
IAMAQUAMAN
highlighting never worked for me cause of exactly what was in the post. i skimmed the reading to find parts to highlight, and not to absorb.
IAMAQUAMAN
the better option is given: to take handwritten bullet point notes while reading. always worked for me as well. never got into harvard tho.
limenode
Don't discredit the whole thing because one tip doesn't work for you. It's not a panacea; just suggestions that could help *some* people.
Neednoggle
I stopped at number 1; "choose classes that interest you". Okay well, looks like I'm not going to meet my graduation requirements...
bigfatmadcowmoo
Exactly!
DeniseReade
Yep. I underline, star, box in and circle what I plan to write down later bc it interrupts my flow to take notes *right* then.
wotemer
also, the next time reading you dont have to read EVERY FCKING FILLER word.(textbooks gotta hit those 600+ pages, you know...)
tomyironmane
They can charge you $0.50 a page for them. Why not? That's MONEY, yo, students shouldn't have that!!
wotemer
luckily, in germany, there is a cap on book prices(cant discount them either). repetitive fillers are still loved by weak students though
tomyironmane
I have tabulated several of my textbooks so I can find *that one reference* in the hundreds of pages of other stuff.
wotemer
If i highlight, its an active decision 'cause tis be of utmost importance. Also helps when writing stuff down later.
Sassmachine
This. I highlight and write notes for things I know I'm going to use later.
wotemer
Or do as advised, take notes as you go along and read every paragraph 15 times to not miss the point of the complex topic at hand! :o
Sassmachine
I'm ok on that, but I have a good memory for written communication. I take heavier notes for lectures because I'm not as good with /2
Sassmachine
aural memorization.
cantcornerthewarner
stop highlighting your textbook; its an excuse for book buyers to not buy your textbooks at the end of semester
DeniseReade
Oh, you still have textbooks that are good for more than one semester? Lucky bastard.
cantcornerthewarner
textbooks depend on the professors. If they use the same book every semester/year you -should- be able to sell it back to the college
Mairoa
If you're selling them back in person, you're likely getting ripped off. Online, and do what you want
tomyironmane
"Likely." ha. I needed the laugh, man.
Mairoa
I've had books that went for a dollar online have some idiot value them for like $20-30. That's a lot of ramen. Always check
tomyironmane
Engineering books are pretty good reference materials to keep around. And after you spend a thousand bucks a semester, you get attached.
cantcornerthewarner
If you sell online and the company refuses to buy your book they 'destroy' the book or if you want them back you have to pay for shipping
tomyironmane
No, they just only sell you unbound textbooks these days, then they don't have to buy back that $270.00 pile of shit no matter WHAT you did.
tomyironmane
Get with the times, grandpa. They were only worth 2% on sell back anyway.
cantcornerthewarner
Many LL books comes packaged with access codes; the gotcha is once the package is open its now 2 separate parts which cannot be sold back
tomyironmane
Those too. Though when you start getting into upper level engineering, the compu-homework is uncommon.
Sassmachine
My textbooks and rentals were guaranteed returns even with highlighting and notes in the margins. Just make sure to know the policies.
cantcornerthewarner
guaranteed? Amazing, but that's a dumb policy you need to take advantage of
tomyironmane
Guaranteed. But you're only gonna get 2-5% of the price you paid. It doesn't even cover the fucking sales tax.
WannabeMaverick
Why not just sell them on eBay for like 50-60%? Uni kids will buy them right? I'm just spitballing, I'm not going to uni unless I have to.
tomyironmane
In my case, because they shovel it all in so hard and fast there's no way in hell to reliably remember it all, so it's good for reference.
IfIHadOne
Step 27 - Have rich parents
degenerator
Then make friends in college with kids with rich parents.
HenryLongfellowIII
Step 1- be smart and disciplined. Having rich parents increases the odds.
thesealisforsandracing
Schools like Harvard are usually completely need-blind but ok
applesforjuice
I worked 40 hours per week to help pay rent and buy food while I was going to college. 40 hours I could have studied, employers don't care
tomyironmane
Enjoy taking 8-10 years on a 4 year degree that way.
applesforjuice
I finished in 4 years with a 3.5 GPA. Had to pull at least 1 all nighter a week and never got a weekend off but I'm done
tomyironmane
I'm impressed you're still sane. My classes are all required, and they are five credit hours worth of shit in a three credit hour class.