EASY A: 5 study hacks NO ONE told you (from a Valedictorian)

Summary

In this video, Amy shares five clever tips to excel academically while balancing other commitments like sports and sleep. From priming your brain before class to leveraging old tests, grading your work, and collaborating with classmates, these strategies allow for smarter studying rather than harder studying. She also emphasizes the importance of seeking advice from upperclassmen and explains how to maximize productivity by reviewing work efficiently. With practical insights and a fun approach, Amy teaches viewers how to become 'academic weapons' and ace their classes without burning out.

Takeaways

• 😀 Priming your brain before class (by skimming chapter summaries or bolded terms) makes it easier to absorb new material and feel ahead of others.
• 😀 Don't be afraid to talk to upperclassmen or anyone who's done what you're about to do—they can offer valuable insights and shortcuts.
• 😀 Slack off in smart ways by skipping ineffective lectures or focusing on more efficient methods (e.g., skipping unhelpful textbooks).
• 😀 Use old tests and Quizlet to study—leverage existing resources instead of starting from scratch for active recall.
• 😀 Grade your own practice work by comparing it with the answer key and annotating mistakes to easily find areas for improvement.
• 😀 When you compare answers with friends, you reinforce your own understanding and catch mistakes you might have missed.
• 😀 The Feynman Technique: Teach what you've learned to someone else (even a stuffed animal) to solidify your understanding.
• 😀 Aim to be the person who sends the work for comparison so that your friend does the reviewing—this encourages you to finish your work earlier.
• 😀 Consistently reviewing your work and explanations after helping others is an effective way to reinforce what you've learned.
• 😀 To become a better student, change your habits and avoid the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Q & A

What is the primary mindset Amy teaches in her video?

Amy teaches the 'academic weapon mindset,' which focuses on studying smarter, not harder, by using effective strategies to achieve good grades without over-exerting oneself.

What is the first trick Amy recommends to help students prepare for class?

Amy recommends 'priming' before class. This involves quickly skimming the chapter, bullet points, summaries, and any bolded or highlighted words to mentally prepare for the lesson.

How does Amy suggest students can learn from upperclassmen?

Amy advises students to talk to upperclassmen or anyone who has previously taken a class. This allows them to gather helpful insights, such as which textbooks are essential, which lectures to skip, and strategies for saving time and money.

What does Amy mean by 'slack off in smart ways'?

Amy encourages students to be strategic in their efforts, such as skipping ineffective college lectures or avoiding unnecessary textbook reading. This helps to conserve time and focus on what truly matters for the course.

Why does Amy suggest using old tests and Quizlet for studying?

Amy recommends using old tests and Quizlet for active recall, as these resources often contain previously asked questions and answers, allowing students to study efficiently and effectively without reinventing the wheel.

What is the benefit of grading your own work, according to Amy?

Grading your own work helps you identify mistakes and learn from them. Amy suggests reviewing the steps you got wrong and using different colored pens to mark up your practice problems, which makes it easier to study later.

What is the fifth tip Amy shares about comparing answers?

Amy recommends comparing answers with friends as a way to confirm your work. This allows for additional practice, helps catch mistakes, and improves understanding by seeing different perspectives or approaches to the same problem.

How does Amy suggest comparing answers should be done without it being considered cheating?

Amy clarifies that comparing answers isn't cheating because students are still doing the work themselves. It’s a way to confirm answers, practice, and improve understanding by learning from the corrections and explanations.

What does Amy mean by saying 'nothing changes if nothing changes'?

Amy emphasizes that in order to become a better student, you must change your habits. If you continue doing the same things, you won’t improve. Change is necessary to see different results.

What is Amy’s advice for students who feel like the strategies aren’t working?

Amy suggests that if these strategies don’t work for a student, they should comment with their specific situation, and she will personally respond with a tailored recommendation for improvement.