How to pass your honors seminar

...or that 8 a.m. Finite class, that lecture from your dry professor, or Organic
Chemistry. Let’s face it, there are some difficult courses at IU. Here are some tips to guarantee good grades in any class.

GO TO CLASS
This is the easiest thing you can do to improve your grade. While some professors post lecture slides online, many important details and facts (that usually show up on exams) are only discussed in class. Attending class also allows you to ask any question you had over the material. Many professors also use class attendance as a factor in final grades.

SIT TOWARD THE FRONT
Although the average class size at IU is 36 students, some classes are pretty darn huge (Woodburn 100 can seat up to 420 students). Rather than strain to hear what your econ professor is saying from the back of a 100-student lecture, choose to sit in the first three rows. Not only will you be able to hear the lecture better and take more accurate notes, but the professor will be able to recognize your face in the sea of students.

FIND A FRIEND
This could be your roommate or someone you see only twice a week in class. But having a study buddy is another easy resource to hold you accountable for doing your work and to talk about what you learned
in class.

REVIEW YOUR SYLLABUS
The first week of classes is when these handy papers are passed out outlining grade structure, attendance policy, class projects and weekly topics. Make sure to review each class syllabus and put important exam and due dates in your calendar so you don’t forget about a project or skip class the day of a test.

KNOW THYSELF
Do you like silence or noise when you study? Do you need convenient access to coffee or snacks? Do you study better alone or in a group? Do you focus more early in the day or late at night? Figuring out what environment you work best in is key to efficient study sessions. Read p. 56 for our favorite study spots around campus, or discover your own.

GET ACADEMIC SUPPORT
There are three Academic Support Centers located around campus in Teter, Forest and Briscoe residence halls. These centers provide group and individual tutorials, study groups, study tables and Writing Tutorial Services, as well as offer academic advising and workshops on study skills. Best of all, these services are free.

GO TO OFFICE HOURS
Every professor is required to hold weekly office hours, but many students forget to take advantage of this resource. Who better to go over material for that upcoming exam or ask questions about that lecture than the person who is teaching it to you? Professors are also a prime resource for letters of recommendation when you’re applying for internships and jobs. Establishing a good relationship with a professor in your field will come in handy not just for academic success, but for your future
career as well.