Are you feeling that you are smarter than your grades are demonstrating? Do you feel frustrated or overwhelmed sometimes with all the work you need to get done? Here are some important tools for success, reducing stress, feeling confident in your classes, and boosting your control over your courses.

Planners

Find a planner that you will use! Some ideas for your SEMESTER PLANNER might be digital, online, or laminated calendar on your wall. Go through EACH syllabus and highlight policies for that course, such as attendance, make up work, missed deadlines, extra credit, grading policy and expectations. Write all your assignments, exams and projects into your planner. It is very helpful if you also put items into your PHONE calendar. 

WEEKLY STUDY PLANNER

Keep things consistent Monday through Friday. Block out each of your class times. Even online class times. PLAN 45 minutes every day to STUDY every class! Plan your wakup times based on your earliest class, then plan your sleep time to get enough rest.

Click image to view example weekly study planner
 

Click the image to download a blank weekly study planner.

Syllabus help

A syllabus is a document that provides a student with all the requirement for that course.  When a student registers for a course, it is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to understand the requirements for that course as it is laid out in the SYLLABUS.  A syllabus is a contract between you and the instructor.  Not all SYLLABI are alike. (Yes, that's a word... plural for syllabus!).  Every instructor, every course may be designed differently, and it is up to YOU to KNOW what the requirements are.

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Here are some helpful tips to prepare for exams.

Test Anxiety is real but YOU can learn to control your anxiety. Test anxiety is your body's BIOLOGICAL response to danger. Your mind believes you are in danger (even if it is emotional danger) so your body responds with a “fight or flight” response. 

HOW DO YOU FIX THIS?

You must control your THOUGHTS. Start by telling yourself that you are prepared, you know the material, you have been going to class and you feel comfortable with your understanding and just positive thoughts and encouragement.

OVER PREPARE

Over prepare so that you are confident that you KNOW the material. Be sure that you begin preparing for your exams at least a week prior to the exam date. Read through notes, textbooks and other study tools EVERY DAY. Memory is not the problem, RECALL and KNOWING is the goal.

PHYSICAL RELAXATION

Take in deep breaths and let them out slowly, stretch, walk outside and breath, listen to calming music, exercise (burning up adrenaline helps the body reduce the muscle tension) and push your hands and feet against the desk and floor. 

TALK WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Set up an appointment with your instructor. Let them guide you in ways to improve your study efforts.

Tips for Managing Stress:

https://youtu.be/Wh5HyJ1rxzk?si=hCkRk8rQiOoXXZhf 

Channel: Mind, the mental health charity

Conquering exam stress: lessons from our bodies

https://youtu.be/-RZ86OB9hw4?si=kfIYF_oCoclkS05H 

The Physiological Society

How to Deal with Student Burnout – College Info Geek:

https://youtu.be/qd_mRapoPtg?si=cjlWRJf5PL2VMRQA 

Channel: Thomas Frank

Exercises to help ease anxiety:

https://youtu.be/-uePb1yMXcE?si=01D6Rm80M5sdfxcg 

Channel: OpenUp

Fight Depression and Burnout in 2 Minutes a Day: 3 Good Things Activity:

https://youtu.be/sWfNosruPPw?si=UKdkst9vdjdwNNRv 

Channel: Therapy in a Nutshell

Proven Sleep Tips | How to Fall Asleep Faster:

https://youtu.be/YvqeWcPwd2o?si=WbmOQMVEYCCiahOW 

Channel: Doctor Mike

How to Fall Asleep in 2 Minutes (Military Technique)

https://youtu.be/zpBj5Z1TbyU?si=nZW1wYVHM5S-0lm5 

Channel: Justin Agustin

Native American Flutes and Rain – Music for Sleep, Relaxation or Meditation:

https://www.youtube.com/live/QCT3WcUPPmI?si=BZHQHf2mOBMb1m5D 

Channel: 24Relax

1 Hour Satisfying Soap Crushing Videos – Relaxing Soap Cuttng ASMR for Sleep:

https://youtu.be/J9dvPQuHz-I?si=l45xi7PdKeo2sptG 

Channel: SatisVid

Rainy Night Walk in New York – Relaxing Rain Walking Tour 4k:

https://youtu.be/3g5oUmPygTI?si=KWRcBESxWyUPuc9q 

Channel: Strolling The City

Budgeting:

https://youtu.be/6Ib-bdko5cE?si=uDxr8DxWo9w4Ctzc; 

Channel: Federal Student Aid 

How to Make Your First Budget (At Any Income):

https://youtu.be/7GSGA8SVsOs?si=YINMqYx6NNFm8Dj2 

Channel: The Financial Diet (This video can be found in the series below)

The College Student's Guide to Money:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD30V46E07RQJTnOJ4XhqulajUOxyHL_u&si=3XfIg1OtkQ5jfDvg 

Channel: The Financial Diet

On Campus Jobs | Texas Tech Vlog Squad:

https://youtu.be/zHNt1thW6Kw?si=9-ir7rkjd5OqI1tQ 

Channel: Student Engagement | Texas Tech University

The Fantasy, The Ideal, and The Reality of Career Exploration:

https://youtu.be/d-DoNgtiNcc?si=H-y8yTkV9c7T67yu 

Channel: UCSF MIND

Mastering Interviews: Wednesday Wisdom with Ashley Penner, M.Ed., LPC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8OdIKXXHGw 

Channel: Texas Tech University Career Center

How To Create Your 30 Second Elevator Pitch! | The Intern Queen:

https://youtu.be/Lb0Yz_5ZYzI?si=zpOtDw2glhdB4WWs; 

Channel: Lauren Berger

Who can help me?

• Student Success Specialist
  Amber Hemphill
  Amber.hempill@ttu.edu 
  Phone: 806.834.0281
  
• Student Success & Retention:
  Stacy Elliott
  stacy.elliott@ttu.edu
  Phone: 806.834.7939
  
• Senior Director of Advising: 
  Julia Heard Witt
  julia.heard@ttu.edu 
  

  Phone: 806.834.7643
  Fax: 806.742.1085