Making progress in our studies involves both getting through the daily challenges of our on-going courses, and planning our future studies: choosing minors, scheduling courses, and trying not to end up with a big mess of clashing timetables.
When facing this potentially daunting task, our fellow students can be an irreplaceable source of strength and advice. However, some information out there might not apply to your situation, or simply be outdated – if you’ve ever found yourself saying “but I thought” after an exam, have a look at the following guidelines.
Course and Exam Content?
In my first year, I decided to do a certain literature course as a book exam, and heard that I had to know all the years of publication by heart. I didn’t really question this information, even though it wasn’t coming from the examiner – why should I? I’d heard it rumoured many times (or at least a couple of times)! I put a lot of time and effort into memorizing all the dates, all fifty-something of them…and ended up not needing to know any of them, as I found out in the exam.
If I had bothered to ask the examiner for some general guidelines, I could have focused on what was actually important. Perhaps it used to be a requirement to know the dates; perhaps it had been so for years, perhaps all higher-level students had had to know them in their time. But, even a long-standing exam tradition can change, so don’t rely on last year’s information, even if you hear “it’s always been like this”. Your examiner has the up-to-date information about course requirements, but remember to phrase your question smartly; “do I have to learn X?” might not the best way to go.
Of course, if you ask someone who’s actually doing the course at the same time with you, you should be able to trust them – unless they are just as lost as you are.
Degree Requirements?
Some students may have misconceptions about what they’re supposed to include in their BA and MA, for example whether they need a so-called “extensive minor” (at least 60 credits), or not. Higher-level students who give you advice often have no idea about changes that do not concern them – for example, I only know what concerns me as a fourth-year-student who started in 2012…if even that. While teachers can help you when it comes to individual courses, student counsellors can help you with degree requirements.
Of course, when the department or faculty office is very busy, it can really save them time if you can find the information on your own on Flamma or WebOodi…but if for some strange reason you can’t or aren’t sure what the information means in your case, student counsellors are there for you.
Studying tips in general?
This is perhaps most obviously your fellow students’ field! General studying tips aren’t usually completely outdated, and they can be very useful. As to coping with the pressure of studying, your student friends in the same situation are likely to be your best support network. Even so, remember to find out which strategies work best for you, and aim to form your own, independent opinions about different strategies. Also, take account of differing aims; for example, if you want a top grade, and all your friend wants is to pass, the same tips are most likely not ideal (or even workable) for both of you.
In a nutshell:
If you are to trust another student’s advice on specific course or degree requirements, make sure their situation actually relates to yours, don’t believe everything you hear. As to studying and life in general, your friends in university can be a fantastic source of advice, energy, and support.