Introduction School season is here and many people can use tips on how to have better study sessions. Here is a list with 26 techniques that will help you be more productive in School . I have broken up this list into Sections, (A, B, C..), and as bite-sized pieces, so you can find information easier. I tried to stay away from generic advise like "get organized" or "sit in the front row". This is a long post, so I recommend you read it on the treadmill at the toilet.
- Edit: I am a Computer Science major at a major American university.
- Edit 2: U. Stop Socializing with Classmates has been deleted. You can still view it as
strikethrough.
- Introduction
- A. Pomodoro Technique
- B. Phone on Airplane Mode
- C. Avoid Daygame Environments
- D. Know your Circadian Rhythms
- E. Whiteboards
- F. "Get Stuff Done" Secondary User Account
- G. No Study Groups
- H. Do Small Chunks
- I. Growth Mindset / Chinese Productivity
- J. Mood Regulation
- K. Environmental Triggers
- L. Plate Management
- M. No Mental Health Excuses
- N. Active Reading
- O. Note Styles
- P. Oneitis Prevention
- R. Procrastination / Learned Helplessness
- S. Time Management
- T. Don't Multi Task
U. Stop Socializing with Classmates- V. Sleep Hygiene and Nutrition
- W. Spectatorism
- X. Crab Mentality
- Y. Take Breaks
- Z. Supplemental Learning
A. Pomodoro Technique -"The Pomodoro Technique can help you power through distractions, enter hyperfocus, and get things done in short bursts while taking frequent breaks to come up for air." Start by concentrating intensely on a task without interruptions for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. As you improve your Pomodoro, increase the time by minute intervals until you can reach 1 hour in concentration, 10-minute break. There are plenty of Pomodoro apps you can use. The science behind is that you train your mind to enter focused mode and the diffused mode. The focused mode is like having a "target lock" like a missile, while the diffused mode is to see the big picture, like the “forest for the trees". The book "A Mind for Numbers" goes into great detail about Focused mode and Diffused Mode.
B. Phone on Airplane Mode For those that are not on Monk mode, you MUST prevent smartphone distractions while studying. Almost every time I see someone studying at Starbucks I see them check their phone every few minutes. People can wait an hour for you to text them back. It is not important to see how many likes your recent post got or if you’re Tinder matches have replied back. If you must check your phone I recommend you check it during your Pomodoro breaks. If you're a self-described phone addict put your phone on Greyscale mode when going on social media. Using Accessibility settings you can even program your phone to enter Greyscale mode with three home button clicks. If for some you cannot have your phone on Airplane mode then set the phone on No Disturb Mode so you don't hear a "ping" every time you get a message. Even better! Disable social media but for most of you, that is too extreme of an option.
C. Avoid Daygame Environments You need to find a cave somewhere and hide from the world. If you're frequently distracted by beautiful women you must avoid Starbucks and areas where they can be found in plenty. This is especially important if you're like me and love to Daygame beautiful women everywhere you go. If you lift and look decent you must hide from women because those IOIs are very tempting and distracting. College campuses are notorious for having beautiful women in cafeterias, the library, and sitting by themselves everywhere. If you must study in areas where beautiful women are plentiful I highly recommend you wear a hat with a Hoodie that blocks your peripheral vision. Going to school full time and practicing how to get women at the same time is not efficient. Save your sexual tension and social times for the weekend when your study time is finished. The 1 hour of social life you sacrifice right now will be four hours of extra free time in the future.
D. Know your Circadian Rhythms Identify if you're the most alert in the morning, afternoon, or evenings and schedule your study times around those hours. I am very sluggish in the morning but quite alert in the evening. You should also identify if you’re the type that becomes more concentrated before OR after going to the gym. For some individuals studying right after a gym session gives is their peak mental performance. Other people have to sleep or get very tired after a gym session. Be aware of how many hours of sun you get and try use your bed only for studying sleeping. For people with ADHD recognize when you're in hyperfocus mode, and those with mood disorders like Borderline, Bipolar, Schizoaffective, and PTSD recognize when your moods are depressed, stable, and manic.
E. Whiteboards Get yourself a large dry erase whiteboard and an assortment of color markers. On this whiteboard write when homework assignments are due, and random thoughts you need reminders of. Put this whiteboard somewhere highly visible at your home. Even thou you have a smartphone with calendar apps, to-do list apps, or schedule apps it's easy to dismiss those messages and notifications. A big white board with colored text is a greater reminder to get you to realize you have stuff done. If you're the highly distracted type I recommend you place it on the wall on top of the toilet because every time you take a piss you standing up you will be reminded what you have to do. You can also buy a "Chores" whiteboard and checkmark the days you study for your class.
F. "Get Stuff Done" Secondary User Account If you're easily distracted online or have large computer game collections I suggest you create a secondary User Account on your desktop computer or laptop. This secondary account should not have access to your computer games or social media profiles. The bare minimum applications like a web browser needed to get schoolwork done. I would even go as far as installing the Get Focusd extension on your main account and use the nuclear option to block all internet access except for whitelisted sites. This will force you to use your secondary account and get stuff done. If you live with your parents attempt to use your laptop outside your room. If they catch you wasting time they will let you know.
G. No Study Groups Unless absolutely required for class do not do voluntary study groups with classmates. Trust me, you will just end up having a social gathering and chit chat. I see this all the time with the high school students at Starbucks. They sit on the table and just talk, talk, talk. Nothing gets done. If you are a social learner and need a study group to find a male and study with him 1 on 1. Make sure your study partner is an organized male who wants to get an A in class. Absolutely avoid doing a study group with 99% of women and people who are very social. They will treat the study session as hangout time and nothing will get done.
H. Do Small Chunks Study for your classes in small chunks almost every day instead of rushing to the last minute. The blue pill way of studying is to cram hours of studying the day before the test. The red pill way is to gradually add bricks of information to your "mental wall". By studying small chunks almost every day you allow your "mental wall" sufficient time for the cement to dry and store knowledge in your long-term memory. Cramming hours of information at once is like adding too many information bricks to your "mental wall" and causing it to collapse because the cement is to wet to hold that many bricks. Trsut me, you will underestimate the amount of time required to get homework done. Work a little every day.
I. Growth Mindset / Chinese Productivity It is theorized that Chinese students do excellent in school due to their growth mindset and hard work mentalities. Chinese students to have Chiku, "an intrinsic belief that anything is possible with hard work, and a lack of effort, rather than of intelligence is to blame for poor grades". In Chinese academics, is believed that there is little difference between the intelligence of student, and academic success is based on their efficient use of time to produce the best work. Chinese students are trained to have a growth mindset: If they aren't doing well, they'll work harder, and they'll be successful. American children tend to be trained to have a fixed mindset about academics: Their abilities are largely predetermined and static. If they aren't doing well, it's because they're not good at it. The idea of growth mindset can be further explored in the books Little Soldiers by Lenora Chu and Mindset by Dr. Carol S. Dweck.
J. Mood Regulation It may sound like common sense but you should monitor your energy levels and general mood and find patterns. Discover what events lower your dopamine, and which give to dopamine overload. When dopamine is either too high or low it causes attention, anxiety, and focuses issues. Identify when you tend to feel irritated, stressed, depressed AND when you tend to feel calm, focused, and exited. For those with ADHD, (me!), Bipolar disorder, Schizoaffective disorder, or PTSD discover what triggers your depressed states and manic states. For me, I know that being really social with women will trigger my ADHD mania state and I will be too euphoric to concentrate on reading. I also am aware that not going to the gym for more than three days will trigger my depressed state due to low dopamine. I highly recommend that if your moods are irregular to use a mood app like Daylio and identify triggers and times when your mood is bad.
K. Environmental Triggers Identify objects that trigger you to be distracted in certain environments. For most of you the video game console, computer, and your television make it easy to be distracted. If you have a television y you find yourself watching TV shows or video games instead of studying unplug the HDMI cable and put it on top of your fridge. If you have an internet addiction or pc game addiction leave the house and go study at Starbucks or library. Social addictions like having Bae [lover] come over to suck dick means you must get you to get your work done first and schedule her to come over later. The point is that you must change your environment if you have too many distraction triggers.
L. Plate Management One of the biggest distractions in young men is spending too much time communicating with women. You need to tell your Plates that you have Study hours, and that you will not be able to communicate with them. A simple "I'm really busy between 2pm to 7pm because of class" is usually enough. You need to develop a mentality that your education comes before hoes, and you need to be in a social cave to get studying. A good advice is to text your hoes when you're at the gym and have to rest between Sets. Even better! Adopt a "text for logics" strategy like we have been telling you here in TheRedPill for years. Put your phone on Greyscale mode when texting them to minimize the dopamine rush.
M. No Mental Health Excuses It is very easy to blame ADHD, (me!), Depression, and other mental disorders for not being motivated focused, or productive enough to get stuff done. The same applies to take medication. You have to understand that school is a competitive atmosphere and it doesn't matter if you have a disadvantage. There is no room to have a victim mentality. The only thing Universities care about is your G.P.A and grades. That's the cold hard truth. If you have a mental disorder you must find efficient methods to get work done. You might have to work harder than others, develop new ways of time efficiency, or adopt unconventional study methods. If you have ADHD or Depression it means you must do intense exercise before studying. Those with Schizophrenia might need music therapy, and those with PTSD might need to use brown noise apps to block background noise. If you have a serious mental health condition and take medication to identify the times you are the most stable for study. Ask your Disability Center if you can get priority registration to take online classes or what accommodations they offer.
N. Active Reading "Active reading simply means reading something with a determination to understand and evaluate it for its relevance to your needs. Simply reading and re-reading the material isn't an effective way to understand and learn. Actively and critically engaging with the content can save you time." This means that you read the material four times. The first time, read the material casually and skim through. The second time, identify key points of the material and identify the Why? of the Chapter. Most Textbooks identify Why? for you at the beginning of the chapter in bold letters. The third time, take notes of the material in an outline style. Finally, for the fourth time read the textbook and create a one/two sentence summary for every paragraph or major subtopic.
O. Note Styles There is three general Note Taking styles; Outline, Cornell and Mapping Method. The traditional style is the Outline which uses Titles, SubHeadings, and Details to create a hierarchy of information. The Cornell style "...creates deliberate space in the margins of their notes for summarization, questions, and connections, and focuses on revisiting notes to help organize knowledge and make learning “stick". The Mapping Method uses a whiteboard or mind map software to group information in geometric shapes. If you're the highly organized type the Outline method probably suits you the best, while those with ADHD should use the Mapping Method. I highly recommend you google "note taking styles" to learn more.
P. Oneitis Prevention Having Oneitis is a mental virus that robs you of your attention, focus, and willpower. Do everything in your power to avoid getting oneitis this school session. If you feel like helping her study ITS TIME TO STOP. That is a recipe for Level 10 Oneitis. Hot girls are notorious for finding a nerd to do their work for the unwritten promise of pussy. They will tease you and treat you really nice, but after the class is over she is Gone. Be aware of this trap. Other hot girls will give you their number to "study together" but in reality, they are just using you for notes or homework copying. Back in my beta days in the ancient past, I remember a hot girl asking me if I could do her online Economics class for sex after I tool her Finals. I am happy I turned it down but I'm pretty sure some other nerd got cause in that trap. The reality is that as soon as you do her Finals, you will be blocked. There are plenty of guides here on TheRedPill that offer tips on how to avoid having an Oneitis. If you are still blue pilled or fall in love easily this is the time to disable social media. Many bright students have had their academics annihilated due to hyper focusing on their magical unicorn. This is of special concern to those here who have ADHD and have their brain think of one hundred scenarios on how to get a girl. If you already have an Oneitis its time to go soft contact, and if you need help make a post on AskTRP.
R. Procrastination / Learned Helplessness
This section is from a future post called “How to TheRedPill with your ADHD pt. 2". I have striked through the irrelevant parts for this mainstream audience.
- Helplessness is the Wife,
- Procrastination is the Side Girl;
- The first steal your head and time,
- The second wants your whole world." - Mr_Badass
R1. Learn Helplessness happens when a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness and can't complete a task, and Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something to later. In street terms, Learn Helplessness is like a Wife who is always nagging you to not do something and is making you feel bad about yourself when you take initiative. Procrastination is like your busty side Girl who always wants you to see you when work has to be done. Procrastination gives you lots of attention and is always happy to see you, compared to the wife Helplessness who seems to put you down all the time. ~~The reason Procrastination and Learned Helplessness happens is that ADHD individuals are low in the executive function called Task Initiation, which is a fancy way of saying that their brain has trouble A). Starting tasks, B) making decisions or C). Feels helpless to get started. ~~
R2. Learned Helplessness: The Wife In Learned Helplessness, the individual doesn't get a Task started due to fear, low self-esteem, or has a self-image of being told he is lazy, dumb, or useless over and over. In practical terms, the most common Learned Helplessness phrases are: "It is too hard", "I’m not smart /good enough to do this", or "I’ll never be able to do this successfully". Many people have Procrastination due to finding a Task irritating and hard to deal with, (like a nagging wife). Think of Learned Helplessness as the nagging Wife of the typical blue pilled marriage who constantly tells the husband that they're forgetful, lazy, dumb, or unmotivated. Why bother getting started if pain and displeasure are what the experience will be. In the ADHD brain Getting started is hard because of the person constantly being told they're not good enough. Their brain, (the nagging wife), won’t stop putting them down and sometimes scares them with "What IF?" over-analyzation. The best way to deal with Learned Helplessness is to achieve small victories that make you feel good. Examples of small victories are brushing your teeth, making your bed, and eating a healthy breakfast. ~~Another strategy to deal with Learned Helplessness is to adopt The ABC Method for reframing negative situations. ~~
R3. Procrastination: The Side Girl In the case of Procrastination, the individual has a displeasure of doing something unenjoyable and prefers a dopamine boost from doing something fun. Procrastination like being in a marriage and having a side girl who is fun and doesn't require responsibilities. The side girl is there for a good time and is happy to give you attention even thou there is work to be done. She is a time waster but she makes you feel like the Man! The best way to deal with Procrastination is to break up with her and do No Contact. In Practical Terms, this means to change your Environment and eliminate distraction triggers. If you have a video game addiction go to Starbucks to get your homework done. If you are a busy social butterfly put that "phone on airplane mode".
S. Time Management If you're like me you probably have a spontaneous way of scheduling your time. You tend to do your studying when you have free time or when you feel like it. The reality is that this is a very inefficient method of studying. Whether you realize it or not the majority of the time you will underestimate how long something takes to do. The truth is that you can let inspiration or motivation determine your study schedule. The only master should be Discipline. Just like the Iron barbell at the gym will never lie to you about your strength, discipline is the cold hard steel that will never lie to you about productivity. You need to schedule your study time. Use deadlines and time limits to your advantage. Even if you don’t technically have a deadline on a task, set one for yourself. Develop predictable patterns that use your time the most efficiently. If you're truly the distracted or spontaneous type then Checklists are your best friend. I recommend the app "Any Do" or any checklist app that has alarm reminders. Like I mentioned in Section E. Whiteboards, if you are always distracted put a whiteboard on the wall on top of your toilet so you know your schedule every time you take a piss.
T. Don't Multi Task It's silly to me when I see people trying to study three different subjects in between each other. If you have English, Math, and Science class create a chronological time block for each subject. The silly thing to do is to spend an hour on your English reading, two hours on your Math homework, and then go back to your English reading for an hour. A better thing to do is focus two hours on English homework, and then two hours on Math homework. A crazier scenario is when students are studying and cooking dinner at the same time. Either give your full attention to studying or cooking.
~~U. Stop Socializing with Classmates Edit: This section is is for social butterflies who want to make friends with everyone and tend to be distracted by being too social. If you're a self-aware people pleaser do not make friends with your classmates. Even better don't talk to other people in class or attempt to make friends. They don't care about you, as soon as the class is over its statistical that they will disappear. A classroom is an artificial environment and people will try to take advantage of you. Every single time there will be someone with a sympathy story and ask you for notes or to "peer review" your homework. For me, it's extremely common for classmates to ask me for the class E-book I found on Libgen. "Sorry, it’s watermarked and I can't share it", is my go-to response. Others get butt hurt when I won't let them borrow my e-book or textbook to copy it. Not my problem and they will share the copies with everyone. The truth is the classroom is a competitive atmosphere so why would I give them an advantage? If you must...must... have a classroom buddy you need to qualify them and see if they're the serious and studious type. The classroom buddy must be a person who wants to succeed in class. Be very alert of letting losers and unmotivated people try to push you around.~~
V. Sleep Hygiene and Nutrition having quality sleep and eating the right food is fundamental to be at your peak mental performance. This means you need to fuel your body with quality macros and get your 8 hours of sleep. I would highly recommend you take Melatonin 3g/ 5g for three days before bed to establish a sleep schedule. I'm sure you're very aware that you need to use a blue light filter at night, don't have caffeine after 2 pm, and to drink enough water. Most students don't get adequate sleep and eat junk food all day. If you want to be at your most productive your sleep and nutrition need to be at their best. If you don't get enough sunlight it means to take Vitamin D, and if you lift weights find an appropriate diet plan. Having get Sleep hygiene and nutrition will give you a great advantage in class.
W. Spectatorism Most people are spectators who try to escape reality and are addicted to boredom. It hurts them to think. Others are spectators because they have too much mental energy that's not being used. Identify if you frequently daydream, always have ass + titties on your mind, or are obsessed with some video game, sports team, or television show. You should not be thinking of Game of Thrones all day. For most people, the reason they do this is because they're afraid of dealing with stone-cold reality OR they need mental stimulation. Spectatorism steals your attention and must be managed. If you want an A in class you need to give it your full attention. If there is something that is always stealing your attention you need to find techniques on how to deal with it. I suggest you good "Maladaptive Daydreaming" and I'm sure there is a redpill post about that too. If you absolutely have to watch your sports game then do your homework before the game starts. For people that are obsessed with video games, you need to understand that you have work to do. Use the Pomodoro technique to train yourself to focus on homework for at least 30 minutes.
X. Crab Mentality A common theme for College Athletes and Frat Boys is that their teammates will attempt to sabotage their academic future. Most people are sheep and don't put an emphasis on academic performance. The teammates will complain that you're spending too much time at the library or the frat boys will nag you that you don't spend enough time at social functions. You need to understand that college is to get a degree and extracurricular activities are the second priority. I have heard stories of people having roommates call them nerds because they are always studying in their free time. Fuck them. Certain minorities, especially Mexican Americans, have fathers that make fun of you for reading books and "acting white". Realize that if you have people in your life that try to bring you down you must do your best to not be around them. Also be aware of doing too much extracurricular activities like Student Senate or school clubs. At the end of the day what matters most is your G.P.A.
Y. Take Breaks You need to take breaks between study sessions and be careful of trying to do too much at once. The reason you need to take breaks is for stress management. I'm assuming since you visit TheRedPill you lift weights, are aware of Meditation, and maybe watch porn. Those are great stress relievers. I highly recommend the Pomodoro technique I mentioned in Section A so you study for a predetermined amount of time and then take a break. Stress management is very important so you don't get burned out. If you don't have a fulltime job I highly recommend you treat School as a full-time job. Spend 40 hours a week studying, and if you finish all you work then work ahead of schedule. This means you study for 4 hours, take a 1-hour lunch, and then study 4 fours.
Z. Supplemental Learning Most A students use YouTube videos, EDX courses, Libgen, and websites to learn about a subject more efficiently. Just relying upon the professor's PowerPoint slides, the textbook, and homework might not fit your learning style. Most people have one or a combination of kinesthetic, visual, reading, or audio learning styles. I highly recommend you Google "4 learning styles" to learn more. If you're in a Biology class, a YouTube video about the Cell might help you learn faster than reading the textbook twice. You need to discover your learning style and find supplemental learning material that benefits your learning style.
dorgan64 5y ago
solid post , thank you for sharing your knowledge
PaperWand 5y ago
Thanks this is awesome. Very well said
illogicaldecision 5y ago
As someone who is going to start studying to get into a CS-related uni, this is very valuable info to me. Good job and thank you OP!
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Theguygotgame777 5y ago
Okay, now read this again. And a third time. Save this post for future reference. Now write down some notes so it gets ingrained in your mind.
All clear? Good.
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barricade551 5y ago
This is all really solid advice. Thank you for the share. My only commentary would be that as practical and efficient as these points are, I would argue it is still important to have time for you to enjoy yourself as well. Especially if you are dorming on campus. Going to social events and meeting new people are all part of the college experience and are important for psychological well being if anything. This can be challenging to do though when you go to a commuter school like I do.
Morphs_ 5y ago
Most points are very valid, even after college when you're working self employed for example.
About point Y. Take Breaks: I would not advocate for porn as a method of relaxation. For me personally, that tends to set off a dopamine/procrastination cycle and I get no shit done. Better to charge that sexual energy for your plates in the evening. Instead going for a good walk or even a workout would be a better spending of physical energy.
learningboii 5y ago
This came at the perfect time. Keep up the good work bro
FormerBlueFool 5y ago
Thank you for writing this u/Mr_Badass it is badass. I had to figure most of this stuff out along the way, but it's cool to have it here, written so well. It will definitely help some of my younger friends.
This is also a post I would like to share (and remove the TRP mentions, because I want to share it with some plugged in people). Would that be cool with you OP?
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zrobek 5y ago
A great "to-do list" is called "momentum"
Displays nice quotes, and scenery on your new tabs on your web browser
I use this to organize my week or simple deadlines
Also, I'd add the point of school is to get a career after school is finished (internships, co-op etc) not simply GPA.
Otherwise excellent post
As32b 5y ago
I have to disagree with this one. Since you are on TRP I somewhat expect that you have surrounded yourself with people who have similar interests. Of course there are some people who you can't study with, but with good people it's excellent.
If you don't understand something, maybe your friends do. Or if your friend doesn't understand something, you can explain it to him. That's the best fucking way to learn.
fijianpalm 5y ago
Yeah, especially in fields like engineering working on assignments with other people help with critical/analytical thinking and problem solving. Especially when compared to real life, most problems are worked on as a collective. I think it has more to do with the people in your group. If its your friends that make a group Id agree with OP, but if you surround yourself with 4.0 students then a study group would only be useful, provided you actually work and don't fuck around.
wisty 5y ago
Bogus self-help crap that's been completely disproved by every remotely credible research study.
There is a grain of truth (which is why some educators who know what works but lack critical thinking skills believe it's legit). But the grain of truth is that most people benefit from multiple media (e.g. a diagram, written explanations, verbal explanations, etc) and from the repetition that comes with it, not that people have "preferred learning styles".
It's actually harmful to pigeon-hole yourself (or others) as having a special learning style.
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JazzJack2 5y ago
Awesome man, can't wait for your next posts ( How to TheRedPill with your ADHD pt. 2 )
Thanks so much for sharing with us.
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redcontrition 5y ago
Firecracker is pretty dope too (drawback: it costs money). Same spaced-repetition concept as Anki, but I just personally liked the in-depth explanations in Firecracker which helped fine tune my understanding. Felt like with Anki/Zanki I was just memorizing without really understanding (it’s still useful for certain subjects where rote memorization is key)
ImYourMajesty 5y ago
I am about to be a med student this year, starting after 2 weeks. What is anki and do you have any more tips for med students ?
BloodRedPillz 5y ago
Anki is a software you download. It is basically just digital flashcards that you can input words/definitions on either side, or can download premade decks on a subject that other people have made. It's best used when trying to drill through definitions, dates, vocabulary, keywords etc. (Not a medical student).
T1mmyGolden 5y ago
Can confirm, Anki is awesome
ch_da_guru13 5y ago
Also don't be a moron and play club rugby like I did. Concussions and college are like orange juice and milk---that shit will FUCK you up.
chazthundergut 5y ago
Bookmarked and upvoted.
I've come to a lot of the same conclusions during my lengthy career as an undergrad and post-graduate student.
Pay attention boys.
Chitlinsandgravy 5y ago
Aight. Not even in school. Using some of this. Thanks.
vapel1fe42069 5y ago
Yeah I agree with everything except the stop socializing with classmates. That's how you become some autistic loser.
Networking is so soooooo much more important than your grades, and there will be some super smart people that are going places in your classes. And often times if you are in the same major you will take many of the same classes.
I've never really seen this hypercompetitive environment either and I go to one of the top stem schools in the country. Most people are happy to help each other as long as you are contributing as well.
After college, especially with LinkedIn, the people you meet in class are far more likely to help you with jobs and connections if you're that cool dude they studied with and had beers with a few times after class, as opposed to not knowing you at all.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I think you make an excellent point. There are many benefits to collaboration and my perspective might be counterintuitive to gaining networking opportunities. I have
strickenthat section.Delusion67 5y ago
"U. Stop socialising with classmates"
That just turned into "how to be the autistic nerd in your class".
McRoddy 5y ago
Yeah, I agree with you. Most of this list is good but being a social person has gotten me lots of opportunities. I will never not open anyone. Everyone has something to offer you and this isn't some school anime where everyone is sabotaging everyone else lmao.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I have removed that section. Collaboration is very important to aquire new opportunities and networks.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
That part is geared more to social butterflies who want to be friends with everyone. Edit: I have removed that section.
RedVelocitiy 5y ago
I beg to differ, being a social butterfly in school is helping me a lot as it has its advantages. What you must do is not to give stuff out for free, always take back something in return. Being subtle helps.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I Agree, collaboration has many benefits. I have changed my perspective and have
strikenthat part away.DekexelDragon55 5y ago
Yeah I set up a great network my first 3 years of school with other engineering students and it's been a fantastic asset. I see people I know in almost every class, who willingly offer up back exams/textbooks/study times/etc. to help me succeed even more and I offer very little other than a smile and some small talk. 10/10 would do again.
final_one 5y ago
I think this point is debatable. As OP has himself mentioned he is a CS major. I guess depending on different fields of study this generalization might not be true. But it is absolutely true in the case of Computer science. You can only earn so much from your network. And if your end goal is being a good engineer then you got to spend those long lonely hours reading up about your subject. I am reminded of Linus Torvalds quote - "Talk is cheap, show me the code".
DekexelDragon55 5y ago
No, you're 100% correct. But my two fields (Civil and Environmental) do not require me to have intricate knowledge of circuits and systems, like some of the classes I needed to take. I'm not going to run myself ragged learning things I don't need for my career, so exploiting others (as sociopathic as that sounds) is sometimes the best option.
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SadFatElephant 5y ago
Keep posting more advice like this, i really appreciate it
yunhaila 5y ago
As someone with mild ADHD symptoms, the free SimpleMind Mindmap Software has been a lifesaver.
HannibalTheCommander 5y ago
Excellent stuff, Mr Badass. Going to uni in a week. This post is just what I needed. Thanks for the ADHD post as well. Made me realize I had it even though I was in denial.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
Have you made any changes in your life?
HannibalTheCommander 5y ago
Yes. I've realized that the main reason I don't get enough done in my life is the lack of initiative. I plan it out, push it forward and then forget about it. So I plan on getting a whiteboard.
Also I'm trying to think of a cheap hobby for a college student, but having no luck as of yet.
The whole exercise and caffeine thing I've already figured out myself, though I need to cut down on my caffeine consumption to reduce the tolerance.
I'm super sluggish when I wake up so I've been using coffee in the morning to help with that, but you say caffeine only every 4 days or so. Does that rule out morning coffee?
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I wonder if you have Adrenal stress. What is your college major?
HannibalTheCommander 5y ago
I'm going to study to be a veterinarian. This will be my first year. What makes you think I might have adrenal stress?
JustChopItOff 5y ago
I used to go to study groups only after I had finished studying alone. It is useful because groups of people are more likely to have past exams/assignments and have one or two gifted guys in them that can help with solving some of the more advanced problems.
4991123 5y ago
I assume you meant only for sleeping?
Nice post btw. I've been a horrible procrastinator for years now, have tried a bunch of methods and tricks, but nothing worked so far. Maybe this does the trick? ;) Thnx!
Mr_Badass 5y ago
Yes! Only use your bed for sleeping.
399oly 5y ago
What about the other thing?
atticusfinch1973 5y ago
Upvoting just for the thoroughness. Amazing post.
mattizie 5y ago
Regarding the white board. Best decision I ever made, especially if you're living at home with a shitty parent. I bought rolls of stick-on white board, and covered all four walls of my room.
I recall one weekend where I was studying in my room. My mother is screaming about something or other, decides she's yelled at my brothers enough, and it's my turn. She opens the door to my room and stumbles onto something out of "a beautiful mind" (in reality it was just static deflection of beams), then she shuts up, closes the door quietly, and walks away. The whole time I have my back to her, and I'm busy solving going through one of the derivations.
Best 25 bucks I've spent.
Also, the fridge works great as an organisational whiteboard.
tumult0us4 5y ago
Can you share a link to the white board materials? Sorry about your home life..
Mr_Badass 5y ago
You can technically build a huge white board for cheap using parts. I just put a 4 x 6 Marker Board on the wall. https://thriftdiving.com/how-to-make-a-big-diy-whiteboard-get-organized/
mattizie 5y ago
A quick search on searx.me yields hundreds of links, don't be lazy.
And don't worry about it, it was a long time ago.
JaYogi 5y ago
They have them at most commercial hardware diy stores!
FratboyOnReddit 5y ago
Also can you please list out the materials you used the most? I'm try to find em on Amazon. Please and thank you!
mattizie 5y ago
this
this
this
Mr_Badass 5y ago
This is the Chore chart I use. I write my classes and check which days of the week I studied for what class. Perfect to keep on the wall on top of the toilet. https://www.amazon.com/Board-Dudes-Magnetic-Rewards-DFB55/dp/B00114UCYS?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_12
prometheus_night 5y ago
Quality post. One sticking point:
Wrong. Especially for CS majors. Side projects that show you can apply your skills towards your interests, club involvement, and leadership positions are all more important than GPA. In my experience, I never had a leg up with my 3.9 GPA over my peers with a 3.3 GPA in the eyes of employers. It was my projects and involvement that got me internships.
​
RealisticKiwi 5y ago
In my country your "GPA" means nothing. No one expects from a fresh grad to solve complex problem. They expect them to have good logic, good numerical reasoning skills, be good learner and great culture fit for the company. Have good english skills (GPA does not matter, just you can effortlessly hold conversations). Also be good team player. Also understand the whole picture what he have learned, but it is assessed by situational questions qnd no one ever checks the GPA.
CreatineKinase 5y ago
Wish this was the case for investment banking recruiting :(
GoldenCocaine 5y ago
IB is way more competitive
BitFieldDistribute 5y ago
Nice fuggin work bro! I'm particularly fond of M. Excuses are the easiest way out of responsibility and the most detrimental burden to our discipline, IMO I suppose.
donkey_democrat 5y ago
For those looking for a way to train your brain in this sort of thing, consider mindfulness meditation.
Please review this article for an explanation.
assholeofthesky 5y ago
Good post, but don't just think everything is blue pill/red pill.
for some, you never get the education you need in life before you're too old.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
The brain is capable of neuroplasticity, (learning new things), until your 40s and 50s.
zandd23 5y ago
Great post. I forwarded it to my son, he's starting his sophomore year in college.
AsianWater 5y ago
I'm Chinese. I approve this.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
Thanks! I'm Mexican American and I love the Chinese mentality when it comes to academics.
sky_fallen 5y ago
Hey dude you could retitle this one to be about work in general because I nearly didn't click on it but glad I did.
mattizie 5y ago
Yeah, nah.
Everyone knows that the Chinese international students just pay someone to do their work for them. It's quite hilarious when they have to do a presentation; hide behind the language barrier; get asked the same thing in their native tongue; and still don't have a clue.
Local Chinese students on the other hand...
ryuamakusa1993 5y ago
What you said might be true for the college essays for admission.. but beyond that, it's quite a stretch
ThracianGladiator 5y ago
That’s an unfair generalization. The int’l Chinese students I know/knew mostly worked hard to be there. Most times getting one of the best marks.
mattizie 5y ago
Like I said, it really showed when it came time for presentations.
They DO often get really high marks, and that's because poor grad students will do your homework for a few thousand bucks - when you're rolling in a brand new Porsche 911, paid for with daddy's money. I'm not saying ALL of them do that, but many do. The professors and tutors are pressured by the universities to let them pass.
Again, it shows when it comes time for presentations. Either they can't explain what it is they've written at all, or they get the most fundamental basics wrong. Most of the time they hide behind the language barrier, but when a Chinese assessor repeats the question in mandarin; the student still can't answer; the chinese gets quicker and more impatient; and end with "he has no idea" - well then it's a pretty clear what's going on. Sometimes it shows up on exams too, but again, professors and pressured to pass their students, especially the ones that bring in the most money.
psychyness 5y ago
This just sounds blantantly racist.
mattizie 5y ago
lol, everyone knows you can only be racist against black people
assholeofthesky 5y ago
Many bright students have had their academics annihilated due to hyper focusing on their magical unicorn ...
Yep
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Yep...
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Fucking pussy you distracting motherfucker
graceful_aggression 5y ago
Great post. I hope you are referring to university! I'm thankful to have attended a top one in the UK (Oxford/Cambridge/LSE etc), and I've seen too many that get far too distracted. I am an extroverted person, and have been victim to wanting to always spark a convo whenever I meet someone I know. Everything has a balance. I have a very good friend, aced high school studying 3 days only ahead of 4 quant-subject exams, aces them. Came from a very humble background. Kind of gets into this mentality of "i was the best to get in", but forgot the humility and framework of "how to stay IN" haha. Failed a year and had to repeat. I would add that humility would be important. Just because something was, doesn't mean it will be.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I am an extrovert and highly social. For me I have to be careful of trying to make friends with everyone and getting distracted.
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Mr_Badass 5y ago
The best scenario for you is to study for 2 of your classes a day, and alternate days with 1 or 2 Rest Days.
For this system to work you have to divide the amount of studying required for a Class into 3 Parts. Of course you should chose your Rest Days on appropriate days. Do you know what days you will be a TA?
billybobsbouncer 5y ago
Does the black and white setting on your phone really control the dopamine release? Or make it less? Where did you read that?
Mr_Badass 5y ago
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/20/turning-smartphone-greyscale-attention-distraction-colour
jcruise322 5y ago
I disagree to 1 point. I think socializing with classmates is important....very important. These are the people/colleagues you might be working with/for in the future. I agree that you shouldn’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of however. Solid post btw, most men should read this before college
askmrcia 5y ago
This was the only point I really disagreed with. Socializing in class, especially in grad school helped tremendously.
I'm still friends with a few of those people till this day.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I have changed my mind and have
strickenthat section away. Thank you for your observation!askmrcia 5y ago
Jesus, where were you when I was attending college? You literally tackled every scenario or potential problem that a college student may have.
Me personally, I was an athlete and also a bad day dreamer. Day dreaming really hurt me in college because I would leave lectures or whatever not learning a damn thing.
Definitely made my experience much more difficult.
Being an athlete (football and track) was tough because I did feel like I I was spending way too much time studying (comp Sci).
I still remember, after football GameDay on Saturdays I would go into the computer lab knocking out lab homework while my teammates were out partying or having video game tournaments. It really sucked and eventually I did let that distract me. Good post though
Mr_Badass 5y ago
As a CompSci major I also was a heavy daydreamer. In my case, I had to channel my imagination into doing digital art using Photoshop. Studying using Mindmaps also helped me keep focused on learning material.
FratboyOnReddit 5y ago
Yeah man great post! Gonna share it with my little bro who just started college!
Thank you!
Straight_Edge18 5y ago
I agree with all points but not with watching Porn cause that makes you lazy
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I didn't want to mention NoFap because it can be a controversial topic. In my personal opinion Porn should be avoided, and one should try to jerk off a maximum of once a day or every few days.
RLazerbeam 5y ago
Sick Post! Really structured and nicely written.
sleepkxng 5y ago
Thanks. I really needed this. About to start Uni next week and this is a God send.
All the best!
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Ronaldo-CR7- 5y ago
Thanks for this. Great post very thorough
0fficialRider99 5y ago
This is actually helpful. What do you know. If I’m going to be living with my parents for the next few years while I’m going to school, means I’m not getting laid. Then I think I deserve to watch porn my wholesome friend. While I can attract women no problem they do not want to come back to my twin bed. Ok? For those who suggest hotels, what a nice $400-$500 investment for a broke college student. What a smart investment? Not. I’ll do my time here until I’m able to become independent enough to do otherwise.
alisemihc 5y ago
That's just defeatism and emasculation.
ex_addict_bro 5y ago
Most of things described feel like pain in the ass, but they work and there's no other way.
Hotels, motels, brothels, outdoors, back alleys, this kind of stuff. You're the sex machine and girls talk about you, feeling excited, not knowing where are you going to fuck them next.
If wiping your own cum with your socks is one of your life goals, then go for it.
See above.
Fuck a cougar, make her pay.
Find and read Whisper's (I believe) post about rejection buffers. You're creating a few.
sssozi 5y ago
You must find a solution to your problems.
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assholeofthesky 5y ago
Shut up faggot, i get laid at my parents house. you just need to be a man and not some little boy.
0fficialRider99 5y ago
I did get laid like 5 times at the crib before I got caught, shit was awkward. Was like in mid thrust.
Cloudsurf89 5y ago
Sounds like you're already defeated
0fficialRider99 5y ago
Sounds like you ran out of rebuttals that can offer me help that will actually enrich my life. You know everything I said is true, aside from the occasional fuck in a public bathroom, or fitting room that few chicks are adventurous enough to do, I don’t see any other practical way to get laid bro as you can see my dilemma from what I outlined above so yeah I think I’ll fap whenever I damn well feel like it. Unless you can offer me a solution?
Vikingfreeze 5y ago
In my country it is common to take your girl to a nearby forest
Cloudsurf89 5y ago
Imagine a situation where a girl is so into you that she conspires a way to get some alone time with. As she gets you over while her parents are out, she borrows a friend's car, she takes you to a friend's house whose family are away and she's been lent a key, she drags you into a disabled toilet / changing room / park bushes / a not so quiet cinema / anywhere she can - girls/women are arguably more resourceful at socially engineering and manipulating situations than we are. If she wants the D enough, she'll move heaven and earth to make it happen.
My comment wasn't a wind up, I'm fully serious. Back when I was 18/19 and just starting to have success with girls I was stunned at the extent girls will go to to make a hook up happen and how their friends will rally round and conspire to help.
This will all only happen though if you raise your SMV (doesn't have to be astronomical, just so that you are sending out signals that you're working on yourself and going places) and adopt more of an open minded growth mindset. This has taken me about 20mins to type out on my phone - why am I doing it? Just trying to pay forward the advice that I didn't have back when I was living with my parents and not meeting my potential.
Don't sell yourself short.
ex_addict_bro 5y ago
Listen to all free audios by Steven Chandler, especially those on "Victim vs owner" thinking. When you're done, read all his books.
RedVelocitiy 5y ago
Your number one priority now is to become independent. How about joining the army.
ToryTosh1922 5y ago
Great techniques. I used the majority of these when I studied for my degree and I received first class honours. They work splendidly :)
BangFlashOut 5y ago
This is a great post, especially about the Mexican American sad part. I’m Arab and my dad usually makes fun of me for studying, remember it’s your future not anyone else’s.
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I recommend the book "Barrio Nerds" by Juan F. Carrillo, especially the Chapter on scholarship masculinity. Majority of the concepts and observations from that book apply to all first-generation college students. In many latin american cultures, it is accustomed for the men to work with their hands and the women with a pencil. Studying is seen as a feminine activity for the working class. The elders make fun of you because they believe reading books are selling out and "acting white". The book "Barrio Nerds" is at Libgen for free.
000red1 5y ago
I'm going into computer science too. Thanks for the post. This is really helpful.
shizu73 5y ago
Fucking great post , really appreciate it.
ex_addict_bro 5y ago
ZZ. Take a free Coursera course "Learning how to learn"
For me, the best thing about Pomodoro is the BREAK (Y). In the past, I was able to over-indulge work, then I went straight into avoidance. What's best about Pomodoro is I actually feel excited after N-th cycle to get stuff done, it's like I don't want to take a break, but I force myself to do that. This on-off dopamine dosage really gets me hard.
As per socialising, I remember many years ago, in the high school, a few jocks from my class and their girls asked me if I could help them with physics. I obliged and spent about 2 or 3 few hour sessions explaining some topics to them. Per your post - "U. Stop socialising" - this is SOLID advice, I also see that in interns who came in pairs, having someone else also trying to learn stuff is NOT a good idea - but in the past, in that situation, maybe, just maybe if I had some RP knowledge, maybe I could turn things around AND treat it as a chance to repeat some stuff. Leading means showing the way, that includes teaching and explaining - as long as you're really far ahead.
This post reinforces the ideas that I learned at the therapy for addicted to alcohol: in the beginning they told us to throw alcohol, bottles, glasses away. The same thing in your post. Throw things away. Throw away TV, turn phone off, block websites, move to a place with less distractions. This is the same pattern repeating again and again. If your only chance to get dopamine is to study, then clean your room, then go outside to train, well, guess what, brain's going to pick on that pretty soon. If you have a TV set with a gaming console in the reach of your hand instead...
Mr_Badass 5y ago
I have taken that course on Coursea! Highly recommended it.
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alex_b98 5y ago
This couldn't be a better time for me to come across this. I'm starting Computer Science next week, and have been having trouble studying for a previous programme I started. Will definitely use the info you posted!
Mr_Badass 5y ago
Check out MIT Introduction to Computer science starting in August 30th. It's on EdX and instructor led.