News
6 Mid-Semester Tips for Master’s and Professional Students
By Alex Yen | October 2022
Now that the fall semester is well under way, October is the perfect time to reflect on your goals and create optimal conditions for you to thrive during your graduate school experience!
- Make a graduate school plan: A master’s or professional degree can fly by before you know it! It is helpful to establish a plan for yourself that identifies your academic, personal, and professional goals for the next 1-3 years. A helpful strategy is to create a larger semester calendar where you identify and map out long-term goals and deadlines. Start by reflecting on what you would like to accomplish each semester as you progress through your degree. What skills and competencies would you like to hone? For example, you may want to improve your speaking ability in a language or strengthen your writing. The Educational Resource Center’s Language Link and Writing Assistance services can help you achieve these goals. In terms of career preparation, there are multiple resources at BU to help you explore potential jobs, create your resume, and even print out business cards. By planning ahead and identifying relevant resources, you’re far more likely to achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself!
- Hone your graduate school routine: Some of you may be starting your master’s or professional degree fresh from an undergraduate degree, while some of you may have worked for years before returning to school. Either way, it's important to establish a healthy, balanced routine that will help you meet the demands of graduate school. Take some time to reflect on your commitments: are you working part-time while going to school? What is your course load and schedule? It’s also helpful to reflect on your natural routines. What times of day are you most alert and focused? When do you like to wake up and go to bed? The Educational Resource Center offers workshops on time management that can help you establish a sustainable approach to time management. One strategy you can try on your own is creating a weekly “template schedule” for yourself using a 24-hour time grid. First, mark out your external commitments such as class, work, and weekly appointments. Then, add commitments to yourself such as sleep, meals, and self-care (exercise, meditation breaks, etc.). From there, you’ll see how much time you have available for studying and relaxation. If you’re a full-time student, aim for 24-32 hours of study time each week, prioritizing the times of day when you are most focused. Finally, don’t forget to block out times for socialization and relaxation to help you unwind at the end of the day and the end of the week!
- Establish a comfortable learning environment: Think about where you tend to produce your best work. Are you someone who likes to work at home or in a quiet space? Or do you find your concentration improves when you study in the library or a café? The ERC’s Study Space guide provides a list of places around BU where you can study by yourself or in a group. Wherever you decide to work, as a graduate student, you may be spending more time in front of your computer than ever before! That’s why it’s important to think about ergonomics. Be sure to position your computer or tablet screen at least 2 feet from your face. If you can use an external monitor or a laptop stand, this can greatly reduce neck and eye strain. For more ergonomics tips and resources, visit the BU Environmental Health and Safety website.
- Identify mentors and foster your mentor-mentee relationships: Mentors and advisors come in all different forms, and it is crucial to identify what you would like from a mentor. Make sure to identify an advisor or mentor early on in your degree program and begin to build your communication. Check out a few possible questions you can ask your mentor/advisor. If you do not have a set advisor or mentor yet, don’t hesitate to meet with multiple faculty members, identify whom you communicate with best (see examples of good mentor communication), and then ask them, “Do you have the capacity to work with me as an advisor or mentor?”
- Identify your funding and budget: Make sure you understand your financial situation before, during, and after your master’s or professional degree. Will you be working and generating income during your degree? Will you be a full-time student without a job and need to rely on savings or loans? As you assess your new budget, don’t forget to factor in textbooks, software, and even money that will be used during socializing and networking. Identify if the amount you save, spend, and invest may have to change while you are working on your master’s degree. If you are interested in working part time, the Student Employment Office (SEO) has a board listing part-time jobs, both on and off-campus. Don’t hesitate to reach out to campus offices where you might be interested in exploring a career to ask if they have job openings. A special reminder for international students: you are eligible to work on-campus, and there are plenty of job opportunities available!
- Maintain and build resilience: Graduate school is a marathon, not a sprint. Identify when you need to take breaks, and identify times throughout the semester when you can step away from schoolwork for at least half a day. The challenges, triumphs, and hard work of a master’s or professional degree are a great opportunity to build resilience—the ability to recover from challenging moments or times of crisis. Throughout, it’s crucial to remember that you are not alone! If you would like help navigating the academic challenges of graduate school, the Educational Resource Center provides Academic Skills advising to help you build new time management, reading, and learning strategies. To support your mental health and wellbeing, BU Student Health Services provides a number of support groups and workshops for graduate students. Additionally, the Newbury Center is a safe and welcoming space that supports first-generation students at BU; if you’re the first if your family to pursue a graduate degree—you're first gen! In addition to these on campus support systems, be sure to set aside time to spend with friends, family, and others who support your graduate school journey. Be kind to yourself and take the time to establish and adjust habits until you find what works best for you. You can do this!
This article was written by Alex Yen, a Postdoctoral Associate in the Office of Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs (PDPA).
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for Returning Graduate and Professional Students
The following message from the Dean of Students Office was sent to returning graduate and professional students on Monday, June 21, 2021.
Friends,
Every one of you has helped us get this far. I’ve seen your spirit over the last year as you encourage each other to wear face-coverings and masks, get tested, and keep gatherings small. You wanted to be here with friends, your team, and other folks in your classes, labs, workspaces, and practice areas. You care about each other and this place.
Congratulations, we’ve made it this far, but we have another stretch to go. We still need your spirit of camaraderie.
Get Vaccinated and Upload Your Documentation
It’s time to get vaccinated and upload your documents. As a reminder, all students, including graduate and professional students, are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and upload information about their status by August 1, 2021. Below you will see the frequently asked questions (FAQs) for vaccinations and uploading your information. Only students who are compliant with the University’s vaccine requirements (or have received a medical or religious exemption or an extension) and may participate in on-campus activities, including classes and research activities, after August 1. Additionally, if you have not uploaded your information into Patient Connect, you will be withdrawn from classes.
We understand that there may be extenuating circumstances that prevent you from being vaccinated before August 1. You may request to be vaccinated upon your arrival in Boston, by selecting an extension through Patient Connect. If your request is approved, you will receive an email and upon your return to campus, you will be required to schedule a vaccine appointment in the community or via Student Health Services.
Thank you for vaxing and uploading. Now, let’s dream of our future on our campuses. Let’s not simply look to a new normal but, rather, a better BU. Let’s reimagine our world and dream of the possibilities that lay ahead of us. Bring the spirit of BU alive and we will all see the possibilities of not just finding our place but how we belong at BU.
Fondly,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
VACCINATION AND UPLOADING
- Do I need to get the COVID-19 vaccine for BU this fall?
Yes, Boston University will require all students living, studying, or working on our Charles River, Fenway, and Medical campuses in the fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
- How do I get vaccinated?
You can get vaccinated anywhere in the United States as well as internationally.
In Massachusetts: https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/
In the U.S.: https://www.vaccines.gov/search/
Abroad: check out local hospitals, medical facilities, pharmacies and health departments in your area.
- Will BU have vaccinations on campus?
BU will be conducting on-campus vaccine clinics as doses become available. We plan to reopen on-campus vaccine clinics in mid-August for all students, faculty, and staff who have been unable to get vaccinated before August 1. If you are unable to receive a vaccine due to extenuating circumstances, you may request to be vaccinated on campus, in August, by requesting an extension through Patient Connect. If your request is approved, upon your return to campus, you will be required to schedule a vaccine appointment by September 1.
Information can be found on the Back2BU page, found here: https://www.bu.edu/back2bu/campus-life-graduates/bu-community-health-safety/covid-19-vaccination-information/
- Can I get my first vaccination dose at home, and my second at BU or in Massachusetts?
Yes, in most cases you can get one dose of the vaccine in your home state, if in the US, and get the second one of that same series here in Massachusetts or at BU.
- What is the deadline for getting my vaccination?
Sunday, August 1, 2021, is the deadline for all students to upload their vaccine documentation in Patient Connect. If you do not upload by this date, you will lose access to campus facilities. If you have one dose and have uploaded your vaccine card, we will be aware that you’ve begun the process and you will not face repercussions. However, we will ask you to follow the procedure listed in question 8 of these FAQs to get your second dose as soon as you are eligible.
- Can I get both my vaccine doses this summer or when I return to BU in the fall?
We encourage everyone to get, at least, their first dose as soon as possible or before they return to campus. However, you may request to be vaccinated on campus, in August, by submitting an extension via Patient Connect (see FAQ #9). If your request is approved, you will receive an email, from Patient Connect, with information on how to schedule a vaccine upon your arrival. This must be completed by September 1, 2021.
- What if I’m an international student?
BU plans to accept all vaccines being offered outside the United States, including those without US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization or approval or WHO authorization or approval. However, CDC guidance regarding quarantine only covers individuals who have received an FDA-authorized or approved vaccine. Quarantining after travel or after close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 will be required if you are vaccinated with non-WHO approved vaccines.
Full guidance for international students can be found here: https://www.bu.edu/provost/2021/04/28/fall-2021-vaccination-information-for-international-students/
International students may also request to be vaccinated on campus, in August, by requesting an extension through Patient Connect. If your request is approved, upon your return to campus, you will be required to schedule a vaccine appointment.
8. How do I upload my vaccine information?
-
- Log into Patient Connect.
- Select the “Messages” menu option, then select “New Message.”
- Select the “COVID-19 Message” option, then the “COVID-19 Vaccine Documentation Upload” reason, and continue.
- Upload an image of your COVID-19 vaccine documentation, ensuring that the administered date(s) are clearly visible.
- enter each appointment date
- check off the vaccine manufacturer,
- check both acknowledgements, then,
- select “Send”
More information on how to use Patient Connect can be found here: https://www.bu.edu/tech/support/using-student-patient-connect/#vaccine
- How do I request an extension due to extenuating circumstances?
-
- Log into Patient Connect.
- Select the “Messages” menu option, then select “New Message.”
- Select the “COVID-19 Message” option, then the “I request an extension to be able to receive my COVID vaccine once I arrive in Boston” as the reason, and continue.
- Complete the attestation on the next page, indicating that you attest that you are not able to receive the COVID vaccine prior to returning to Boston and agree that upon arrival in Boston you will promptly schedule a vaccine appointment at a BU vaccine clinic or in the community by September 1.
Once approved, you will receive an email, from Patient Connect, with information on how to schedule a vaccine upon your arrival.
- When should I upload my vaccine information?
As soon as possible. Even if you only have one dose, we are asking that you upload your vaccine information.
- Will I be limited in what I can do if I only have one dose when I arrive on-campus? What if I haven’t received my second dose by the time school starts?
If you have one dose and have uploaded your vaccine information, Student Health Services will be aware that you’ve begun the process and you will not face repercussions. However, we will ask you to follow procedures to get your second vaccine dose as soon as you are eligible.
- If I’m fully vaccinated, will I need to wear a mask or face covering during the fall semester?
As of June 1, 2021, BU has lifted mask and face covering requirements outdoors for those who are fully vaccinated. However, BU still requires everyone to wear a mask indoors – for example, within classrooms, inside labs, during indoor meetings and at indoor events.
- What will the social or physical distancing requirements be during the fall semester?
Beginning in September, all social and physical distancing requirements will go away.
- If we’ve all been vaccinated, why do we still need to test?
While we are encouraged by the efficacy of the vaccines, we know that they will never protect our entire community 100%. Some individuals may not be able to be vaccinated for various reasons or there may be mutations of the virus that the vaccines are less effective against. By continuing to test, we can monitor the virus in our community and trace or isolate individuals most at risk.
Everyone – students, faculty, and staff –will be required to test once a week.
- What happens if I decide to not get the vaccine?
As with most vaccination requirements, exemptions are possible for medical or religious reasons only. You can request an exemption by sending a message in Healthway Patient Connect. Select “COVID-19 (Coronavirus)” then “Request for COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption” from the message options.
- Who can I speak with to ask more questions?
- For compliance-related questions from students, contact the Dean of Students Office at dos@bu.eduor (617) 353-4126
- Students with non-medical questions should contact healthwayhelp@bu.edu or call Healthway at (617) 353-0550 and press 4, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week
- Students, faculty, or staff with medical questions related to the vaccine and post-vaccination side effects should call Healthway at (617) 353-0550 and press 2 to speak with a triage nurse, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week
- International students with visa or travel questions can contact ISSO at isso@bu.edu
TESTING AND QUARANTINE
- What is the testing protocol for vaccinated and unvaccinated students on arrival?
All students, including graduate and professional students, will be required to test upon arriving to campus for the first time and weekly thereafter.
- What COVID collection sites will be open in August and September?
Agganis Arena (until September 24), and 808 Commonwealth Avenue.
BU Medical Campus, Room R107, 72 Concord Street.
For additional information about testing sites visit Back2BU.
- Will domestic and international students be required to “stay in place” until they receive a negative test?
Yes, all students, including graduate and professional students, will be asked to limit their interactions with others until they receive a negative COVID test, regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated.
- Will a green badge be required to enter dining halls, and FitRec?
Yes, a green badge will be required for entry through the fall 2021 semester.
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for Incoming Graduate and Professional Students
The following message from the Dean of Students Office was sent to incoming graduate and professional students on Monday, June 21, 2021.
Friends,
I look forward to welcoming you to our campuses very soon as you embark on your graduate school journey at Boston University. Our entire community has been preparing for your arrival. I’m writing today to provide important information about BU’s commitment to keeping you safe during the COVID pandemic.
Get Vaccinated and Upload Your Documentation
It’s time to get vaccinated and upload your documents. As a reminder, all students, including graduate and professional students, are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and upload information about their status by August 1, 2021. Below you will see the frequently asked questions (FAQs) for vaccinations and uploading your information. Only students who are compliant with the University’s vaccine requirements (or have received a medical or religious exemption or an extension) and may participate in on-campus activities, including classes and research activities, after August 1. Additionally, if you have not uploaded your information into Patient Connect, you will be withdrawn from classes.
We understand that there may be extenuating circumstances that prevent you from being vaccinated before August 1. You may request to be vaccinated upon your arrival in Boston, by selecting an extension through Patient Connect. If your request is approved, you will receive an email and upon your arrival to campus, you will be required to schedule a vaccine appointment in the community or via Student Health Services.
In addition to the vaccine requirement, COVID testing will also be required throughout the fall semester. Upon arrival to campus, all students, including graduate and professional students, will be asked to limit their interactions with others until they receive a negative COVID test, regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated. Testing will continue weekly thereafter.
Thank you for vaxing and uploading. Now, let’s dream of our future on our campuses. Let’s not simply look to a new normal but, rather, a better BU. Let’s reimagine our world and dream of the possibilities that lay ahead of us. Bring the spirit of BU alive and we will all see the possibilities of not just finding our place but how we belong at BU.
Excited to meet you – fully vaccinated.
Fondly,
Kenneth Elmore
Associate Provost and Dean of Students
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
VACCINATION AND UPLOADING
- Do I need to get the COVID-19 vaccine for BU this fall?
Yes, Boston University will require all students living, studying, or working on our Charles River, Fenway, and Medical campuses in the fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
- How do I get vaccinated?
You can get vaccinated anywhere in the United States as well as internationally.
In Massachusetts: https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/
In the U.S.: https://www.vaccines.gov/search/
Abroad: check out local hospitals, medical facilities, pharmacies and health departments in your area.
- Will BU have vaccinations on campus?
BU will be conducting on-campus vaccine clinics as doses become available. We plan to reopen on-campus vaccine clinics in mid-August for all students, faculty, and staff who have been unable to get vaccinated before August 1. If you are unable to receive a vaccine due to extenuating circumstances, you may request to be vaccinated on campus, in August, by requesting an extension through Patient Connect. If your request is approved, upon your return to campus, you will be required to schedule a vaccine appointment by September 1.
Information can be found on the Back2BU page, found here: https://www.bu.edu/back2bu/campus-life-graduates/bu-community-health-safety/covid-19-vaccination-information/
- Can I get my first vaccination dose at home, and my second at BU or in Massachusetts?
Yes, in most cases you can get one dose of the vaccine in your home state, if in the US, and get the second one of that same series here in Massachusetts or at BU.
- What is the deadline for getting my vaccination?
Sunday, August 1, 2021, is the deadline for all students to upload their vaccine documentation in Patient Connect. If you do not upload by this date, you will lose access to campus facilities. If you have one dose and have uploaded your vaccine card, we will be aware that you’ve begun the process and you will not face repercussions. However, we will ask you to follow the procedure listed in question 8 of these FAQs to get your second dose as soon as you are eligible.
- Can I get both my vaccine doses when I arrive at BU in August?
We encourage everyone to get, at least, their first dose before they arrive on campus for the fall semester. However, you may request to be vaccinated on campus, in August, by submitting an extension via Patient Connect (see FAQ #9). If your request is approved, you will receive an email, from Patient Connect, with information on how to schedule a vaccine upon your arrival. This must be completed by September 1, 2021.
- What if I’m an international student?
BU plans to accept all vaccines being offered outside the United States, including those without US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization or approval or WHO authorization or approval. However, CDC guidance regarding quarantine only covers individuals who have received an FDA-authorized or approved vaccine. Quarantining after travel or after close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 will be required if you are vaccinated with non-WHO approved vaccines.
Full guidance for international students can be found here: https://www.bu.edu/provost/2021/04/28/fall-2021-vaccination-information-for-international-students/
International students may also request to be vaccinated on campus, in August, by requesting an extension through Patient Connect. If your request is approved, upon your return to campus, you will be required to schedule a vaccine appointment.
8. How do I upload my vaccine information?
-
- Log into Patient Connect.
- Select the “Messages” menu option, then select “New Message.”
- Select the “COVID-19 Message” option, then the “COVID-19 Vaccine Documentation Upload” reason, and continue.
- Upload an image of your COVID-19 vaccine documentation, ensuring that the administered date(s) are clearly visible.
- enter each appointment date
- check off the vaccine manufacturer,
- check both acknowledgements, then,
- select “Send”
More information on how to use Patient Connect can be found here: https://www.bu.edu/tech/support/using-student-patient-connect/#vaccine
- How do I request an extension due to extenuating circumstances?
-
- Log into Patient Connect.
- Select the “Messages” menu option, then select “New Message.”
- Select the “COVID-19 Message” option, then the “I request an extension to be able to receive my COVID vaccine once I arrive in Boston” as the reason, and continue.
- Complete the attestation on the next page, indicating that you attest that you are not able to receive the COVID vaccine prior to returning to Boston and agree that upon arrival in Boston you will promptly schedule a vaccine appointment at a BU vaccine clinic or in the community by September 1.
Once approved, you will receive an email, from Patient Connect, with information on how to schedule a vaccine upon your arrival.
- When should I upload my vaccine information?
As soon as possible. Even if you only have one dose, we are asking that you upload your vaccine information.
- Will I be limited in what I can do if I only have one dose when I arrive on-campus? What if I haven’t received my second dose by the time school starts?
If you have one dose and have uploaded your vaccine information, Student Health Services will be aware that you’ve begun the process and you will not face repercussions. However, we will ask you to follow procedures to get your second vaccine dose as soon as you are eligible.
- If I’m fully vaccinated, will I need to wear a mask or face covering during the fall semester?
As of June 1, 2021, BU has lifted mask and face covering requirements outdoors for those who are fully vaccinated. However, BU still requires everyone to wear a mask indoors – for example, within classrooms, inside labs, during indoor meetings and at indoor events.
- What will the social or physical distancing requirements be during the fall semester?
Beginning in September, all social and physical distancing requirements will go away.
- If we’ve all been vaccinated, why do we still need to test?
While we are encouraged by the efficacy of the vaccines, we know that they will never protect our entire community 100%. Some individuals may not be able to be vaccinated for various reasons or there may be mutations of the virus that the vaccines are less effective against. By continuing to test, we can monitor the virus in our community and trace or isolate individuals most at risk.
Everyone – students, faculty, and staff –will be required to test once a week.
- What happens if I decide to not get the vaccine?
As with most vaccination requirements, exemptions are possible for medical or religious reasons only. You can request an exemption by sending a message in Healthway Patient Connect. Select “COVID-19 (Coronavirus)” then “Request for COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption” from the message options.
- Who can I speak with to ask more questions?
- For compliance-related questions from students, contact the Dean of Students Office at dos@bu.eduor (617) 353-4126
- Students with non-medical questions should contact healthwayhelp@bu.edu or call Healthway at (617) 353-0550 and press 4, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week
- Students, faculty, or staff with medical questions related to the vaccine and post-vaccination side effects should call Healthway at (617) 353-0550 and press 2 to speak with a triage nurse, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week
- International students with visa or travel questions can contact ISSO at isso@bu.edu
TESTING AND QUARANTINE
- What is the testing protocol for vaccinated and unvaccinated students on arrival?
All students, including graduate and professional students, will be required to test upon arriving to campus for the first time and weekly thereafter.
- What COVID collection sites will be open in August and September?
Agganis Arena (until September 24), and 808 Commonwealth Avenue.
BU Medical Campus, Room R107, 72 Concord Street.
For additional information about testing sites visit Back2BU.
- Will domestic and international students be required to “stay in place” until they receive a negative test?
Yes, all students, including graduate and professional students, will be asked to limit their interactions with others until they receive a negative COVID test, regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated.
- Will a green badge be required to enter dining halls, and FitRec?
Yes, a green badge will be required for entry through the fall 2021 semester.
Get Ready for Finals: Study and Memorization Strategies
No matter how diligent you have been about reviewing your notes, the end of the semester inevitably requires an added layer of review and mastery in order to tackle summative assessments such as exams, projects, and presentations with confidence. The goal of this post is to share some strategies that will help you enhance your study routine during these final, crucial days of the semester.
Study Strategies: What Doesn’t Work
Let’s begin by identifying some common yet, counterproductive study habits. Cramming and rereading are strategies that many of us relied on in high school and college. Some of you may have even “gotten away with it”--meaning that your resulting exam grades looked fine!
But can you remember or apply any of the material that you “learned” through cramming today? Probably not! Within a week, 75% of the content we learn through cramming is forgotten. Cramming ultimately undermines your performance on future exams in the same course, future courses in the same field, and future projects in your career.
The other problem with cramming is that it encourages other problematic study strategies. When operating under a time crunch, most of us resort to rereading our notes and other course materials--hoping that this will somehow burn the information into our memories! Ultimately, however, this kind of passive repetition is not an effective memorization or learning strategy.
To truly absorb, understand, and retain information, you need three types of practice: distributed practice, retrieval practice, and elaborative practice. As with playing a sport or instrument, your brain needs to practice before you ask it to perform under pressure. That’s where these three strategies come in. They allow you to learn in a deeper, more meaningful fashion. Students who use these strategies not only retain information longer, they are better able to apply their knowledge to new, unfamiliar problems.
Distributed Practice
Rather than cramming all of your review in the night before an exam, it’s important to break your studying into smaller chunks and space these shorter study sessions out over several days. If you can do a little bit of review for each of your courses each day, you’ll be in a much stronger position. Furthermore, the breaks and sleep you get between these shorter, distributed study sessions will allow your mind to organize and consolidate the information it has learned.
A helpful way to structure your distributed study sessions is the Pomodoro Technique. It encourages you to work in short, intense bursts by selecting a goal and setting a timer for 25 minutes. Next, eliminate all distractions, then work toward your goal until the timer goes off. When your time is up, take a five minute break to stretch or brew a mug of tea, then repeat the cycle three more times before taking a longer, 15-30 minute break. As a graduate student, you may want to experiment with the length of your Pomodoro sessions--some tasks may be suited to 20 minute sessions, while other tasks may work better as 45 minute sessions. The key is to monitor your personal attention span and to break longer tasks into multiple Pomodoro sessions when necessary.
Retrieval Practice
The second type of practice that’s essential for exam preparation is Retrieval Practice. You wouldn’t train for a marathon by walking; you’d actually need to practice running! Similarly, when preparing for any kind of exam, you need to perform the activity that you’ll be doing on exam day—namely, asking your brain to retrieve information on demand!
The good news is that there are many creative ways to practice retrieval! Paper or digital flashcards are probably the most familiar example. To make the most of your flashcards, maintain a fairly large deck of flashcards and avoid passively reading through the cards. Instead, pause to test your memory before checking the answer. Then, leave each card in your deck until you have successfully recalled it multiple times; once or twice is not enough!
Study groups can also provide valuable opportunities for retrieval practice. You can quiz each other verbally or via your preferred texting platform. You can also practice teaching each other challenging concepts and then offering each other corrective feedback. Put your memory to the test by explaining how or why the other person’s explanation was right or wrong. You and your study partner may have picked up on different nuances or have different underlying assumptions. Exploring these differences to find a common solution or understanding will enhance the learning process for both of you! This kind of collaborative thinking is a terrific way to calibrate what you know and make sure you have truly mastered the material. It also prepares you for the kinds of conversations that you will have throughout your professional careers.
Whichever methods you choose, retrieval practice does take a bit more creativity than passively rereading your notes. But the benefits are numerous, especially if you space out your retrieval practice.
Elaborative Practice
The third and final type of practice is elaboration, which requires giving meaning to new information that you are learning. This approach makes storage of information into your long-term memory more efficient and simplifies retrieval by building connections between new information and your existing, prior knowledge.
One way to give meaning to new information is to go beyond simple, verbatim retrieval. If you’re using flashcards as a study tool, be sure to think beyond the written definition. Take the opportunity to ask yourself “how,” “why,” and “what if” questions about the concepts or theories you are studying. Can you provide a real-world example or explain why each concept is important? This approach will encourage you to reach for the higher levels of learning represented in Bloom’s Taxonomy--application, analysis, evaluation, and creation.
Another elaborative approach is finding connections within the material you are studying. As you review, ask yourself how different concepts relate to each other and how they contribute to the course or your discipline as a whole. This line of thinking may inspire you to create an outline, a concept map, or another type of study guide to help you chunk ideas into larger, meaningful units. This kind of structured, relational knowledge is easier to retrieve than separate, seemingly unrelated terms and concepts.
A final approach to elaboration is reflecting on how the information you are learning relates to your personal or professional life. This kind of self-referencing helps connect new information to your past experiences, current projects, and future goals. Again, by linking new information to familiar ideas, you are more likely to retain the information long term.
Conclusion
Distributed practice, retrieval practice, and elaborative practice require a little time and creativity. However, they pay off in reduced stress as well as improved recall and more sophisticated thinking on exam day.
As the fall semester comes to a close, take stock of the learning strategies that have worked well for you this semester as well as the strategies you would like to introduce or perfect next semester. To support your continued growth as a learner, be on the lookout for the Educational Resource Center’s workshops, including the Master’s Student Lunch & Learn series.
Sarah Garibova, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Outreach
Educational Resource Center
Boston University
Recommended Reading
Brown, P.C., Roediger, H.L, & McDaniel, M.A. (2014). Make it stick: The science of successful learning. Available as an ebook through BU Libraries and JSTOR.
Carey, B. (2015) How we learn: The surprising truth about when, where, and why it happens.
Doyle, T. & Zakrajsek, T.D. (2013) The New Science of Learning: How to Learn in Harmony With Your Brain. Available as an ebook through BU Libraries.
McGuire, S. & McGuire, S. (2018). Teach yourself how to learn: Strategies you can use to ace any course at any level.
Tips for Managing Your Time during LfA
For many students, the Learn from Anywhere (LfA) model has created greater flexibility in their schedules. Unfortunately, as you make your way through the semester, deadlines may start to multiply, and school-life balance may seem elusive. This is where adding greater structure to your schedule and trying out some new techniques can help you stay on track academically while maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Look Ahead, Plan Backwards
Throughout the semester, you will likely be navigating multiple competing deadlines for your courses. It’s important to map out those key dates ahead of time so that you can distribute the workload and avoid pulling all-nighters to finish projects at the last minute.
The calendar below is an excerpt from a Semester at a Glance calendar. At the beginning of each semester, it’s helpful to map out all of your exam dates, project and paper deadlines, and any personal or family commitments that might make certain weeks feel busier than others. Filling out a Semester at a Glance calendar this week, with all of your remaining deadlines, will help you develop a realistic plan for completing your projects and exam preparations on time. You can download a sample calendar here.
For each deadline on your Semester at a Glance, you can implement Reverse Planning. Break each assignment down into smaller tasks, and plan backwards, from the due date to the present, estimating how much time each task will take as you go. Not only does Reverse Planning reduce the time pressure of preparing for exams and presentations, it also improves focus, motivation, and performance as you work toward milestones in your degree program and professional development.
Beef up Your Weekly Calendar
Another strategy that can help you stay on track during these final weeks of the semester is revisiting your weekly calendar. At the beginning of the semester, most graduate students enter their class schedule, work hours (if they have a job), and recurring appointments into their weekly calendars. As the semester progresses though, many students struggle to balance the commitments that aren’t included on their weekly calendars: sleep, meals, exercise, study time, and free time. These are things we all recognize are essential but we assume will magically fit into the white space on our calendars. The trouble is, as the semester ramps up and deadlines begin to loom, our best intentions for maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle often falter. In the moment, we often make poor time management decisions. For example, when you sit down to study, too much white space on your calendar can lull you into procrastinating. What we need is a system that allows us to quickly visualize exactly how much time we have available to work on the tasks we need to complete.
One solution is to take a more comprehensive approach to your weekly calendar, transforming it into a 24 Hour Time Grid that reflects both your external commitments and your commitments to yourself. You can create your 24 Hour Time Grid using any weekly calendaring platform that works for you, e.g. Google Calendar, iCal, or a paper planner.
As you enter your class schedule, you’ll want to use color coding to indicate which classes are meeting in person and which are meeting remotely. If you are enrolled in a course with asynchronous components such as pre-recorded lectures, you’ll also want to schedule a consistent time each week to access these course materials and take notes on them.
Commit to Balance
After you’ve entered your schedule of classes, work, and recurring appointments, the next step is to schedule time for your commitments to yourself. Start by blocking off 7-8 hours of sleep a night. There are two excellent reasons to schedule your sleep! First, the goal of a 24 Hour Time Grid is to help you achieve an accurate understanding of how many hours you have available for study time. If you leave sleep time open, it is tempting to glance at your calendar during the day and reassure yourself that you have plenty of time to finish your work. Later in the day, it’s tempting to cut into valuable sleep time by staying up later. A second reason to schedule your sleep is that sleep deprivation negatively impacts cognitive function. When you’re sleep deprived, it becomes harder to concentrate on your work and harder to remember material that you’re learning. Conversely, studies show that good sleep leads to better problem-solving and creativity. Most importantly, sleep allows your brain to organize and consolidate the information it has learned during the day. So, sleep isn’t optional! It’s essential, and thus, it deserves to be represented in your weekly calendar.
After sleep, be sure to block off time for three meals a day and exercise at least three times per week. Wellbeing is extremely important, yet is often one of the first things we sacrifice when we start to feel “too busy” during the semester. Good nutrition fuels not just your body, but also your brain. And researchers have found that exercise doesn’t just benefit your physical health! It also boosts your creativity and restores your ability to focus.
Schedule Your Study Hours
At this stage, the remaining “white space”on your calendar reflects the true amount of time you have available each week for either study time or free time. It’s important to strike a balance between study and free time so that your mind has opportunities to decompress.
As you schedule your study time, keep in mind that, for every credit hour you are registered for, it is best to block out two hours of study time each week. For a 16 credit course load, this means reserving 30-32 hours of study time per week. There may be weeks where your assignment load is lighter, so you can use the excess for leisure time. But, particularly during the busy final weeks of the semester, you will thank yourself for guarding those 32 hours each week!
Make the Most of Your Study Time
As you study, it’s best to work in short, intense bursts using the Pomodoro Technique. To implement the technique, first, set a specific goal you can achieve in 25 minutes. This may mean breaking a larger assignment into smaller tasks, which you will complete over several Pomodoro sessions. Next, before you begin working, eliminate all distractions and set a timer for 25 minutes. A helpful timer that helps you visualize your productivity and combat digital distraction is the Forest app. While your timer runs, focus exclusively on your chosen task. Once the timer goes off, take a five minute break to reward yourself. Then set a new goal and repeat the Pomodoro cycle three more times before taking a longer, 15-30 minute break.
The breaks that are built into the Pomodoro Technique may seem like they are just for fun, but, much like sleep, they are actually essential to the learning process. Professor Barbara Oakley, author of A Mind for Numbers, argues that we have two different modes of thinking: focused mode and diffuse mode. Focused mode is what most of us picture when we think of studying. Focused mode means concentrating intently on material that we are trying to learn or memorize. Diffuse mode, on the other hand, is when we aren’t focused on anything in particular. In the diffuse mode, we start to see the big picture and make connections. The diffuse mode explains why some of our biggest “Aha!” moments come to us when we are cooking dinner or folding laundry.
Optimal learning occurs when we allow our minds to go back and forth between these two modes of thinking. This is why the Pomodoro Technique is such a powerful learning tool.
In closing…
In combination, the Semester at a Glance, Reverse Planning, the 24 Hour Time Grid, and the Pomodoro Technique can help you maintain focus, motivation, and a sense of balance during the busy final weeks of the semester. If you have any questions about integrating these new strategies into your routine, please reach out to BU’s Educational Resource Center. Our staff offer workshops on time management, study strategies, and more. We also offer one-on-one Academic Skills Advising appointments where you can meet with a professional staff member to develop a personalized plan for academic success.
Sarah Garibova, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Outreach
Educational Resource Center
Boston University
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