Study tips from a student with a 2.7 GPA

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Exams. Next week the exam season will be upon us, and now is the perfect time to utilize one’s studying skills to ace those exams. There are, however, various methods to be used.
To get the best out of a whole week studying, there are approximately ten catrillion better things to be doing than studying for exams, but you will feel so much better walking out of that classroom knowing you knew everything on that exam. Just in case you don’t know where to start, here a few helpful hints on how to master studying and do above average on your exams.
As a fifth year senior, I have taken my share of exams and know all the little tricks to acing that final.
My problem has always been using those tricks.
In high school, we had a policy which stated that if you had perfect attendance throughout the semester you did not have to take any exams, and like all policy there was loopholes to making your attendance appear perfect. Being a big fan of loopholes, I, of course, never had to take any exams. I also firmly believe that should be enforced here at CMU; but that is neither here nor there.
My first year of college was quite a shock and I had to learn how to take exams quickly. As a student of higher education I have never been the most stellar, but everyone tells me I’m a smart kid and if I would apply myself, I would be a wonderful student.
This, of course, leads to helpful hint number one, apply yourself. Don’t let slackers like me let you stray away from your path to educational greatness.
Just ignore them; it will be hard at first – they’re full of good excuses on why not to study – but stick to your guns.
I’ve noticed that when people who ignore my temptations to watch a movie or check out some waterslides, they tend to do better on their exams. I’ve also noticed that it helps to have a plan. I, personally, like to fly by the seat of my pants and figure things out as the week progresses, but all of the smart people I know seem to have a plan and it works wonders.
The biggest thing that I have learned about taking exams and tend to actually use this piece of advice (from time to time, at least) is to know when you exams are, and figuring that out is almost harder than the exam. It is usually easiest to just ignore that confusing schedule and just ask the professor. I remember last semester I didn’t even know it was exam week, which tended to create some problems.
When it actually gets down to studying, people say that making flash cards help, studying in groups, and reading the text helps. It seems like it would help but keep in mind that all of that takes up a lot of time.
So a quick review, apply yourself, come up with a plan, know when the exams are, ignore slackers, make flash cards, study in groups and read the text and you will ace all of your exams. Unless it’s an essay, then you’re pretty much done for.