Your Brain

How do you balance studying and partying?

• Don’t let going out and meeting people take over your university experience. You’re here for a reason.
  
• It’s great to get a high GPA, but you need to go out and have some fun too.
  
• You have to look at your grades and if you’re not doing well, don’t go out and party.
  
• It’s about willpower.
  
• There are going to be parties you’re going to miss but school’s more important.
  
• Time management skills are key — plan time to party, plan time to study and stick to your time frames.
  
• Go to the grindstone and reward yourself afterwards.
  
• Don’t waste time on stupid things.

Caffeine, energy drinks and sleep.

• If I don’t have caffeine, either coffee, Red Bull or whatever, I’m falling asleep.
  
• Coffee is pretty much the best thing.
  
• The key thing is sleep — when you sleep, your brain cements the information you just studied.
  
• The majority of university students nap.
  
• Don’t nap too long — set your phone or alarm.

How does alcohol impair your judgment?

• Way more than you actually think. Examples:
  
  • seen two guys hulk up in a bar for a session of rock, paper, scissors;
  • seen best friends knock each other out;
  • texting an ex-girlfriend.
• Make sure you don’t drink too much — some girls get too drunk and go further than they normally would have.

Dealing with stress

• Plan what you’ve got to do and schedule it.
  
• Go for walks.
  
• If you REALLY can’t handle a class, it’s better to drop it than get a D that will bring your GPA down.
  
• Hit the gym.
  
• PS2 rocks.
  
• If you’re really swamped, take 10 minutes and get your mind on something else.
  
• If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we have a counsellor: Meredith Henry. Go see her.
  
• Accept that you’re going to do as well as you’re going to do and don’t stress out.

How do you keep on top of things?

• Get an agenda and write it all out.
  
• Google calendar: everything is color coded, it sends you SMS messages for free.
  
• Get a whiteboard wall calendar, and change it every month.
  
• You’ll get text messages from your friends, too
  
• If the prof suggests you read a chapter before going to class, do it.
  
• Get to know what your professors expect, and then you know where to cut corners.
  
• GO TO CLASS.

How do you concentrate with
all the distractions?

• When you do need to study, residence is not a good idea because there’s always people walking into your room.
  
• No matter what day or time, there’s always someone looking for a drinking buddy.
  
• Lock yourself in a room where there’s no TV, no distractions.
  
• Reserve the apartment for sleeping and partying.