Steven Johnson

1. If at all possible, attend class. Even if you think you already know or can find out everything that could possibly be discussed in lecture/recitation/discussion, it is still a good idea to show up to get a first hand idea of what might appear on exams, homework, etc.

2. Do your homework, preferably not all at once. Even if there is no time to work on an assignment before the last minute, you should at least look over the questions to see if you have some idea of how to answer them.

3. Don't be afraid to ask questions of professors about homework, papers, etc. The professors are there to teach you, not to intimidate you.

4. Ideally, you should start studying for exams at least two days beforehand. Failing this, be sure to get enough sleep the night before. The exact amount of sleep you need varies from person to person, but most people need 5 hours at the very least. Studying does you little good if you are not awake during the exam.

5. When trying to do homework problems, don't just start scribbling down random equations that have somehting to do with the last lecture in the class. It saves a lot of time to just think about the problem before writing anything down. If you conceptually understand how to answer the problem, working out the answer is frequently very easy.

6. Start papers very early, at least a week in advance for 5 page papers. Make outlines, or at least have a clear understanding of what you plan to say. Try to write a rough draft as quickly as possible and revise it, preferably with input from another reader.

7. Precisely one hour before an exam, stand on your head and recite the Harvey Mudd College mission statement backwards from memory. This will cleanse the evil spirits from your mind and prepare you for the test.