Successful Peer Strategies

Learn from some of Western's best students. Consider the following strategies for academic success from senior students who volunteer in SDC's Learning Help Centre. For more strategies from high achieving students, drop by the Help Centre during hours of operation and speak with a student volunteer, or join our OWL site to access the Strategy Bytes Series and view the byte entitled What Worked for Me: Top Strategies from Experienced Students.

Listen carefully in lecture
"Listening and understanding the lecture is something that many students forget to do. Mere memorization of facts isn't enough for success. Understanding the main concepts and key points of the lecture is the key to doing well."
Kevin, 2nd year Honors Specialization, Medical Sciences
Engage in same-day review of lecture notes
"Read the class notes after lecture. This reinforces the new information freshly retained in your mind. It makes studying later easier too."
Payam, 4th year Physiology
Keep caught up with readings
"For reading-heavy courses, do not fall behind in readings. You will have to play catch-up the entire year if you do."
Payam, 4th year Physiology
Make connections between concepts
"When reviewing notes always reflect back after finishing a major concept. This allows you to connect and understand concepts better. When reflecting, think about the big picture and how previous knowledge interacts with the latest lecture."
Kevin, 2nd year Honors Specialization, Medical Sciences
Explain concepts out loud
"When studying, instead of just reading over the material, pretend that you are explaining the information to someone else/giving the lecture.
  • This engages you and causes you to actually think about the material.
  • It reveals areas that you don't have a solid understanding of that need to be reviewed.
  • This might make it easier to find connections to other topics."
Sameer, 3rd year Medical Sciences, Honors Specialization Physiology
Predict test questions
"Anticipate possible exam questions by altering specific details in processes and pathways and determine how that change would affect the system as a whole. This is an effective way of testing your understanding (examples: Physics - increase temperature of a gas; Physiology - blood pressure drops; Chemistry - pH decreases)."
Sameer, 3rd year Medical Sciences, Honors Specialization Physiology
Take small breaks
"Power naps are very useful if times are hectic, and you feel refreshed afterwards. Do not nap beyond 30 minutes, or if it's past 7 pm."
Payam, 4th year Physiology
Sleep at least 7 hours a night
"All-nighters never work, even if you're a nighthawk. Sleep consolidates memories."
Payam, 4th year Physiology
Use available resources
"As an undergraduate, I wish I had taken advantage of my TAs' and professors' office hours when preparing a paper."
Julia, PhD candidate, History

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