You don't
have to sit in
school to
stand among
greatness.

» Thomas Edison:

The world’s most
extraordinary failure
never gave up.
Thank goodness.

Athabasca
University

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go.athabascau.ca/online-courses

A Broke Kid's 1)0veRe) merwvelstere)|

Survival Guide

Nathan Harding
Guest Contributor

ang on, the end is near. The

last few weeks of the university
semester are some of the most
crucial to your university careers. To
all the grandparent students (third
year and above) you know what I’m
talking about. You babies, listen up!
Old people, you keep this refresher
in mind. Here are some study tips,
places to study, and other helpful
information.

To begin with, take out your syllabus.
That weird paper your kind professors
handed out at the beginning of

the semester that has magically
disappeared in that wormhole you
call a backpack. You guys know the
paper was not to make airplanes with,
right? First of all, look at the topics of
discussion or your scheduled readings
for the few weeks ahead and note any
places that say quiz, test, or any of
the words that give you major heart
palpitations such as “term paper due”.

Now, look at all these dates and write
them down in the order they are
supposed to happen. Bear in mind
this is not for that one class, buddy,
1am talking about all your classes,
labs, tutorials, and whatnots. You
can use that annoying book NUGSS
hands out at the start of the school
year which you took because you
didn’t want to be a butt yet somehow
managed to never write in. It’s called
a planner. The planner is your friend.
Yes, this also seems to exist in your
wormhole of a school bag if you have
one. If you do not then you my friend
are slacking. You can get one at the
NUGSS office above the Moose. If
you have been to the Moose or the
farmer’s market it’s the door on your
left after you climb the mystical stairs
that go up next to either doors for
you that don’t live on campus. For
those who do live here it is that last
room you ignore on your left just as
you exit the loud metal glass doors

to go back to your comfy beds on
campus. So write them dates down,
yo! The one happening the soonest
is the one you prep for right? Right!

The Academic Success Centre suggests
that you study at least 1-3 hours
every week per subject. Now, this
allotted time is non-inclusive of class
times, sleep, group work meetings,
work itself, sports and its practices
among other regular things you do

in the week. This includes religious
services and family time. That leaves
you little time to, right? Looks like
something’s gotta give. Wrong!

The scheduling looks completely
unattainable but you can get it. You
may have to cut down somewhere,
whether it’s hanging with your friends
or getting some sleep. After you have
figured out your schedule, you are
finally ready to begin. These allocated
pockets of time are to act as your
paper writing, quiz prepping times

as well. Add a few more hours here
and there for the classes where you
feel the prof is like a cat and you're

a ball of yarn. You can also add extra
time for those papers that are worth
so much you wonder if that’s legal.

Now that you have finally figured out
your time and your papers, let’s figure
out where you can study. In terms

of places you want to study, there is
the big obvious one. The library. If
you are the quiet type who loves to
be by themselves when they study,
the second floor of the library closer
to the stacks in the corner is much
better than in the middle chairs close
to the couches. If you sit next to the
couches there will be chatter that
may irritate you. You can also just go
to the third floor because that is the
no noise spot. If you talk or make any
noise, the magical library fairies will
appear and shush you so violently
your face will burn with shame. It

is a harsh system but it works. Now

UNBC 9

if people moving about upsets you
and you think it is a distraction to
you please, please, please, get in the
shiny silver box by the bathrooms
and go up. The fourth floor is the
quietest spot to study. Yes, there is a
fourth floor. If you end up liking the
fourth floor the only problem is that
it’s shut off on the weekend because
they only open it when the people

in the archives are working. Another
fourth floor place you can go to is the
fourth floor of building eight. There’s
the computer lab there. On the other
hand if you are a person who likes to
study in some fair amount of noise
there are a few places you can go. The
first floor of the library is one place,
the chairs above the Winter Garden,
the chairs in building eight across
from 8-164/166, building 10’s first
floor and the first floor of building
six. There are tables and chairs
behind Degrees, where you can study
and watch people play pool. Now in
terms of other study places you can
always sit in an empty classroom till a
teacher comes and kicks you out. You
can also book rooms in the library to
study in groups and get work done.
If you don’t already have a spot you
love to sit at to study and hang with
your friends, I guess this is great.

Hopefully this has been helpful

in some ways to you. In prepping
for writing your papers due and in
finding a spot to study. It seems like
a big mountain to climb but the end
is almost near. Don’t worry, the time
to not set alarms to wake you up is
so close you can smell it. Remember
to drink water, eat, take breaks

and that someone loves you. Also
remember this is only a step before
the real world so enjoy it. May the
grade curve ever be in your favor
and to quote John Oliver: “Get out
there and enjoy the fuck out of your
college experience.” Good luck!