## Highlights The secret is to read chapter introductions and conclusions carefully, and then skim everything else. Make tick marks next to sentences that catch your attention—this is faster than highlighting. (Location 135) Instead, note only the passages that seem to obviously support the thesis. (Location 137) For science courses, you will typically be assigned one or two chapters of dense technical material to review for each class. These assignments almost always cover the exact same topics that the professor will detail in lecture. Skim these chapters quickly so you know what to expect, but put the bulk of your energy into concentrating in class. (Location 146) Your goal as a science student should be to come away from each lecture understanding what was covered, and feel comfortable about applying it. (Location 149) Apply to Ten Scholarships a Year (Location 221) You should never begin studying without a systemized plan for what you are going to review, in what format, and how many times. (Location 246) Before you even crack your first book, take ten minutes to actually write down exactly how you plan to study. Look at Rules and 70 for some guidance on review techniques that work well. (Location 250) If you want to become a standout student, you must befriend a professor. Make him or her a mentor, someone who is aware of your overall academic plan, your life goals, your concerns, and your triumphs. (Location 263) Some students worry that they don't have any specific problems to discuss. The secret is to be observant. There are many more opportunities to speak with a professor than you might realize at first. When you are working on a paper, you can see the professor to talk about possible topics, then again to get feedback on the idea you selected, and then again to check the structure of your argument once you begin writing. When an exam is approaching, you can ask for clarification on particularly difficult material covered in class. And if you are in a technical class, the door is always open to discuss homework problems or concepts that you can't quite grasp. (Location 271) If these efforts result in a strong rapport, allow your conversations to shift gradually from specific class-related issues to academic advice in general. Keep this dialogue open even after the semester ends, making sure to keep in touch with the professor on a regular basis. (Location 276) By demonstrating such a concentrated effort to learn from the wisdom of your target professor, over time, he or she will develop a vested interest in your success. (Location 279) Befriending a professor is about fulfilling the perfectly natural desire to have a more experienced person guide you through a complicated and exciting period of your life. (Location 281) develop a skill you can be known for. (Location 322) Standout students, on the other hand, do very little that is ordinary. This is what makes them so phenomenal. They find better ways, uncover new approaches, and question everything. The only way to develop such an aggressive mind-set is to have a strong sense of self-confidence to back you up. (Location 332) Ignore your initial instinct to stay up all night, battling the problems until you collapse from exhaustion. (Location 372) It's okay to spend many hours working on something as long as those hours are productive. (Location 381) This is very painful to say, but it's just too important to be ignored. While at college, do not nap. (Location 395) One late night should not kill two full days of productivity. By (Location 408) 16 Always Be Working on a “Grand Project” (Location 426) If you want to stand out at college you should foster an attitude of “anything is possible.” (Location 432) Your Grand Project should consist of a group of achievable, nonacademic accomplishments that, when combined, move you closer to an exciting aspiration. (Location 440) If you want to succeed at college, try to put yourself in this situation, in one class, for one assignment, every semester. The advantages of blowing the curve on an assignment are obvious. It will help your grade, the professor will remember and support you with great recommendations and advice, and it will just plain make you feel good about yourself. (Location 478) With this in mind, every semester you should choose one class that you like, and within that class choose one interesting project, and then knock it out of the ballpark. (Location 484) 19 Ask One Question at Every Lecture (Location 492) You need to be involved with the machinery of original research that is going on all around you. You need to tap into the incredible opportunities offered to you, the undergraduate, to actually make a difference in the world of academia. (Location 513) E-mail those professors whose work interests you. Tell them you are interested in getting more experience in the academic world. Mention some specifics of their particular research projects to impress them, and then ask if they are in need of an undergraduate research assistant. (Location 523) Also, keep your eyes open for undergraduate research grants that might be available. (Location 525) During your first year assisting on a research project, you have to pay your dues. Don't expect anything. Just be as helpful as possible. (Location 540) Try using the phrase: “If you think I can handle this, I would be happy to help.” (Location 542) When you look like you just rolled out of bed, it's all too easy to imagine rolling back in. If you dress nicely, you are sending yourself the message that you are ready to get started and attack the day. (Location 593) a good rule of thumb is to begin studying two weeks in advance. (Location 634) You can accomplish this by joining the staff of a publication on campus. It could be the daily newspaper, a writing magazine, a science journal, a political paper, or a humor rag. It (Location 659) taking the time to eat a social meal with your friends is a great idea; just don't do it more than once a day. (Location 671) You need to journey to a place where you will be cut off from everyday student life, a place that provides you with a chance to relax and regain your sense of identity. (Location 687) College only becomes overwhelming when you let it consume your entire life. (Location 692) ^8o598y Set aside a large block of time every day to spend studying at the library. Make it the place where you accomplish your most demanding schoolwork. Because it's inconvenient to walk to the library and settle into a study spot, you will be less likely to leave on a whim. Because the library environment is quiet without many distractions, you will have an easier time concentrating, and thus get more quality work done faster. And because the library surrounds you with row after row of solemn academic tomes and diligently studying students, it will be easier for you to get into that high-powered, intellectual zone. (Location 722) 34 Do Schoolwork Every Day (Location 764) Why is it important that you keep these old friendships alive? Because your old friends know you better than your college friends. (Location 817) Talking to four or five of your closest friends, just once a month, is no big deal in terms of time commitment. But the benefit in terms of strengthening your relationships is great. You never realize how important your back-home friendships are until you begin to lose them. Stay in touch. (Location 823) Come to your first scheduled adviser meeting with a list of questions. (Location 860) The secret here is that you, the student, have to take the initiative to make your adviser useful. (Location 863) 40 Don't Get a Normal Job (Location 869) try to find a strategic job at your college. One option is to get a paid position in an academic department in which you have an interest. Being a paid research assistant may still mean a lot of cleaning beakers or making photocopies, but at the same time you are immersed in academia. (Location 875) The secret to obtaining any desirable position at your college is to inquire about openings early. Very early. (Location 885) A good rule is to always use three days to write your short papers. This doesn't mean spending three days working on the paper; it means spending three days actually writing. Before your fingers first hit the keyboard, you need to finish any necessary preparation. (Location 902) If possible, make the first day a weekend day, or a weekday when you don't have many obligations. On this first day try to power through your outline and build a rough draft of the entire paper. (Location 908) Your second day should be much easier than your first. Go back through your massive rough draft, tighten up your wording, cut out excess arguments, and add support where it seems to be glaringly missing. (Location 913) Contrary to popular sentiments, maximizing sleep should not be your ultimate goal as a student. Sleep is just a tool to help you function. Treat your body like a machine—give it exactly what it needs to perform its best, not any more, not any less. Give the snooze button a rest. Try to sleep only the amount you need (Location 947) Read a nonacademic book. Listen to music that makes you happy. Run a couple of errands. Have a conversation with a friend. Work on unrelated—nondemanding—schoolwork. The key is to keep your mind active and energized, but not exhausted. Then head over to the exam fifteen minutes early. On the way, start to lightly review some material that you feel particularly good about. (Location 963) 44 Make Friends Your Priority (Location 974) you cannot let a busy schedule come between you and your friendships. (Location 982) The key is to plan ahead. Arrange to have one meal with some friends almost every day (Location 984) How do you upgrade your notion of personal success? One easy method is to seek out phenomenal achievers. (Location 1026) Spending time with phenomenal achievers is one of the most effective ways to expand the scope of your ambitions. It's also a great way to interject excitement and inspiration into your life. (Location 1038) it's much more important that you spend your undergraduate years developing an ability to synthesize ideas and learn. (Location 1045) 51 Use High-Quality Notebooks (Location 1102) Take the most important projects or commitments with which you are involved, and pump up your criteria for success. (Location 1167) To be helping people without the benefit of outside praise and validation is a wonderful way to increase your sense of self-worth, strengthen your identity, and solidify your core values. These are traits that will carry you far in life. Do some good in the world for no other reason than wanting to be a part of the solution. It will redefine your approach to life for the better. (Location 1286) 65 Don't Take Breaks Between Classes (Location 1393) However, if after this first class you head home and pursue some serious relaxation, your momentum will grind to a halt. Now you have to start all over again with your next class. (Location 1406) The problem here is that you only have so much energy on any given day, and you can't afford to waste it by repeatedly trying to remotivate yourself. You need, instead, to adopt a smart strategy for handling breaks between classes. (Location 1407) Networking works best when it is an arrangement of mutual benefit. (Location 1425) 68 Use a Filing Cabinet (Location 1468) For your most serious, arduous, and important studying tasks, it's sometimes not enough to just cruise to any old spot in the library. You need to find your own secret study space. A location that you know will almost always be available; a monastic corner where silence is complete, Zenlike concentration a given, and all distractions are deflected. (Location 1493) Organize the messages in your e-mail in-box like you would your paper files. (Location 1556) Create a separate electronic folder for specific class-related e-mails, family e-mails, and friend e-mails. Also create a generic important folder to hold messages containing any random information you need to hang on to. (Location 1557) Relax for at least half an hour before you go to sleep. (Location 1567) 73 Start Fast, End Slow (Location 1581) If, however, you want to succeed because you love the excitement of pushing your potential and exploring your world and new experiences, if you want to succeed because life is short and why not fill it with as much activity as possible, then you will win. If you approach life with an attitude of never having regrets and always having a hopeful smile on your face, you can find a measure of success in all your endeavors. Don't have no regrets, but have plenty of fun along the way. In the end, that is what it is to really win. (Location 1638)