Three Hacks To Help Your Studio Studies
Stories from the Studio
Read time: 3 minutes
Meet Peyton Belgrave
You’ve walked into Schulich Studio for the first time, met your teachers, received your Studio Kit, and taken in your first few classes.
Now is when the real work begins – specifically, it’s time to study.
Peyton Belgrave is an undergraduate student at Schulich who has gone through the Studio and she says the basis of Studio is to help students understand the material and not just memorize it.
When I first came to UCalgary, I thought I had built good study habits and had established a good work ethic in high school. Unlike many of my peers, high school was a challenge and I had to work hard to receive higher marks.
Peyton Belgrave
Engineering student
Belgrave had grown used to review notes and flash cards that helped her remember the content, but it didn’t help her actually grasp the concepts when it was time to put them into practice.
Now with the benefit of hindsight, she has a handful of study habits and tips that she thinks will help all current and future students succeed in the Studio:
Understand the idea behind Schulich Studio
The transition from high school to university can be a challenge, but Belgrave says it’s made easier once you wrap your head around how the Studio works.
“All the practice problems were aimed to allow students to properly understand the concepts,” she says. “If I had some advice, it would be to engage in the hands-on learning sessions as they are immensely helpful when it comes to studying and exams.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
It’s a delicate balance: you want to be able to solve a problem on your own, but you also need to know when to move on and not waste time.
“There were many nights where I would obsess over understanding this one problem and would end up not getting much done,” Belgrave says. “There is a support system and ample resources in place so that you don’t have to go through engineering alone.”
Pay attention and actively engage in class
Belgrave says the practice questions and group work involved with Schulich Studio are all designed to enrich a student’s understanding of the content being covered.
“The sessions will look different, depending on the professor or instructor,” she says. “As a student, you must be versatile, as the sessions will help with midterms, finals, and, in the grand scheme of things, your future education at Schulich.”
For example, Belgrave would re-do the provided worksheets while she was studying, as it helped her review the previous week’s material, adding it’s a great way to expose yourself to the way the teaching team wants you to solve problems.