A student’s guide to have it all together this semester, even if you don’t
Here are some study tips to help you avoid that midnight cry session in the library before exam day

Art by Ira Espita.

Around New Year’s Eve, a common resolution among students is to study hard next semester.
“New year, new me” is usually what I tell myself before spending my nights in the library working on a 10-page essay due the next day. But my (kind of)-astrologer friend told me that this is the year for me to develop new skills — and what better skill than instilling discipline in my studies?
So, after extensive research on how to study more effectively, here is a rundown of my six study tips that you can follow this year. And I swear, I did not get this list from ChatGPT!
Some of the tips listed below are from William H. Peltz, an author and teacher who applied his brain research in the classroom. In his book Dear Teacher: Expert Advice for Effective Study Skills, he gives us various strategies to become a better student, some of which I think are worth sharing.
- The “study like you’re teaching” trick
Peltz says find a way to turn your homework into a game — pretend that you are the teacher. As you go through your homework, figure out how you can make it more interesting to your imaginary students (or maybe your pet). If you can’t explain photosynthesis to Bruno, you probably need a refresher!
- Break it down (because you’re not a machine)
It’s often said that everyone learns at their own pace. Unless you are lucky enough to go through the course material in one go, it’s a good idea to take breaks. Remember — you are not binge watching the new season of Stranger Things (allegedly releasing this August, in case you were wondering).
- Organise your course material
Another thing that Peltz mentioned in the book is that if students have their course materials organised properly, it makes it much easier to learn. From a personal perspective as well, organising should be the first step in learning or preparing for a big assignment.
- Befriend the calendar
A calendar is your best friend, helping you stay on top of your to-do list when juggling school and work. That is, until you ignore it for three weeks and suddenly all your deadlines pile up on the same day. Hence, be smart and make the calendar your dearest friend.
- Office hours are your secret weapon
Instructors love it when you stop by their office hours for a chat. Your instructors know best about your progress, and talking to them will give you a lot of clarity. Plus, if they see your face enough times, they might grade your paper with a little extra kindness. Bonus points if you bring Bruno — he’s great at breaking the ice!
- Take advantage of university resources
KPU offers plenty of resources to help students with their studies, such as free writing support or peer tutors at the Learning Centre. If you need a second opinion or extra confidence, book these services.
Well, there we go, that’s a wrap on the tips I wanted to share. However, I would still like to establish that we can’t always be the best students. Truth be told, I am writing this article instead of doing a 30-page reading for my English literature class. But if you have this list in mind, maybe you will panic-write only two essays instead of five this semester.
2025 just might be the year you crush your grades and become the academic success your mom is waiting to brag about, or, at the very least, learn to start doing assignments ahead of time, which is honestly just as impressive. So keep the pressure low and hopefully have a stressless semester!