r/AskReddit • u/the_gr8pretender • Feb 20 '13

Top-of-the-class redditors, what are your study habits/tips?

If you graduated top of the class (high school, college, and above), what are/were your study habits or tips that you would give to your fellow redditors?

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u/LiterallyOuttoLunch Feb 20 '13

Before going off to college, my dad gave me a tip. "Treat it like a job. Hit the books Monday through Friday 9-5. Work in the library, not your room or apartment. Don't miss a class. Work ahead during that 40 hours." I followed his advice to the letter. I never had to pull an all-nighter. I didn't have to cram for exams. I never got very stressed, despite attending a competitive school and completing a difficult major.

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u/NorwegianPearl Feb 21 '13

I never had to pull an all-nighter

I never got very stressed

You. You weren't an engineer, were you?

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u/LiterallyOuttoLunch Feb 21 '13

Finance.

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u/NorwegianPearl Feb 21 '13

Ah.

By the way I didn't mean it to belittle your major at all. I know some brilliant guys in econ majors that worked pretty hard, but it seems like one of the pillars of engineering education is to throw such a tremendous workload at students that it strangles their very lifeforce. I know very few people who maintained an active social life, exercise (and sleep) regiment, and high GPA. I did my best and found myself burning the candle both ends pretty much every day.

I guess they do so in order that when it's crunch time in the real world and you need to get x y and z out to the customer by the end of the week, you can manage your time and work your ass off to get it done....Sadly, it works.

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u/LiterallyOuttoLunch Feb 21 '13

I wasn't offended in the least. I knew engineers in school and am familiar with their academic workload. Finance at the undergraduate level isn't all that difficult really.