how to become a straight-A student in college

The first thing you need to consider is a simple equation. Work accomplished equals time spent multiplied by the intensity of focus. If you watched last week's video on how to build the perfect study routine, then you've already been acquainted with the concept that studying in short bursts of time in a regular pattern is more important to your information retention than trying to compensate long periods procrastinating, with study sessions that last hours.

Effective time management can be achieved in five minutes a day, in a system comprised of a calendar, where you should schedule specific-time events, and a list which you should carry with you at all times. The idea is using five minutes each morning to write down the list of tasks you have to complete that day and go through the reminders of yesterday to update your calendar each morning. In that way, you create a self-sustaining time management system that relies on simple tools. Basically, as you plan your day, your page or piece of paper should be divided into two columns - a list for your "today's" schedule" and a list for "things to remember". Today's schedule should be filled with dedicated time slots assigned for specific classes or tasks. "Things to remember" should be a place where you write down new assignments and tasks that are created during that day and which you need to migrate into your calendar the following morning during your daily five minutes of time management.

The type of tools you use to achieve this system should take into account your preferences and lifestyle; you can either go digital or analogue, opt for a more complex planner or a simple piece of paper folded in your pocket. While scheduling tasks during the day you should take into account its priority in your overall list. Most important tasks should be tackled first, in case they're not time-specific, and less important tasks should be tackled last. If something goes wrong for those less important tasks, you can always migrate them to a later time. Besides that simple hierarchy of importance, it's also crucial to leave enough buffer time in each one of your time slots to anticipate mistakes or delays.

Even if you excel at time management habits, beating procrastination is still key to allow you to actually *do the stuff.*The book discusses five main strategies that can help you with this:

- 1 - keeping a work progress journal, where you record what you worked on or whether you were able to complete all the required tasks. It's basically a habit tracker for your work that relies on a streak method to keep you motivated.
- 2 - eating the right food and correct amount of water to boost your levels of energy and focus
- 3 - making an event out of worst tasks, which means that you can go to a different place to study, breaking your routine and creating a sense of novelty. It also allows you to block some time in your calendar, since you're going to a different, probably more distant place.
- 4 - building a routine for daily studying by deciding in which days you will work on specific subjects or topics, at what times and for how long. As work starts transforming into a habit, it will be easier to convince yourself to start studying.
- 5 - choosing the hard days. This means that when all hell breaks loose, designating a couple of days as "hard days" will isolate time of high intensity work from other regular work. A couple of tips for scheduling hard days is informing your close friends that you will be going through a hard study period as well as scheduling entertaining or relaxing activities right after you finish all of your work.

Furthermore, straight A students know when, where and how long they should be studying. Giving a solid answer to these three questions and sticking with them for a long period of time will improve your study routine, and the more consistent your study routine is, the better your results will be. While Cal Newport uses many top scoring students' feedback to say that early morning is the best time to study, I prefer to recommend you whatever schedule your energy levels are at the highest point, be at night, morning or afternoon.

F T C : This video is sponsored by Audible.

#studyroutine

[sparklesky]

Am i the only person that binges back to school videos?

[SimplyErinful]

The difference between straight A students and failing students (from a straight A student’s perspective). When a straight A student says “I haven’t studied for this test”, they mean - I haven’t done any specific revision for this test but I study everything on a regular basis anyway. When a failing student says “I haven’t studied for this test” they mean they haven’t even thought about the material that might come up.

[brynnagrace-]

It's a little hard when your teacher doesn't teach and also insists on creating her own tests that don't correspond with the book.
(this is just me being annoyed. I liked the video)

[kryskestrel]

I secured an A in my summer uni class and have been getting better every semester with large help due to this channel, I can’t wait to start the new semester next week with a great set of habits and the discipline and motivation to do my best!

[marnietheakat]

My Asian parents want a guide on how to be an A++ student.

[hails]

In my honors class I've realized there are 3 types of people.
1. People who are naturally smart and dont do any extra work. I realized that they soon slack of because they become lazy and there grades also drop even though they are "gifted"
2. The people who are "smart" because of there hard work. People who aren't naturally "gifted" . endless study sessions, all nighters. It really isnt healthy and i realized that healthier habits like sleeping longer and eating better help.
3. Naturally smart and hardworking. Personally think they have a great balance. Also they typically arent vain or show off about things anx are eager to learn more.

Trust me im no expert i guess I'm just giving my 2 cents

[DanielIles]

As someone who was a straight A student with one B+ in high school:

I didn’t do any of this and rather procrastinated and used that stress and pressure to ball out on studying last minute.

[strwberrymargarita]

im going to be a 3rd year student in college this year. im starting a new major which makes me feel like i am getting a brand new start to implement more efficient note taking, studying, organization, etc.

i “wasted” my first two years of college struggling to pass every class i took. i was in a major that interested me, but i wasn’t very good at it. i always assumed that if you like something, you’ll automatically be good at it and will succeed. this is definitely not the case, which unfortunately took me half of my college years to learn.

thank you for these videos! they are actually practical, make sense, and easy to implement. :)

[buet]

*I want to be minimal and straight A student like you!*
🙏

[ErikaK]

Wonderful tips! Splitting the work into small tasks really helps to keep the energy flowing, to be more motivated to carry on every day:)

[TheEvergreenSoul]

I love how detailed your videos and description boxes always are😍 you put so much thought and effort into your videos and they really help me to be more organized, productive and a better student in general✨☺️ thank you so much for sharing all your tips with us🧡💫

[nikksmate]

The way you hold your pen is legendary

[veronikapolcrova]

Oh. My God. That Latin textbook just reminded me of all the declensions. I am stressed. But the textbook is so iconic at my school, so glad to see other people using one.

[sofiasallinen]

Love the video! I would love a video that discusses studying and being productive while working at the same time, cause time management is quite difficult for me. Usually the thing that i don't have time for is selfcare and/or relaxation.. 😓

[estherlovera.]

You're literally the ONLY person who makes videos that are REALISTIC and WELL EXPLAINED. I'm so happy that you make these videos!! :) Thanks

[thelesbianholyspirit]

Why am I here? I start school in a month! Oh yeah, I remembered. I just love this channel!

[ananyaverma]

You are one of my favorite you tuber thanks for everything you do for us you explain every thing perfectly and I become more focused after watching your videos

[UmiChan]

OMG! I was needing this so much!! I'm working and I fall behind all the time ;-; thanks! I hope the Cal Newport books soon in my country

[dramankaur]

I love love loveee your channel! Don't have enough words! Thank you so much. Please keep the videos coming as your videos really motivate me and many others to study, specially when one is demotivated or lazy. There's something about your videos that motivates me to get up and study and somehow even clean my space and make it more beautiful. Lol. Your videos are so calming yet motivating.

[minarva]

I'm literally obsessing over your whole channel