5 Steps to Success

Step 1:  PRACTICE  DAILY 

Practice at least 15 - 30 min.  

Use flash cards, Quizlet, Khan Academy, text books, or study with a friend.

Learning HOW to learn at your own pace is part of your lifelong success as a scientist and as a student.

Step 2:  START A ROUTINE

Starting a routine and following it is important as it helps build good study habits and can keep you on track of all your work/assignments.

Step 3:  USE a planner

Decide which topics you will study that week;  What day you will take a practice test, which library days to use resources, meet with your teammates. (Using an online app/calender works great too)

Step 4:  FUN. 

This kind of Hard work is really only fun if you WANT to do it.  Don't do it for any other reason.  Yes, it'll look great on any college application.  Sure, it impresses people. But,

seriously?  Being awesome is a lot of hard work.  Cracking the books till midnight. Tests just for fun. Memorization and data and trial and error.  

Kindness, respect, helpfulness, teamwork:  that's how we all want to enjoy the day.

Step 5:  BE SAFE and BE PREPARED

Use good judgement and always work with an adult if chemicals, sharp objects, tools or off-campus resources are to be used.

Prepare for Events.  There are lots of ways to go to competition:

• Use information from class work.

• Do library / Internet research.

• Solicit parents / friends as event coaches.

• Ask teachers for references.

• Approach industry for help as mentors and tutors.

• Walk into the competition cold.

Have fun with self-guided science learning!  Your success is within your reach!