babeswhostudy

just a girl studying and drinking boba

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Hail hydra!

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Where are your printouts?

In the tab that says “PRINTOUTS”.

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How you study Ochem? I am kind of worried about my grade!! And how you take the notes and organize?

This might be late... but you practice EVERYTHING. You practice mechanisms over and over until you want to cry. Also, you read “ochem as a second language” and it will help you <3

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Hi! How do you draw those bio structures so well? Is there something that you trace or is it all done freehand? They're always so neatly done!

It is freehand, but did you know that I learned to draw by tracing? As a kid, my mom would get art books/drawing books from the store and have us trace the images!

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HI!!! Would you ever consider buying an ipad pro for note taking ?

HI! If that is all you have, then YES! But if you are looking at buying something, I would get a Surface Pro 4 Microsoft. Why? Because the ipad pro works like a tablet, but the surface pro lets you operate it like a computer. you can pull up many different windows on the same screen and it works really fast. if you have an ipad and you are following along in lecture and want to take notes AND look at the slide show, youll have to keep switching between the two.

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I’ve just read your post about the Staedtler fineliners and I use them as well but I have one problem with them, which is they smudge whenever I use a Staedtler highlighter, I don’t know if this normal but has this ever happened to you?

HEY sorry for the late reply!

They only do that if i am using “waxy” paper. If you are using regular lined paper then they should NOT do this and you should send them back! Good Luck!

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Hi! I'm writing you from Chile. I would like some advices from you to improve my study time. Here in Chile, to enter to the university, you have to do the PSU (University selection test). In the PSU you have a Math, Spanish, sciences and / or history test. These test the contents from the entire high school and the score is from 150 to 850. I want to study medicine and I did the test before and I can´t fail now. Next PSU is on November 2018. Can you give some recommendations? I love your blog!!

Hey! So I just looked that exam up, and it is similar to the SAT we have here in the US. I actually never took the SAT, but the MCAT is the hardest exam ever, so I think I can give you some good tips. You have a lot of time to prepare, and I’m so proud of you for starting early. You want to make sure you go to a bookstore and get a PSU prep book. Usually these books will be big, and will have all the section material covered in them. They will also have practice questions and exams. Do you have high school counselors? If so, you should go talk to them and ask if they have any practice PSU exam resources for free. This is how I would study

Phase 1: GO OVER all of the material that the PSU book gives you. Read the chapters and practice the sample questions. This will take MONTHS, so don’t be afraid of going slow if you are in classes. Break up the book into sections and tackle it that way.

Phase 2: PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Get your hands on as many practice exams that you can. Take the practice exam, see where you scored, look at where you had a hard time, and re-study those areas. Then do it again, and again, and again.

I have an MCAT study schedule on my blog ( its a page at the top) and it shows you how ive broken down studying for that, if you want a template!

GOOD LUCK!

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“Hi, I’m taking a chemistry class. I have never studied Chemistry before, and was wondering if you have any tips and tricks to remember better, especially what formula to use when. The class is moving so fast”

      Hey love, Chemistry can be hard. I don’t have tips and tricks to remember for chemistry. The BEST THING you can do, that I have EVER DONE, is to visit a tutor when you are confused. Go to a tutor. They usually have free tutoring. I know it sounds like lame advice, but its honestly good advice. The moment you get confused in chemistry, you need to start asking questions. The material is not intuitive and not easy. Trust me, chemistry tutors want to help you. Chemistry moves fast, and if the equations confuse you, you need to ask your TA/Teacher/Tutor to go over where you missed. That way you wont have to memorize what equation to use with what. Good Luck!

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“How are you so organized? I really need tips! I’ve tried keeping a diary but I always forget to write stuff in it. My notes are a mess and always done at the last minute. Also, do you work? I feel like working 20 hours a week and full time uni is no help ☹”

               I stay so organized because I try to practice time management. I wasn’t always good at this. I went to school for 3 years full time and worked full time all at the same time. I struggled getting study time in, figuring out how to complete assignments, while also trying to find time to spend with my husband (haha he matters too!). It was so stressful, and I would cry all of the time. I was worried about how to get it all done, and eat, and do laundry. I worked 5 days a week and had 2 days off… which were for school. I decided to print out the free @passionplanner pages to see if I could actually use a planner (btw---I hated planners before this).                 I started using the passion planner to plan out when I worked, when I was in class. Then I could VISUALLY see how much time I had to complete tasks/study. I began to write down the tasks in order from when they needed to get done, and insert them into the free time I had between work and school. I basically lost all of my friends. No going out and hanging out with friends because I had NO TIME whatsoever. But then I met friends in classes that I had, and we would study together occasionally. I would go to work from 10-6pm, then immediately after work I would drive to a boba shop and study till 11pm.  You have to sacrifice stuff in order to become organized because to be honest, you cant do everything. Something has got to go! Using a passion planner helped me organize my week so that I wouldn’t have to think about whether I could study on a certain night, because I already planned it.

               I also started meal prepping on Sundays, I would cook 2 big meals and then use them for dinners for the week (usually they were crockpot meals).

               I hope this helps! You have to stay committed to time management. Write it down in a planner and take that planner with you everywhere. I recommend passion planner. You can even print out the free pages first. Look at the planner in the morning, right when you get up. Focus on what you have going on that day. Leave it open when you are studying, working, so you know what tasks you need to get done. And finally, try studying at a coffee shop a couple of times a week. This will make you feel like you have a life, and that you aren’t boring or lame.

Love you!

(ps… your planner doesn’t have to look fancy like mine. I just feel like making mine pretty SOMETIMES haha)

Mich, @babeswhostudy

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“I just wanted to ask how you take notes from books? Like it takes me forever to write notes. I really want to write them down but I want to be efficient too… any tips?”

        Hey! I get this question a lot. Taking notes can be difficult and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be! The important thing to remember is to read only what you need to. Look at your class syllabus and figure out what chapters/sections the professor expects you to read/know. Then open up your book and look in the back of the chapter. Usually there will be a concept summary. Check out the concept summary so you can see what is important to know. Sometimes when you read the chapter, certain sections put in too much information, information that you probably won’t be required to know by heart. This happens in my genetics class a lot.

        Usually chapters are broken down into sections. When I read my chapter, I obviously will only read the sections I need to. I don’t tackle then ENTIRE chapter and then go back and take notes. I read the section, which is usually just a couple of paragraphs, maybe a page. I highlight what I feel is important to remember. Then, I write that stuff down as notes, on a giant mind map, on my laptop, however I feel will help me. It’s basically a nice outline for you to re-read instead of reading the chapter again.

I hope this helps! I try to get my reading done either before or RIGHT after class. Love, Mich @babeswhostudy

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tips for preparing for biochem!

Hey my little angels! I was so nervous about biochem next semester! So I decided to ask all of my amazing followers on my @babeswhostudy Instagram for advice and OH MY LAWD you guys rock! Here are some of my fav pieces of advice that I got DM'd to me 😊 ENJOY! Diegoreads•••• Read "Lehninger: biochemistry principles", it's one of the best books of biochemistry 👍, my recommendation is to understand the basic concepts like proteins, lipids... because it'll be necessary for metabolism 🙈 I'm finishing this subject this semester, it's really beautiful by the way. missaneka_•••• Memorize amino acids (funny YouTube videos to help) and all molecules and movement of glycolysis etc.... easy because it's memorizing but time consuming so it's worth it to do it when you have extra time. Review hydrogen bonds, titrations... use chemistryprep.com I like that one for everything! julia_geisler•••• Hi! If you speak german then take a look at the 'duale reihe biochemie'. I think it's one of the best german books you can find on this topic but i don't know if there is an english version too. I had biochemistry last semester and really like working with this book. In biochemistry you have a lot to learn by heart but i think it's easier than organic chemistry (had them both in the same semester). cescaphrenic•••• Start memorizing the detailed steps in glycolysis (Inc the enzymes involved and how they change the molecular structures) tinhtinhuyen_ms•••• Hi babeswhostudy 😊 you can watch videos about biochem on AK Lectures on Youtube. This guy is amazing tbh cheeserealm•••• Review your carb, lipid, protein structures. Go over amino acid functional groups. Anything on khan academy worked for me! If you're good with all of that then go over glycolysis and subjects like that. The medicalbiochemistrypage.com was a lifesaver! Another thing is rate law kinetics and what an enzyme is/is not. All of that will be on that website. stebooby•••• Hello!!! So I was really scared of biochem so I prepared like crazy going into it. First, make sure you memorize all the amino acids. You will need it for MCAT. I made flashcards and drew the structure and included the full name, three letter name, and one letter code. Then, I memorized all of glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and electron transport chain by drawing each pathway over and over again. The best to memorize (in my experience) is to work on each pathway step by step :) for example, glycolysis has ten steps so I would memorize step 1 👉🏼 step 2. Memorize corresponding enzymes. I also tried to memorize the chemical structures but some professors don't require that! I believe this is all I did to prepare for my biochem class. It seems like a lot of work but trust me, it's going to pay off to walk into class already being familiar with the amino acids and pathways. Especially in my case, where my prof squeezed in glycolysis/citric acid cycle at the end of the class and expected us to memorize both pathways for the final that was like a week later. I was so glad I had already had them down! kurestinmiller•••• Hey! I'm currently a premed student and I just finished biochem last semester! I'd review some of your basic chemistry concepts, but for what I had to do at least, I'd work on knowing your amino acids well!! (You'll have to know them by memory anyways for the MCAT!) brandico5•••• I'd also recommend looking through YouTube for topics you find confusing. Really Helps to just hear it and see it done differently. Leah4sci is great for any Alkene/alkyne reactions. avlorencebeam•••• Biochem was my favorite subject a couple of semesters ago. It's mostly on memorizing, but if you like ochem, you'll have fun learning the cycles. I would suggest reading up, understanding the material, then making your own neat notes with pretty cycles and color coded enzymes. Alright my loves! There you go! Prepare yourself for biochem before the semester starts 💕

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I've been beating myself up about forgetting to turn in a homework assignment. I have a lot on my plate and I've just been crying for being so foolish. I want to maintain a certain GPA and this will bring me down a letter grade. I don't know what to do. :(

Q: I've been beating myself up about forgetting to turn in a homework assignment. I have a lot on my plate and I've just been crying for being so foolish. I want to maintain a certain GPA and this will bring me down a letter grade. I don't know what to do. :(A: First of All, give yourself a little slack. You can't do everything 150% all of the time. Take a deep breath and let's think of some other options. Does your professor offer any extra credit? If you don't know, ASK. Tell your professor your dilemma and I bet you he or she will find ways for you to earn more points. Professors WANT students to do well. They LOVE when their students have drive, which you OBVIOUSLY DO! Everything will be okay!

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a little advice...

Hey you guys! One of my favorite followers asked me to give them some college advice! I figured I would share it with all of you, maybe it can help you as you transition into college!

-You don’t need to pick a major yet. You are 18! You don’t know what you want to do. You haven’t had experiences in a bunch of different stuff that will help you make a decision… and that’s okay! Sure, the vast minority of people know EXACTLY what they want to do, and that’s cool too. Most people are confused, and feel pressure to pick something right away. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS!

-EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS! Take a wide variety of classes. You are going to have to take a bunch of general ed requirements. Use this as an opportunity to explore your likes and get to know your dislikes. If you want to major in some sort of science, take plant biology, human sexuality and abnormal psychology! Hell, even if you want to go into business, you can fulfill science requirements by taking fun and interesting classes. You don’t have to take the standard BIO, SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY. By taking a wide variety of classes you can learn what you like. For Example: when I was first in college, I chose to major in linguistics. I became fluent in Spanish and had to take a ton of linguistics classes… halfway through it I learned that I actually hated it. I had to take a qualitative analysis course, so I chose abnormal psychology…. Which I also hated. BUT in that class I learned about neurons… and it drove me wild. I absolutely loved learning about biology (which I hated in highschool).

-DON’T TAKE CLASSES YOU DON’T NEED. If you are majoring in business, but need a science credit, DO NOT TAKE THE SCIENCE COURSES REQUIRED FOR SCIENCE MAJORS. It floods the classrooms, and people (like me) end up not being able to take the classes we need. Take fun science courses that aren’t required for bio/chem/kines majors. Just a pet peeve haha.

-It’s not all about the Benjamin’s baby! And by that, I mean you don’t always have to get 100%. If you go into college aiming to get only A’s, you’ll end up getting disappointed. Always go into everything you do wanting to DO YOUR BEST. If you try your hardest and do your best and get a C on a midterm, its OKAY. I could be proud of myself after that!

-Struggling? Me too. Remember that struggling can be good! It means you are learning, striving, creating pathways in your brain. If you need help with a subject there are tutors, office hours, TA’s, peers and khan academy. Don’t let anything get you down!

-Struggling emotionally? Me too. But this isn’t okay. Universities have resources to wellness counselors that can help you through tough times. A lot of young people have anxiety disorders and depression that is undiagnosed. If you start feeling empty, listless, overly devastated about grades and stuff, you need to talk to someone. If every day is a struggle to get out of bed, you need to talk to someone. I’m always here, and so is the rest of our fabulous study community. Also, counselors at school really really do help!

-School advising. Once you pick a major, MAKE SURE you follow up with whatever courses your counselor helps you pick out. Don’t let them screw you over and put you in a bunch of unnecessary courses! Print out the coursework guide and fill in the blanks yourself. I wasted a whole years worth of classes because I had a stupid counselor! Make sure you are taking all the pre-reqs you need for classes.

-ASK QUESTIONS! RAISE YOUR HAND! TALK TO PEOPLE! Don’t be too shy! Make sure to get a classmate’s number. Try to study with others! Make study friends!

-READ BEFORE CLASS! Reading before class is awesome and helps you keep up with the lecture. It’s one of my best study tips. If you have access to the lecture slides, read those too! You don’t have to understand everything 100%, but being familiar with the subject will help you focus in class.

-DON’T CRAM. Even though I know you will. Space out your studying and make a study plan! Buy a passion planner and keep track of what you need to be studying (oh and if you actually buy a passion planner, use discount code MICHELLE10 for a10% off discount woohoo)

-Frequent a coffee shop/café/study spot. This is where you make friends! Being a regular is awesome, and it helps you meet new people!

That’s all the advice I have for now! Let me know if you have extra questions/concerns! ❤

Love you guys!

-Mich

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Calc 2 doesn't have to be a bitch! Use this awesome series flow chart to help you through 💁🏽 -mich

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Hey you guys! An awesome gal hand makes these super cute pencil pouches. They fit SO MUCH STUFF and they are really really soft and well made. If you are looking for a cute pencil pouch for a good price, you should check out her etsy ✨she is also giving 15% off using the code BWS15✨ She has lots of different patterns/themes, you can even message her and tell her that you are looking for a specific theme and she will totally come up with something! https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewingscientistJen?ref=hdr_shop_menu

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Hi michelle! I want to ask you how do you keep yourself motivated? I often can't get out from my lazyness :(

Hey sweetie. The thing about motivation is that life is different for many people. I pay thousands and thousands of dollars for my education... so if I'm basically investing in myself. I better make it pay off! Before that I worked a lot and went to school full time, and I just HAD to buckle down. I don't know where you are in life, but the same can go for you. Think about doing homework/studying as a self investment. Buy cute pens to use. Reward yourself when you focus and do things. Sometimes ya just gotta pick a time of day and DEVOTE it to only study. Stick with it!

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Your pictures come out very clear. What camera do you use? Also what desk do you use to study with at home? PS. IN LOVE WITH YOUR STUDYBLR AND STUDYGRAM!

Hey love. I have an iPhone 5, and Super natural lighting! I also use a cheap white desk from ikea! You can buy a white top with 4 legs for like under 35 bucks!! And thank you love!