AP SURVIVAL GUIDE
--NICOLE MASNICAK
Unrestricted academic warfare, sleep-deprived nights, negative amounts of free time, drifting from friends, slow mental and physical deterioration...welcome to the junior year of an AP student. All of these characteristics have attributed themselves to my life these past few months of school, and there came a time when I just wanted to give up because AP Biology had sucked every ounce of willpower out of me. But then I started thinking about how to improve my school life so that, even though it’s not necessarily always enjoyable, it is tolerable. This is a guide on how I’m able to survive AP classes and still keep my life in check.
STUDY: AP classes are tremendously challenging and there is no way to survive them without allocating some time to studying. Good study habits are a must, so the sooner you find what works best for you, the better. Personally I have a vivid photographic memory, so I find it best to just read and reread my notes multiple times. Others discover that notecards are the best way for information to stick. Some even realize that the best way is to memorize the textbook or watch a plethora of videos to reinforce their knowledge. Whatever it is, if you find a method of studying that is beneficial to your grades and boosts your confidence in your own knowledge, then take it and run with it. It’s crucial.
SLEEP: It’s not always possible to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night, but here’s a simple rule of thumb: if nothing else, go to sleep before midnight. This will still allow you about 6-7 hours of sleep, depending on when you usually get up in the mornings, but by going to bed before 12 you will still wake up adequately refreshed. Plus, 6 hours is much closer to 8 than 4 is, and it’s much easier to make up for just a few lost hours of sleep over the weekend, rather than days. An additional note: if you ever feel the urge to take a nap because you are emotionally exhausted or simply can’t keep your eyes open, then do it! You will not regret it and when you wake up you will find that completing homework is also easier.
EXERCISE: Not everyone has the time to work out every single day, but it’s crucial to your health to get a few hours in each week. Exercise is stimulating for the brain and the muscles: not only are you more energized, but a good workout has a positive effect on your mindset. Even if you can only manage to go to the gym or go for a run twice a week—it’s better than nothing!
TAKE BREAKS: Studies have shown that after 1-2 hours of studying, the brain literally cannot absorb any more information. This means it is time for a 15-30 minute break to relax your mind, grab a bite to eat, or organize your thoughts. Breaks are enormously beneficial to both studying and working in general because they increase your efficiency. Actual experiments have shown that people who take breaks during studying score significantly higher than those who cram nonstop.
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