So we’re already half-way through the semester (More so for you southern schools) and suddenly getting bombarded with essays, tests, pop quizzes, and presentations all rolled up into a one to two week block. Yeah, this sucks. Worse than that, all of this added work causes stress which then limits productivity, creating this massive cluster fudge that ends with you sweating Adderall out of your pores at 4 in the morning trying to cram as much useless information into your already overworked head as possible. If you’re like me, you are looking for any solution that doesn’t involve you walking around like a zombie for two weeks unable to go out and enjoy the fall breeze.
Some people would suggest “planning ahead” and if that works for you, awesome. Still, some of us can find ourselves overwhelmed by a massive workload regardless of how we plan, and for those I offer a wealth of information-collecting tips I’ve garnered over four years of grinding out the mid-term…grind, I guess. Trust me, utilizing these tried and true note-gathering methods will leave you wetter than Drew Barrymore at a grunge concert.
There is nothing worse than having to study for a test only to realize that you haven’t been to the class since you were handed a syllabus first day of the semester. This applies doubly so when you get that “60 percent of the test is on lecture notes” email from that TA you really hate for no reason. Here’s a few options, from the obvious to the ingenuously resourceful.
Firstly, you could just buy them from someone in your class. I’ve done this probably twice, and it’s worked very well for me both times. Still, there is the inherent risk that the person taking the notes is less intelligent than you pegged them. I suggest Asians. Also, the going price for notes these days is like $5 a G, so go wild.
Now, if you have heard of the internet, there is another amazing option for you. Check this site out, and you will be surprised to see how many kids are willing to sell their notes for really cheap (usually like 3-5 bucks). This site is dependent on someone in your class actually being resourceful enough to want to utilize it for a profit, but also it guarantees a higher quality note.
Another option is your campus’ disability services, which usually has notes taken for every class with a population higher than 60. These notes are meant for kids with disabilities ranging from ADD to a broken hand, that would prevent them from taking effective notes. Stealing notes from disabled kids may not seem like the moral way to go, but look at it this way: If you are finding yourself constantly overwhelmed by the mid-semester workload and are unable to manage your time properly, you probably have ADD anyways, so again.. go wild.
Using a mix and match approach to the above methods will guarantee (void where prohibited) you a wealth of information with which to prepare yourself for your up and coming test.
Good luck.
