How to succeed in an BA Degree?

[Headunderthecovers]

Back in the day I did a vocational BSc at University, with high contact hours. I remember a virtually full day with lectures, practicals etc and lots of content to learn and understand, but not having to research anything myself.
It seemed an easy transition from school, and actually better than 6th form college where I'd spend study frees reading novels or other interesting things I could find in the library rather than revising for my science A levels.

My dd starts her degree this year at a Russell group University so I am expecting it to be academically challenging . Her degree is business based, so not directly a subject she has previously studied. She seems to have at most a couple of hours a day of lectures scheduled .

Obviously I understand you are expected to spend time yourself reading and researching , but how do you do this effectively?
I would imagine the jump from A level is high, but is there some tips that she can use to succeed at University study.
How are essays different to A levels and what skills do you need to achieve high marks?

I feel I can't offer her advice as my degree was so different and just wondered if anyone here has any tips.

The key things are :

Actually go to the lectures.
Seek out help from tutors/lectures.
Work hard.
Be organised.
Start assignments early and try and discuss how it’s going with someone.

Get to grips with the Harvard referencing system.
Answer the brief for essays.

Good luck to her.

Brilliant advice, thank you.

I somehow feel that Mum need to send her off with some nuggets of wisdom (so I'll use yours )

Ditto the above

Organisation is key. If there are books to read, get them as soon as the reading list is available (or you’ll be waiting for other students to finish them first) and do assignments promptly. Work first, have fun later was always my motto at University. I got a first, but spent far more time having fun/playing sport and doing hobbies than actually working. It’s possible with good organisation.

Feel free to take credit! I’ve done uni quite a lot so I’ve got a lot of “wisdom”!

I’d say it’s also just as important to try loads of new things and make new friends as getting stuck in to work.

Focus her reading. Don't assume she needs to start at the top of the reading list, if there is one, and work her way through, reading everything from cover to cover. Identify which books/chapters/articles are relevant for each essay question/seminar paper and do read those, paying particular attention to how they answer the specific question that has been asked.

Universities are very hot on plagiarism, so In her note taking she should be absolutely clear where she has paraphrased in her own words, and where she has quoted directly from the book or article, so that she doesn't inadvertently include someone else's words, unreferenced, in her essay.

Thank you Enidblyton1 ('The Enchanted Forest' was my favourite book as a child) and MissLingoss.
She likes reading, but is easily distracted . I find it's different reading for fun rather than needing to for 'work' and this can be a difficult skill to acquire if reading is a pleasure normally.
She's quite sporty so has some clubs already in mind as well as a drink based one!

My DD found there were much higher expectations for essays than at school. The style, argument, quality of writing, research and references are all important. She transitioned well having done two essay subjects at A level plus MFLs but others took advantage of the extra help that was offered to those who felt their skills were not good enough.

Therefore, take advantage of guidance early on. Don’t let issues build up without doing anything about it.

Definitely have fun, but schedule time for work and be disciplined. Libraries can often be pressurised for space so work out when is best to get your berth. Organisation is definitely key and research skills will build up.

Essays are not always about answering a question as encountered school. The content is partially determined by the student and can be up for negotiation with the lecturer. The subjects can be quite wide ranging and open to interpretation. That’s where research comes in.

That's really interesting BubblesBuddy.
She did History A level and did really well, but it took time. She is one of those who really didn't work for GCSE and walked out with A*/A, but then had a shock in the first year of A levels when she tried doing the same. She is quite scientific in her approach to things and it took until her 2nd year to be clear on what she needed to do to get high marks at History A level.
She was the same for English Literature GCSE and I can see how she approaches the essay based subjects, as she literally jumped from getting C/D to A* in both within weeks once someone gave her a structure to work with.
I do worry that it isn't a natural skill for her and that at University you are expected to make a jump in this skill on your own.

You are not on your own though. My DDs friend’s realised their skills were lacking partly because they had been a bit spoon fed. They just found the more academic requirements of the essay a challenge and no one really tells you how to get the high marks. It isn’t the same as school where teachers prompt and advise all the time. The main thing is that she should see her personal tutor if she’s finding it difficult and seek help and advice. There should be guidance on essay writing available. Just ask. I know DDs friends were glad they did.

I teach essay writing. Most departments will have some form of guidance on this. Many RG universities have some sort of writing centre where students can get help. In many universities the first year doesn't really count towards the degree, but should still be seen as a time to work and get feedback on what works from tutors.

The key piece of advice I would give is that essays at University are not about regurgitating memorised content. They are arguments, based around a focused answer to a question. They are not really looking for a 'right' answer, but one that is well argued, using evidence from reading. Questions are often set around debates in the field, so you have to explain why one side is more persuasive than the other. So look for the debate, which can be implicit in the question but should be apparent from reading, lectures and seminars.

Forgot to add - the original question was how to fill days. Well, by reading - that's why it's referred to as 'reading for a degree'!

Most business courses are structured around a combination of lectures and seminars. Students will normally be given a reading list for the week and a set of questions that will be explored in the seminar. Where students go wrong is either only reading 1 or 2 things - not enough for a rounded view - or reading passively to memorise, rather than actively: that is, exploring what the author has to say on the question for the seminar, what evidence supports their views, and how their view differs from others.

DD found it helped to write a timetable for self study that worked around her lecture timetable. This way, if she hadn't motivated herself to do any reading/writing, she had set times she worked on a specific subject.

She struggled with referencing and we found a Harvard referencing tool online, where she basically puts in what she's referencing (journal, website, book, etc) and it pops up with the format needed. There are also people in their library who will check references once they've finished a piece of work.

Finding a couple of study buddies helps too, but then they have to be super careful that they don't get accused of copying each other.

Also what someone else said - it's more about stating your argument and then confidently saying why this must be correct.

thejeanjenie36 that's really helpful and yes reading for thinking and formulating a view or argument to support that view, rather than learning content. Her A level history coursework was a beginning introduction to this, so I'll get her to think about this and also use the writing centre at her University if she is struggling.

HSMMaCM I think a self study timetable will help. She likes to cook, do sports, socialise, so I can easily see her filling time if she's not sure what she should do otherwise. I'll get her to look up the Harvard referring tool as well.

Thankyou for your advice.

DS pays something like £8 a month for an online referencing service which he thinks is the best money spent!

You have to be motivated and organised to deal with a very much less structured environment. A routine of sorts helps, including things like laundry, food shopping etc. Also being involved in activities/sports etc

Go to any study skills or 'how to' sessions run for freshers, these are often in the library.

Get the OU book called something like, "how to write an essay", it talks you through signposting in an essay, something new to me coming from a science department.

Get the idea you are, "reading for a degree" ie you should be reading every day.

Personal one I find useful.

If I'm writing an essay pick out the main area to study (You can BUG a question even at this level to a certain extent), pick up your text books and a pack of different coloured pot it notes, go to the index in book one and put a post it note on every page that has that subject.

Eg if you are writing about "acquisition of language in children", get pink, yellow and blue post it notes.

Go to the index of the first book, look up 'Aquisition', if the index has this as pages 3 and 12 then go to page 3 and put a pink post it note in - don't read. Then go to p12 and do the same.

Next get the yellow post it notes, look up "language" in the index and put a yellow post it on the pages with "language".

Once you have done this with all your books have a look at the number and colour of notes. A book with lots of post its in all colours is the most relevant so you may want to read the whole book. The book with only one or two only read the one or two paragraphs.

If it is a subject that you may be coming back to then you can leave the post its in the book, just note what each colour is for.

You can also put stars or notes on the post it.

Oh and one very important thing, download some referencing software and store ALL books you reference in it.

I never realised referencing was such a chore and so important. Need to get dd on to this from the start.*
*
Dd is naturally a bit disorganised and I found myself picking up random bits of A level work wondering if it should be in a file somewhere.

I wonder if anyone has cultivated a skill for ensuring you study in an ordered manner*.
*
. I can see dd's propensity to disorder in myself, where my profession demands scientific, methodical order, but my mind works contrary to this. The necessary order keeping a check on me in a way stopping me jumping off at tangents, but sometimes following the tangents actually makes me better at my job. That makes no sense does it.

I love the tip of picking the key words and using this whilst researching in books. Definitely would work for dd.

1. Turn up
2. Hand in required essays with correct name at top.

FourFriedChickenDriedWhiteToast I hope she'll at least manage those two!

honestly that is all you have to do...:)

ChickensDry - sorry for mixing up your name- knew I'd get it wrong.

Who gets the Firsts then

People that study and don’t do much else?

I think self reliance is better than using a program. DD is now a barrister and self reliance and research is obviously a key attribute. Learn the skill of referencing!