Dear Dr. J,
How do I prepare for the lectures during the week of block exams? Sometimes I don’t get the lectures until a day before the exam.
Not a Crammer
Efficient Learning
Strategies and tips from the Academic Support team at Touro University California
Category Archives: Dr. J Advice
J&B: How Can I Boost my Grades and Study More Efficiently?
Dear J&B,
I spend 12 to 14 hours a day studying and no matter how many times I watch the lectures on media-site, review the objectives, and read and highlight the text I always seem to get 70% on the block exams. I am really shooting for at least 85%, how can I increase my percentage?
Distressed on Mare Island
J&B: How Can I Make Sure I Don’t Fall Behind?
J&B are Touro’s Director of Academic Support, Dr. Jill Alban, Ed.D. and Learning Specialist, Brigit Perez, MAEd. 
Dear J&B,
I have a history of falling behind and having to play “catch-up”. I end up cramming and forgetting the material almost immediately. How can I make sure that I am on top of my studies and I don’t fall behind again?
Sincerely,
Always Playing Catch-up
J&B: I’m nervous! How can I get a good start in grad school?
Dear J & B,
I’m not performing as well as I would like. I don’t attend lectures. I do spend 3 hours per hour of lecture watching media site. I’m a visual learner so I color code my notes. I then try to draw all the mechanisms. I’m studying all of the time, yet I never have time to do more than 1 pass through the material.
— Overwhelmed and Underperforming.
To see our answer … Continue reading
Dear Dr. J: You Can Catch Up!
Dr. J is Touro California Director of Academic Support Dr. Jill Alban.
Dear Dr. J,
I am already getting behind and I’m worried I’ll never catch up! What do you recommend?
— Behind the Wheel on Mare Island
Dear Behind,
Use your week-ends to catch up and get ahead. You have 48 hours. Even if you give yourself 9 hours of sleep, 2 hours of exercise and time for breaks, you’ll have plenty of time to catch up. The most important thing is to create a study plan. Research on study strategies has demonstrated that good students create a study plan and stick to it. Once you’ve made your schedule-set it in stone. Make a commitment to follow it.
Dear Dr. J: Time and Money Anxieties
Dr. J is Touro California Director of Academic Support Dr. Jill Alban.
Dear Dr. J,
I’m having trouble sleeping because I’m having issues with financial aid. Is there someone I can go to talk to about that?
— Sleepless in Solano
J&J: I’m nervous! How can I get a good start in grad school?
J&J are Touro California Director of Academic Support Dr. Jill Alban, Ed.D. and Learning Specialist Jennifer Pimentel, MAEd.
Dear J&J,
School is starting just around the corner! I just received my orientation information and it’s starting to get overwhelming. Although I am excited for classes to start, I don’t know if the techniques that I used in undergrad and post–grad are good enough. Do you have any suggestions for me, or what services does campus provide?
— Nervous in the North Bay
Congratulations and welcome to Touro! We’re so excited for you to join our campus and look forward to welcoming you during the campus-wide orientation on July 29. In reading through this blog you will find tips and techniques that will allow you to be successful here at Touro.
J&J: How to Study in the Summer
J&J are Touro California Director of Academic Support Dr. Jill Alban, Ed.D. and Learning Specialist Jennifer Pimentel, MAEd.
Dear J&J,
Classes just ended for the summer and although I’m excited that I get all this extra time to sleep in, what can I do so that I don’t forget everything I learned this Academic Year?
—Rested, Reveling and Ready to Review
J&J: What Is the Best Way to Prepare for a Test?
J&J are Touro California Director of Academic Support Dr. Jill Alban, Ed.D. and Learning Specialist Jennifer Pimentel, MAEd.
Dear J&J,
Thank you for starting up an efficient learning blog for TUC students! I am an M.S. student who just got accepted into the College of Pharmacy
class
of 2020. As an entering pharmacy student, I am a very nervous and anxious about how to study. I was advised by my principal investigator to meet with you to go over learning techniques. I wanted to know what techniques I should use to improve my test-taking strategies.
— Circumventing test anxiety
J&J: Why Are My Test Scores So Low?
J&J are Touro California Director of Academic Support Dr. Jill Alban, Ed.D. and Learning Specialist Jennifer Pimentel, MAEd.
Dear J&J,
I spend 12 to 14 hours a day studying and no matter how many times I watch the lectures on media-site, review the objectives, and read and highlight the text I always seem to get 70 percent on the block exams.
—Distressed on Mare Island
