| | | Student Quotes Regarding Study Groups from the 1998 Quals Survey |
We have provided below a sample of student quotes taken from the 1998 Quals
survey about the value of study groups in preparing for the qualifying exam.
Quotes are followed by summary information about the student who
gave them. The format is [Year in Grad. School],[Year took
Quals],[Affiliated Lab], [Pass Status]. For example,
-1st year, 1998,
[ISL STAR], 1st pass
is a 1st year grad
student who took the Quals in 1998, is affiliated with ISL and STARLAB,
and passed the Quals on the first attempt.
meeting often during winter break. sometimes just talking informally
amogst ourselves about different subjects was a good idea because that's
how some qual questions went
-1st year, 1998, CSL, 1st pass
Staying here over Winter Break and meeting every day. Being very critical of other group members when they screwed up.
-1st year, 1998, CSL, 1st pass
Meet regularly. Make steady study plans and do it. Teach one
another. Encourage one another. We helped one another through this hard
time. Everybody in our study group passed qual and has very good grade!!
-1st year, 1998, CSL, 1st pass
Regular meeting every week, and intensive running as the exam
approaches.
-1st year, 1998, ISL, 1st pass
Being mean to each other...seriously! If you can succeed when
your study group partners are being jerks, then you can succeed
with any of the professors.
-4th year, 1996, 1995, ICL, 2nd pass
Be DEDICATED to a weekly study time with your study group. I studied with two different groups, and tried two different methods for askingeach other questions. I'll explain them both, and then say why I thoughtone was better than the other. 1) We met as a group of four in one room. We took turns asking/receiving questions, while two of us sat and watched the two participants. 2) We met as a group of four to six people. For each study session, each person prepared only one question, and took turns asking the question to each person individually in separate classrooms.
I found that method (2) was superior because:
a) you learned your question better, since you only had one to prepare
b) the process is more realistic-there aren't two other people in the
room sympathizing with you
c) you have the chance of comparing how each of you did on the same
question, and seeing how each person responds to your question
d) you are always active, either asking/receiving
-1st year, 1998, ISL, not yet passed
I had two study groups for two different areas. I mainly used
the study group sessions for question/answer sessions, did all
the studying on my own.
-5th year, 1994, CSL, 1st pass
Having a group where all of us were at the same ability level helped.
-3rd year, 1996, CSL, 1st pass
we started at the begining of the quarter studying a few hours a week.
And that time was more of a leacture style. Each person prepared one of
the old quals questions (including references...) and than that person
would ask someone else the question and they had as long as they wanted to
answer it and if they couldn't the other person would help them out and at
the end the person who prepared the question would go over the solution
and give the rest of the group a copy of the solution and refrences....
-2nd year, 1998, SSPL, 1st pass
Real situation..Qual is not about getting the right answer but more like presenting your point. Try to show your idea and process of thinking.
-1st year, 1998, CSL, ISL, not yet passed
Mostly 2nd year students or 1st year who really want to pass.
I recommend getting a group earlier since these are the people who care
about it.
-3rd year, 1998, 1997, CSL, 2nd pass
Serious people simulating reality and leaving the person being asked to
find the solution on his/her own in 10 minutes. If he/she cannot do it
then the person asking gives a complete explanation of the problem and its
background. You should also use real questions from old quals and every
personin the group should prepare one or two questions for each session.
-1st year, 1998, SSPL, 1st pass
We had highly motivated people with a commitment to succeed. We
were all driven to study hard and play the game to the best of our
abilities. As a result, we all passed in at least the top 50most passing in the top 33
-1st year, 1998, ISL, 1st pass
I was actually a part of 3 different groups, each focusing on a different
area.Discipline and commitment from all members help make the group
successful.It doesn't help to have a study group if half the members don't
showup. Each group had a different style, depending on what we wanted
from the group. This was decided when we first met. In general, the
study sessions focused on testing your thinking and pointing out what you
didn't know. Then, you would study up on your weaknesses on your own.
Also, the groups where we weren't good friends actually worked better
because we stayed focused on studying (vs. socializing).
-3rd year, 1998, ISL, 1st pass
We met fairly regularly and we started early! We also planned
the topics we wanted to cover and made a tentative schedule, which
of course we could not keep because of final projects and exams.
-1st year, 1998, STAR, ICL, 1st pass
Very strong personalities. Commitment to studying together and liking
each other. Not being afraid to criticize other members. No bad
feelings. Diversity of expertise.
-1st year, 1998, ISL, 1st pass
1. Strict and regular meetings.
2. Each student was asked to present a topic every time.
3. Each student was asked questions by others.
4. The most important part of the group study was creating
a group spirit that made everybody happy and relaxed but
was also strict so nobody became lax.
-4th year, 1997, SSPL, 1st pass
You need people with different strenghts. Having your buddys that take all
the same classes together is not as effective as studying with people with
expertise beyond your field. This is also closer to the actual test
conditions where you are usually not very familiar with the professors who
are testing you.
-5th year, 1994, ICL, 2nd pass
Variety of backgrounds - the questions that we asked each other were
quite varied. And I learned a lot about different approaches to
problem-solving from having them solve my questions. One key to quals is
to find the right way to attack a problem, which may require quick trials
of different approaches until one looks promising.
-2nd year, 1997, ISL, 1st pass
Being seriuos about the time of our meetings.
Getting along with each other Ok.
Not trying to creat an atmosphere too competitive.
Making the study group not too big (six people at most)
Meeting at least once a week.
respecting the ten minutes duration for answering.discussing deeply the
more interesting or deep problems that invloved key concepts and trying
not to waste time on "non-important details".
-2nd year, 1998, ISL, 1st pass
We collected a large number of questions from previous years, which gave
us a pool of questions to use in studying with. We also made a point of
using our time together as a group solely for the purpose of putting
questions to each other. This was the most productive thing we could do
together as a group.
-4th year, 1996, ICL, 1st pass
| | | Student Quotes Regarding Study Groups from the 1998 Quals Survey |