This World Wide Web page gives tips that Oberlin College Physics faculty have found useful for their students, particularly for students in introductory physics courses. If you have suggestions, please inform the compiler. Following these tips and suggestions will take more time and effort than does a casual reading of the text, but they will pay off in a savings of time when you do the problems, in a better understanding of physics, and in increased confidence on exams.
General tips Keep up with the course.
Once you fall behind it is very difficult to catch up. Attempting a thorough study of last week's material usually results in being one week behind for the entire semester. Do the reading before attending the lectures. This way way you won't need to take notes on everything the lecturer says, because you will already understand some of the material and you will know that some of it is treated well in your textbook. Make some friends in the course and work through the material in small groups.