Succeeding In Engsci

I get a fair number of messages about how I "succeeded" in the notoriously difficult Engineering Science program at UofT. Below I compile some advice that I will link to when I get this question in the future.

1. Meta learning: Always be testing and evaluating new strategies to improve your performance e.g., how best do you learn?, focus strategies, study habits, exam taking skills, group collaboration skills.
2. Optimize information intake: for me this meant skipping most lectures in favor of reading the text book and/or lecture notes. The exception is when there are no notes / textbook / recordings. Don't focus on taking notes, instead focus on (3).
3. Spaced repetition: With the time I saved from (2), I would focus on putting the knowledge into a spaced-repetition software like Anki. See Augmenting Long-Term Memory for how to do this.
4. Lots of practice: do as many practice problems as possible. These can come from past exams (look on Skule and Github; these are probably the most applicable to how you will be graded), textbook problems, and exercises that the prof posts. If your really staving for practice problems then you can look up similar courses online, or get a small group of peers and quiz on another. When reviewing lecture material, if there are any obvious exam questions the Prof would ask then do those too.
5. Sleep and exercise: get on a consistent sleep schedule and do not break it for any reason! I would also exercise daily if possible. For me afternoon is the best because it is when I am least productive. I have a nice block of focused work in the morning and evening.
6. Avoid "wasted work": There are lots of examples of this:
• "study groups" can seem productive, but lots of the time ends up being spent on socialization
• Over-planning / organizing / productivity optimizing is a great way to seem busy but not actually get anything done.
7. Think long term: Copying solutions from others or forgetting all your learnings after the final exam is a great way to set yourself up for failure in future courses. Don't stop the spaced repetition after the course is over, unless it is something you really don't think will be useful in the future (e.g,. most HSS/CS electives).
8. Friends: Get a group of smart and interesting friends taking the same/similar courses. This group can help answer questions you have. On the other hand, answering their questions / teaching is a great way to solidify your understanding.
9. Summer Internships: Relationships with Profs are important both for your final thesis project, getting work experience, and future jobs. I would encourage you to seek summer internships with academic or industry research labs.
10. Don't give up: EngSci will have lots of tough moments. Lots of students spend so much time in their first two years debating whether or not to drop it. Instead, just focus on learning and getting things done. Keep pushing onwards!