rhea-studie

[rhea-studie]

Survivorship Bias

I have posted about survivorship bias and how it affects your career choices: how a Hollywood actor giving the classic “follow your dreams and never give up” line is bad advice and is pure survivorship bias at work.

When I read up on the wikipedia page, I encountered an interesting story:

During WWII the US  Air Force wanted to minimize bomber losses to enemy fire. The Center for Naval Analyses ran a research on where bombers tend to get hit with the explicit aim of enforcing the parts of the airframe that is most likely to receive incoming fire. This is what they came up with:

So, they said: the red dots are where bombers are most likely to be hit, so put some more armor on those parts to make the bombers more resilient. That looked like a logical conclusion, until Abraham Wald - a mathematician - started asking questions: 

- how did you obtain that data? - well, we looked at every bomber returning from a raid, marked the damages on the airframe on a sheet and collected the sheets from all allied air bases over months. What you see is the result of hundreds of those sheets. - and your conclusion? - well, the red dots are where the bombers were hit. So let’s enforce those parts because they are most exposed to enemy fire.  - no. the red dots are where a bomber can take a hit and return. The bombers that took a hit to the ailerons, the engines or the cockpit never made it home. That’s why they are absent in your data. The blank spots are exactly where you have to enforce the airframe, so those bombers can return.

This is survivorship bias. You only see a subset of the outcomes. The ones that made it far enough to be visible. Look out for absence of data. Sometimes they tell a story of their own.

BTW: You can see the result of this research today. This is the exact reason the A-10 has the pilot sitting in a titanium armor bathtub and has it’s engines placed high and shielded.

[rhea-studie]

anyone else read a paragraph of academic prose and then stare at it blankly with no idea what you just read because it’s so clogged with jargon

[rhea-studie]

Ultimate Studyblr FAQ

TAGS:

studyblr (=smartblr) - study blog

studyspo  (=smartspo) - study inspiration (e.g., quotes, pictures of studying or stationery…)

appblr - university (college) applications blog

archblr - architecture studyblr

artblr - art studyblr

astroblr - astronomy studyblr

bioblr - biology studyblr

businessblr - business studyblr

chemblr - chemistry studyblr

engblr - engineering studyblr

historyblr - history studyblr

langblr - languages studyblr

lawblr - law studyblr

litblr - literature studyblr

mathblr - mathematics studyblr

medblr - medicine studyblr

musicblr - music studyblr

philoblr - philosophy studyblr

physicsblr - physics studyblr

psychblr - psychology studyblr

stemblr - science, technology, engineering, maths studyblr

APPLICATIONS/ EXTENTIONS/ WEBSITES:

(If there’s no price written next to something, that thing is for free)

- Forest  android | iOS ($0.99) | Windows Phone (€0.99) | Chrome | Firefox (FocusNow - a similar free version for iOS)

- Momentum Chrome

- Fliqlo Mac/Windows | iOS ($0.99)

- Habitica website | android

- Duolingo website | android | iOS

- Khan Academy website | youtube | android | iOS

- Cold Turkey (program that blocks websites) website

- Todoist website | android | iOS | Chrome

- Quizlet website | android | iOS

- My Study Life website | android | iOS | Windows Phone | Chrome

- Lanes website | chrome

STATIONERY:

TESTS/ PROGRAMMES/ CERTIFICATES, ETC:

GSCE -  General Certificate of Secondary Education is a two-year programme in a specific subject taken by school students in UK. Students start GCSEs at age 14 in year 10 and then they take the public examinations at age 16 in year 11. A level -  a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16–18 in UK (after GCSEs). A Levels are worked towards over two years and split into two parts, with one part studied in each year:

A1 Level or AS Level - the first part of the A level.

A2 Level - the second part of the A level.

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the USA and Canada, which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities often grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations.

International Baccalaureate (IB) can refer to the international educational foundation, any of the 4 programmes it offers, or the diploma or certificates awarded at the end of the programme.

IELTS -  International English Language Testing System is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers.

TOEFL - Test Of English as a Foreign Language is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in American universities. Though, it is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions.

ACT - American College Testing is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in USA. 

SAT -  Scholastic Assessment Test  is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in USA.

EDUCATION STAGES/ DEGREES:

Major - is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits in USA and Canada. A student who successfully completes the courses prescribed in an academic major qualifies for an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree.

Double major -  a student who declares two academic majors is said to have a double major.

Undergrad student - a student taking up undergraduate education.  

Undergraduate education - is a level of education between secondary education and a master’s degree. When a student completes an undergraduate education they get a Bachelor’s degree.

Grad student - a student taking up graduate or postgraduate education.

Graduate education - is a level of education taken up after getting a Bachelor’s degree. When a student complete a graduate education they either get a Master’s or Doctorate degrees.

It goes something like this:

Beware, things vary from country to country and from subject to subject.

(Click here for the updated version of this post)

[rhea-studie]

Body systems

Love this style of art! may get all these posters at some point! Find them Here 

[rhea-studie]

01/03/2018 (March 1st 2018)

This is what most of my study sessions really look like

My mental health had been so bad for the past 2 weeks

Been in a really bad depression slump and had lots of anxiety attacks

Im trying to get back on track and trying to be optimistic

To anyone else who’s going through the same thing, it’s going to be okay and we’re gonna get through this, one step at a time❤️ 

[rhea-studie]

“My otp is my dream school and me”

— every high school student ever

[rhea-studie]

so here’s a quick lesson about having patience with kids.

I have a 6th grade student who isn’t really interested in doing her homework (big surprise). from my experience, kids who aren’t trying to do their homework usually fall into two general categories – “this is too easy and therefore boring” and “this is too hard and therefore i’m not even going to attempt”. it became clear by October that she fell into the latter group, but most of the staff chalked it up to “she doesn’t understand it”. I didn’t really believe it because she was a very smart, emotionally aware girl and it didn’t seem like she didn’t always want to try, just that she would rather do other things than struggle with her work. 

yesterday, she got sent to my office, just so that she would have a space away from her friends to focus on her work, and she asked me to help her with two questions. I looked at them and they were fairly straightforward, simple questions about the results of using various amounts of force on an object. I did what I always do – I read the question out loud first, and then tried to help her use recall to figure it out. she did in a snap. I did the same with the second question, and before I even finished it, she went “OH!” and started writing her answer.

that’s when it hit me – she doesn’t have trouble with the material, she just has trouble reading and processing what she’s reading at the same time. big difference! I asked her and she confirmed that it was easier to hear a question and understand it than to read it and understand it. so I got her phone out, pulled up her voice recorder, and told her to try reading the question aloud and then playing it back to herself so she could process it and she looked like i had handed her the holy grail.

the moral of the story is that sometimes you have to set aside what you think is a problem with a kid and just watch for what’s easier for them. will she be able to do that during a test? maybe not, BUT now that she knows that the issue is processing reading and that she’s an auditory learner, she’s in a better position to ask for resources to help her work better in school.

so i’m off to the school counselor to let her know so she can possible get more tools for auditory learners.  

[rhea-studie]

It was a huge disappointment as a child to fall in love with the stars and then find out how much math it requires to get anywhere near them. 

[rhea-studie]

[rhea-studie]

“It’s not a particle or a wave. It’s a wavicle.”

— an odd conversation I just had about light (via maybe-queen-of-numenor)

[rhea-studie]

my artsy little guide+video to help you get a 36 on ACT Math (or at least improve your score) // hope this helps 

@studywithinspo —> check out my (youtube)

[rhea-studie]

How to get organised during Easter

- If you have finished the course now is a good time to go back to the start of the course and revise the earlier sections

- Make your resources now; if you have any flash cards that you need to create you should attempt to complete them in the following weeks to ensure you have enough time to complete them

- Try and complete your notes if you make notes

- Avoid doing the past papers until you have revised everything thoroughly and make sure you do them in exam conditions so that you get an accurate representation

- Avoid starting a new television series as it will occupy a lot of your time

- Don’t hesitate to email your teachers over the holidays if you need help

- If you do essay subjects complete practise essays on as many topics as you can so you can give them to your teacher when you go back after the holidays. This will help you identify your weak areas so you can focus on them before the exam

- Don’t forget to have breaks however ultimately you must prioritise doing your work over leisure!

- For a level science students remember to study for Paper 3 and work on your practical technique as this tends to be neglected during term time

- For English students make sure you try and reread your set texts especially the closed book exam texts in case you don’t have time

- For AS students and some A2 students Make sure you are prepared for your exams which start much earlier in May so you aren’t stressed later.

[rhea-studie]

Tuesday 20th March • Past Papers

As soon as Easter break started, I dove straight into the holy grail for A Levels, past papers.

It helps so much to practice literally dozens of past papers and recently I’ve been neglecting them, so I’ve got a lot piled up.

Wish everyone luck in achieving your goals!!

~Rhea 😊

[rhea-studie]

HOW TO STUDY WHEN YOU HAVE, LIKE, ZERO SPOONS LEFT

I’ve gotten dressed, driven to work, worked for 8 hours, attended class (twice a week), and driven myself home. With drive time and class time included, my typical day is 10-12+ hours. I don’t know about you, but at this point in my day I have maybe one or two spoons left (one spoon equaling one completed task).

I have an autoimmune disease that leaves me exhausted and has basically destroyed my immune system. I’ve been sick six times (for more than a week each time) over the last six months. I work full time and I go to school full time. 

How do I function and still get A’s?

1. get the sleep you need

I need 9+ hours a night to fully function. That means I’m in bed by 10:30 latest. My fitbit app reminds me to start winding down around 10:00 PM - which I don’t always appreciate, but alas. I have to wake up by 8 AM at the latest, and I typically take about 20 minutes to fall asleep, so 10:30 is my sweet spot. 

2. throw away the caffeinated drinks - choose water

Soda, coffee, caffeinated drinks, and energy drinks might give you a tiny boost in the short run, but in the long run you’re ruining your sleep schedule and throwing your body way out of whack. Our bodies aren’t meant to consume caffeine (especially not in the quantities contained in the aforementioned beverages). Choose water instead. Your body is about 80% water, and it is essential to be properly hydrated. The more hydrated you are, the more you can maximize your spoons. 

The average human needs between 35-70 ounces of water. That’s roughly four 16 oz water bottles a day. Space them out. Drink one in the morning, one with lunch, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. Before you know it, you’ve got your water in. If you’re going through caffeine withdrawal, try nibbling on some dark chocolate. Chocolate is a natural source of caffeine and it’s delicious - just don’t eat too much :)

3. baby steps

I don’t recommend trying to do all of your homework at once. I’ve found I can trick my body into doing homework at lunch if I switch straight from working to studying. I turn on some relaxing music and do one assignment every day at lunch. This might not work if you have found you can’t get through the rest of your day without a break between your working hours. It also may be impractical depending on where you work.

When I get home, I typically take some time to relax and then I do one more assignment before the evening is up.

Crunch time is reserved for the weekends. I space out my study sessions into one hour of studying and then two hours of free time. My free time might be used to throw in a load of laundry and then nap for a bit or I might just mess around online depending on the day. 

4. don’t beat yourself up

Didn’t drink all your water? That’s okay, just try again tomorrow. Didn’t get enough sleep? Try to get a nap in or go to sleep extra early to compensate. Gave into sugar cravings? We all need a little sweet stuff every now and then. Didn’t study at all today? Don’t panic. You can probably try to make it up in bits and pieces over the rest of the week. Didn’t do any of your assignments at all this week? Email your professor and explain your situation. Professors can be more understanding than you’d think especially if you have a medically documented illness or disability (I failed my first year of college because of my autoimmune disease and wasn’t going to be able to get financial aid because I hadn’t met my Satisfactory Academic Progress GPA. I reached out to the school and asked if there was anything that could be done. I spoke to someone who was able to help me get a medical waiver and I got financial aid. I turned it around my second year and every year since because I was given that second chance). Failed your first year? Or second year? Or multiple years? It sucks that that time and money is gone, but it isn’t the end of the world. Some schools don’t take your previous GPA into account when computing your GPA for the degree you receive at their school. Look into transferring. Try taking one class a semester. Ask for extra help. Emails are your best friend - I know that making trips to campus and getting dressed up to go to a special appointment takes up a lot of spoons for me because I also deal with anxiety, so I stick to emails as much as possible and only attempt trips on campus when I’m having a higher-spoon day. 

I failed senior year of high school. I failed my first year of college at a University across the country and moved home to attend community college. I thought it was the end of the world. I thought I had disappointed my mother and everyone else. I knew I had disappointed myself. 

I took two classes my first semester in community college (as opposed to taking five classes my first semester at University). At the end of the semester, I had a 4.0 GPA. I’ve taken one or two classes each semester ever since and three years later, I have a 3.6 GPA and I’m set to obtain my Associates in Business Administration AND my Associates in Science by the end of 2018. It’s still hard and some days (weeks - heck, semesters) still suck, but I’m gentle with my body. I work with my disease instead of trying to pretend it doesn’t exist (which is what I did my first year at Uni and which is exactly why I failed every single class). 

Good luck, and don’t be afraid to message me if you need anything :)

[rhea-studie]

🌸29/03/2018 | 11:23 AM🌸

Hi sweethearts! Well, here we have some Biochemistry notes, and yeah I do use lots of post its… 😅 Inside each post it, may be a drawing or example for the content of the notes itself, so I use like a “further explanation thingy”! 😊

🍥SONG: “Missing you” by MY FIRST STORY🍥

[rhea-studie]

Biology revision note🐥🌱

[rhea-studie]

when you’re stressed: 

this is temporary, this will pass.

i will not let stress overcome me.

i am living for the present, where i am calm and focused.

my stress will not be my downfall. 

when you’re about to hand up an assignment: 

i have no doubts in my ability to succeed. 

this represents my sound ability to learn, develop and succeed. 

i am intelligent and capable of successfully completing this assignment. 

when you need a little motivation:

i will accomplish all of my goals. 

i will stay attentive to all my work today. 

i am worthy of success.

i have an abundance of knowledge that must be used to my advantage. 

when you’re preparing for a test:

i am competent.

i am working to the absolute best of my ability.

i am a successful student.