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Of course this can be a very personal answer from different people as everyone is different. Below you will see some tips from previous students. Be sure to leave with your tip if you at least a 2nd year student. If your a first year student.. come back next year becuase you have survived yet!

Make sure you take things one day at a time. If you always try to look at the big picture your gonna hurt yourself and just be upset and impatient that your not there yet! I tried to never look more than 1-2 weeks ahead and it helped me keep some of my sanity.

Learn from your mistakes! You will not know everything and don't expect to know everything all the time. You will forget things and you will learn from your mistakes. Don't be a perfectionist becuase your only hurting yourself. You are here to learn and you have to learn how to take constructive criticism...it will only make you a better student and person in the long run. Remember if teachers expected us to know everything, then they wouldn't need thier jobs!

Make sure you become good friends with your classmates. Go out to eat lunch together, vent, comlain, etc. Remember your never alone and your classmates are there for you. Join SADHA and network with other members not only in your school but throughout the country. Members receive newsletters and Access and a Journal to keep up with the latest research. Network!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join the FUTURERDH email group and interact with other students in your email.

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Stay organized, make study goals" each week and stick to it. Take things day by day- when you feel like you're loosing it, your good friends will help pull us through!

You will have days that you just want to give up, and days that you think you really are not meant to be a hygienist. When you do start to feel that way, remind yourself why you decided to do this in the first place. You will mess up, NO ONE is perfect, but if you hang in there and really try and put forth your best, then you can do what ever you want to. Keep your priorities in order and don't forget to have fun. It really is a blast. Good Luck to everybody!
~ Kelly Milford. 2nd year student at Athens Tech in Athens, GA

Life is full of surprises, some good and some bad. It is easy to let experiences and situations bring you down, but don't get discouraged. Some times things do not go as we plan, and we think, "why me?" When you're having a moment, a day, or even a phase when you think, "why me? why now?" or if times get tough, just remember the quote below and recite it to yourself--I promise (from much experience of reciting it myself) your spirits will be lifted and your worries put at ease:

Nothing is Accidental
Nothing is Incidental
And no experience is wasted
(author anonymous)

~ Niki Nelson. Floyd College in Rome, - GA Graduated 2002

I think it is a good idea to keep dental hygiene board material handy so that you can study when you have spare time. I keep a book in my car in case I am somewhere that I have to wait. I also keep Saunders at my boyfriends so that if I am visiting I can use free time to review if he may be on the phone, etc. I also keep some dental deck cards in my purse. Every little bit helps!
~ Ceci Berrong Clayton State University

Words of Wisdom: The end is near and we thought we''d never get this far. So if you are doubting yourself and your abilities to take the boards then just remember that you have come so far in the last 2 to 3 years. And you will continue to just by believing in yourself. You will pass the boards and you will be an excellent hygienist. Good luck and God bless!!
~ Ann Keasler - Floyd College - Rome Georgia Graduation: May 2002

Words of Wisdom: Know that if you''ve made it this far, you will make it the rest of the way....just keep on studying!
~ Sandie Curren - Portland Community College Graduation: June 2002

Words of Wisdom: Attend Dental Hygiene Seminar National Board Review. Excellant course, caring presenters. Hard studying is rewarded with great breaks! Provides great snacks and no late classes therefore you are fresh with each course.
~ Anna Chaney

Study, have fun, study, make lots of friends, study, save some time for yourself :)
~ Jennifer Khatchaturian - Pasadena City College Graduation: may 2002

Words of Wisdom: Time does pass. I can''t believe we are almost done. When school is getting you down, just think, "In ten years, will this matter? " Of course it may take you ten years to forget all that stress!!!
~ Sherri Jimerson - Shoreline Community College Graduation: June 2002

Words of Wisdom: Don''t forget to breathe!
~ Helen Willis - New Hampshire Technical Institute Graduation: may 2002

Words of Wisdom: Study hard and don''t give up!
~ Laura Carson - Athens Tech Graduation: June 2002

Words of Wisdom: Keep important notes on flash cards and save them to study for boards!!!!
~ Angela Wilcox - Ferris State

One more time for the road, I know you''ve heard these words many times before, Anything and Everything is possible if you have a true desire for it Im a product of what hard work will get you.
~ Angela Windley - Hostos Community College ~ Graduation June 5th, 2002

Check out the ADA released examinations to get a feel for what the real exam will be like!
~ Sarah Ridgley - Madison Area Technical College ~ Graduation: 2003

Just keep looking straight ahead to your goal.
~ Sonia Dubord - Palm Beach Community College ~ Graduation: 2003

Attending a dental hygiene program is the hardest thing you will ever do in your life!! Stick with it even through all the bull****. Don''t fall behind in your studies and projects. Stay strong and bond with your fellow classmates. You are all in it together and with each others help you will make it.
~ Melanie Kennedy ~ Georgia Perimeter ~ Graduation: May 2003 !!!!!!!!

Don''t beat yourself up. Celebrate even the smallest triumphs.
~ Kathy Busch ~ Iowa Western Community College ~ Graduation: 5/03

Take a weekend off from studying each month and don''t even think about school.
~ Cathy Lopez ~ WCTC ~ Graduation: 2003

Dental Hygiene school is completely unlike your traditional college experience. Prepare for the next couple of years to be some of the busiest of your life.
~ Aimee Cherry ~ University of Arkansas-Fort Smith ~ Graduation: 2003

Your teachers are there to help you. Somedays you may feel like they just don't understand your frustrations. Remember that they've been there. In the long run, they're making you a better person and a better hygienist. Once you look back on everything you've completed and the patient's you've motivated, you can't help but feel an ENORMOUS sense of accomplishment.
~ Andrea - NWTC - 2004

Never forget where you came from and always remember your fellow classmates are the only ones who really understand where you have been and where you are headed.
~ April Garner Class of 2005

Just turned 2nd year! Whoohoo! My advice: Exercise! Get the heart rate up and get a good sweat going as much as possible. Relaxation (remember that?) and better sleep patterns will come much easier. Also, rent comedies.
~ Eva Watson- Class of 2005

Try to get along with your classmates. You will be a family for two whole years. This is a competitive program, However, there is no need to compete with your classmates. If you are the high achiever in your class and you notice someone lagging behind, Lend A Helping Hand! You would have then achieved something a lot greater!
~ Fera

Studying is very important, but you have to take breaks. I did worse when I tried to study it all in one night. You can only retain information 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Take a break in between! Stretch, excercise, play with you child, play with the dog. Move on to the next 30 minutes of study. It Works! An Don't study what you already know it's a waste of time.
~ Graduating May 2005

Be nice and helpful to everybody because you'll be with them for the next 2 years. All the instructors are there to help you, they all want you to pass no matter how they are acting towards you. I have felt as though i could not make it through the program many times and it is the friends that I have made that pulled me through and made me realize that I was just having a bad day.
~ Nancy - Class of 2009