The Academic Skills and Assessment Program (ASAP) is designed to help students improve their academic performance by addressing a number of concerns that can interfere with effective learning. ASAP targets a wide range of issues including:
- Time management
- Learning and Memory
- Test anxiety
- Reading effectiveness
- Effective exam preparation
- General study skills
Beyond the Grind: Redefining the College Experience
Beyond the Grind is a three-session virtual workshop series that uses psychological science to help you understand why you get stuck and build skills to move through it. This is not a study tips workshop. Each session blends evidence-based behavioral psychology with practical tools for academic life, targeting the patterns of avoidance, distraction, and pressure that interfere with follow-through. Sessions can be attended in any order and may be repeated based on interest.
Session 1: The Psychology of Getting Unstuck From Procrastination
Why do you avoid the things you intend to do? This session explores procrastination as an emotional regulation problem, introduces the Choice Point (a tool for noticing your patterns and choosing differently), and reframes planning as behavioral design rather than willpower.
April 6 and 13th – 2:00-3:00 PM
Session 2: Building Attention: How Your Brain Learns, Focuses, and Forgets
Your attention is finite, under constant competition, and directly shaped by your habits. This session covers the psychology of distraction, evidence-based learning strategies that match how memory actually works, and mindfulness as a skill for training focus and redirecting when you drift.
April 20th – 2:00-3:00 PM
Session 3: Beyond Imposter Syndrome: Values, Competence, and What Drives You
Feeling lost doesn't always mean you don't belong. This session reframes imposter syndrome through the lens of skill acquisition, introduces values as an internal compass for sustainable motivation, and helps you build a concrete action plan anchored to what actually matters to you.
April 27th– 2:00-3:00 PM
To register for a workshop, please fill out this registration form
Academic Skills Assessment Program Resources and Appointments
The staff at UChicago Student Wellness have developed and compiled a number of self-help resources relevant for academic success in a university setting. Please note that the links provided are intended as an educational aid to further your understanding of topics that can impact academic performance but should not be viewed as a substitute for assistance from a qualified mental health professional.
Time Management
- Hints for Becoming a Successful Student
- Overcoming Procrastination
- Quarter Review
- Task Priority List
- Hitting the Ground Running
- 25 Tips for Time Management
- Weekly Overview
Memory and Concentration
Reading
Study Skills
Exam Preparation
Recorded ASAP Workshops
- Mastering the Art of Time Management (42 minutes)
- Effective Strategies for Successful Studying (50 minutes)
Improving Academic Performance
- Interactive Online Workshops on Academic Skills- University of Minnesota
- Test Anxiety (video, 37 mins) – Utah State University
- Math Anxiety (video, 50 mins) – Utah State University
- Perfectionism (video, 53 mins) – Utah State University
- Practical Tips for Increasing Productivity (video) – AsapSCIENCE
- Smart Goal Setting (video) - UNCCH Learning Center
- Procrastination (video) – UNCCH Learning Center
- Tips to Improve Memory (video) – UNCCH Learning Center
- How to Use the Cornell Notetaking Method (video, 4 minutes) – Cornell University
- Developing a Productivity System for Beginners (video, 5 minutes) – The Art of Improvement
- A Complete Guide to Goal Setting (video, 6 minutes) – The Art of Improvement
- 7 Strategies for Supercharging Productivity (video, 6 minutes) – The Art of Improvement
- How to Schedule Your Day for Optimal Productivity (video, 4 minutes) – The Art of Improvement
- The Key to Test-Taking (video, 4 minutes) – Cornell University
- How to Read Effectively (video, 7 minutes) – Cornell University
- How to Take Good Notes (video, 5 minutes) – Cornell University
Dealing with Stress
- How to Make Stress Your Friend (video) – Kelly McGonigal, PhD
- How to Reduce, Prevent, and Cope with Stress – Helpguide.org
- Stress Management Tips for College – Snappywords.com
- The Power of Self-Compassion (video) – Selfcompassion.org
Mindfulness and Relaxation
- Free Mindfulness Meditations – UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center
- ACT Exercises for Mindfulness & Acceptance – Portland Psychotherapy Clinic
- Relaxation Exercises – MindBody Lab at the University of Texas at Austin
- Self-compassion Exercises (audio) – Selfcompassion.org
Some students may benefit from one-on-one appointments to identify specific strategies they can use to meet their academic goals. During the initial individual appointment, you will have an opportunity to discuss your concerns with an ASAP counselor and determine personalized strategies.
To get started, make an ASAP initial appointment by contacting Dr. Tab Shamsi at tshamsi@uchicago.edu.
We can also provide presentations and workshops related to academic performance on topics such as: procrastination, stress management, effective study strategies, and time management. While we will make every effort to meet requests for programming, please note that our resources may be limited during certain periods during the academic year. To ensure that we are able to accommodate your request, please allow at least three to four weeks’ notice so that we can adequately make arrangements for your event.
To request a workshop or presentation, please review the workshop menu to see what we have offered previously and fill out the request form below. A UChicago Student Wellness staff member will review the details and be in contact with the interested party to discuss further.