About our Online Course

Learn our Better Grades in Less Time® study skills system at your own pace, online.

This course teaches you the six most important study skills in depth, and culminates in you designing your own custom study skills system by following the same SMITH RIVAS methods that work for students at top universities.

What we teach:

Motivation
Time Management
Reading
Notetaking
Tests
Papers
Motivation, Time Management, Reading, Notetaking, Tests, Papers

What to Expect

Learn How to Learn

First, you’ll learn the SMITH RIVAS study skills system. It works for everybody – even at fancy colleges – because it’s based on the science of learning.

Make the Most of School

Next, you’ll use your improved study skills, motivation, and energy to take advantage of everything that’s awesome about college and grad school.

Achieve Your Greatest Goals

Then, you’ll go on to be wildly successful because study skills are actually just life skills applied to the contrived gauntlet of school.

What’s Included

The topics and skills required for success.

Welcome Unit

This course is simple, you can do it, and we can help you

  • Study Skills Friend Agreement
(3 videos, 8 minutes)

Unit 1: Motivation

Why do you want better grades in less time?

  • Reasons to Work Hard
  • Difficult Classes that Went Well
  • Difficult Classes that Went Poorly
  • Four-Year Plan
(5 videos, 12 minutes)

Unit 2: Time Management

When’s the best time to do each thing you have to do?

  • How Long Stuff Takes
  • When to Do Schoolwork
  • Weekly Schedule
  • Quarter Calendar
  • Semester Calendar
  • To-Do List
(6 videos, 21 minutes)

Unit 3: Reading

How can you connect your reading to the class and your life?

  • Recent Reading Experience
  • Printing and Reading Everything
  • Practice Reading
(5 videos, 17 minutes)

Unit 4: Notetaking

Why don’t you take notes when you go to the movies?

  • How Much Class Costs per Hour
  • Questions and Comments for Class
  • Before, During, and After Class
  • Reviewing and Quizzing
(5 videos, 18 minutes)

Unit 5: Tests

How do you know if you really learned the material?

  • Predicting Test Content
  • Outline for Great Study Guides
  • Ideas for Great Study Guides
  • When to Make Study Guides
  • Practice Test Questions
(5 videos, 24 minutes)

Unit 6: Papers

How do great study skills help your writing process?

  • Recent Writing Experience
  • Plan for Great Papers
  • Crafting Great Thesis Statements
  • Where to Get Help with Writing
  • How to Get Better at Writing
(7 videos, 31 minutes)

Unit 7: Custom Study Skills System

How will you make your study skills work for you?

  • Custom Study Skills System
  • Resources
  • Study Skills Ambassador Program
  • Notes
(4 videos, 9 minutes)

Our Impact

Our clients frequently include students with ADHD and LD, kids whose grades don’t reflect how cool they are, students passionate about performing arts, serious athletes, and the smartest STEM students in the country.

Dante Valencia, National Merit Scholar from TJHSST

“The lessons were clear and left no ambiguity, and the course helped me make a complete plan to improve my grades.”

Dante Valencia

National Merit Scholar from TJHSST

Nora Sweeney, Seton HS valedictorian

“In high school, I was in a bunch of clubs as well as on a varsity sports team and didn’t get home until 7pm most nights. Having time management skills and learning how to block out my time really helped me keep everything organized.”

Nora Sweeney

Seton HS valedictorian

Raphe Ayres, NCAA D-1 basketball player

“Study skills helped me develop my ability to efficiently complete my school work, while also allowing me to focus on training for basketball. I became more organized in my completion of work, simplifying the process and avoiding procrastination.”

Raphe Ayres

NCAA D-1 basketball player

Alan Williams, NBA Veteran

“SMITH RIVAS taught me the study skills and time management I needed to take my college academics to the next level, allowing me to devote maximum time and energy to becoming a professional basketball player.”

Alan Williams

NBA Veteran

Peter Maris, Infielder, San Francisco Giants Organization

“SMITH RIVAS made it possible for me to be academically successful in college and focus on my dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player.”

Peter Maris

Infielder, San Francisco Giants Organization

an Asian college student with a backpack and notebook smiles on a college campus

The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll earn better grades in less time.