Hey, it’s Rahul & Lani.

Welcome to Sunday Setups. This is about systems, not motivation. Not generic study advice. These are the decisions that determine whether your semester stays under control or slowly falls apart.

Every Sunday, we break down how to:

At the end of each post, we’ll also drop a few job opportunities. Quick wins you can apply for in minutes. For deeper career breakdowns, that’s what Thursday editions are for.

If you’re working hard but your grades aren’t moving, this series is for you.

Let’s get into it.

LinkedIn: Lani Aremu, Rahul Lakdawala

First year, first semester, I did exactly what everyone tells engineering students to do. I read the textbook, tried to deeply understand the theory, and spent entire days rereading notes.

My GPA didn’t move.

Going into second year, I assumed the problem was effort. So I studied longer. More notes. More reading. The result didn’t change. What I didn’t realize at the time was simple: I wasn’t studying the wrong things. I was studying in the wrong order.

In my math classes, I was consistently doing better. Not because math was easier, but because the structure forced a different approach.

There were weekly problem sets, constant assignments, and immediate feedback. The classes where I prioritized assignments were the classes where I actually learned how to use the theory.

Not "this makes sense while I’m reading it" learning. Real "I can take the theory I learned in class and apply it under pressure" learning. That difference is everything in engineering.

Most engineering students treat every task as equally important. That’s the mistake. Engineering school isn’t about dropping theory. It’s about learning how apply the theory you’ve learnt in assignments, exams, and real word problems.

Here’s the hierarchy that finally worked:

1. Assignments (The Simulation) Assignments aren’t homework. They’re exam training. They force real problem solving and expose gaps early. When assignments slip, everything else follows.

2. Past exams (The Blueprint) Past exams show how professors expect theory to be applied. They’re not cheating; they’re the syllabus in disguise. My system was simple:

3. Lecture notes (The Context) Lectures explain the theory. Assignments tell you what matters. Don’t write everything. Write what shows up in problems.

4. Textbook reading (The Library) Textbooks aren’t useless. They’re just low leverage on their own. They work best after you’ve struggled with a problem. Use textbooks to clarify theory once you’ve hit friction, not as a substitute for application.

Most students invert this hierarchy. They start with reading and notes, push assignments to the end, and then wonder why exams feel impossible.

High GPA students don’t work more hours. They work in a different order.

Same effort. Different strategy. Use this Sunday to reset. Plan your week with a clearer strategy instead of more stress.

See you soon,

— The BeaverPrints Team