Learning how to study in college is very important. And with a few tips, it won’t be that difficult or time consuming to succeed.
The key tip is using your time efficiently.
You don’t need to have “all-night” study sessions. Actually these are counter productive. You’re busy in college, so make every hour you study a productive hour.
What should you study? You need to attend all your classes and take good notes. This should help your prioritize which materials, readings, or assignments to review. You should also be aware of the type of class and test you are preparing for. Is it an in-class essay, multiple choice, problem solving, or some other kind of exam? Is the class political science, psychology, math, or science? For social science classes, like political science, the key is to study the major concepts. For math and science classes, you need to understand the formulas and the concepts. By focusing on what you need to know along general themes, compared to memorizing every detail, you are more likely to recall what you need during exams.
How do you study?
First, schedule time everyday to study. You want to study in small increments of no longer than 90 minutes at a time. I find it most effective to spread these short, intense study periods over a few days. Thus, plan to study at least four to five days in advance of major exams.
When you read the assigned readings, highlight the important concepts. When it is time to study, review your class notes and the highlights from your readings. The key again is to understand the broad concepts and ideas.
I don’t recommend studying in groups except where you are having difficulty understanding the concepts.
If you understand the concepts of the class and you just need to review and memorize them, study groups can be more of a distraction than help. I have learned from my experiences that when students from the same class get together, they tend to complain more about the professor, the assignment, or their classmates than do actual studying. If you don’t understand the concepts for the class, a study group may help you.
However, I would recommend talking with the professor about your questions or getting some assistance from someone who has already taken the class over a study group.
When should you study? The best time to study is during the day. I know that we have most of our free time in the evenings, but we do not comprehend and absorb material in the evenings as well as during the day. Try to schedule an hour or two during the day to study. This can be in between classes, first thing in the morning, or before dinner.
Schedule your studying (and all your class assignments) to complete some each day. If you spread your studying over a week before a big exam, reviewing materials each day, you will have better retention than trying to cram everything in the night before. This will also give you a chance to review material that seems more difficult or identify questions to bring to the professor before the exam.
Where do you study? I highly recommend studying in a quiet area. Some folks tell me they study better with the television on or listening to their I-Pod. I disagree! It is very easy for your mind to wander. Having some background entertainment can easily pull you away from reading or studying your notes.
Avoid studying in your dorm or bedroom; specifically stay out of bed when studying. Find a quiet space in the library, campus center, or other place on campus free of distractions. You can also try finding quiet space in the local public library. You can concentrate more in the library as you can focus and not be distracted by your surroundings.
Studying is a habit like everything else we do every day. It all comes down to how much you want it.
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