Study Habits

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I just completed my freshman year of college at a state university with a 2.8 GPA. </p>

<p>I started out pre-med, taking Chemistry I, Calc I, Biology, Biology lab, and Sociology. On the first week of school, I suffered a major injury that really threw me off balance. I finished the semester with a 2.3 GPA, which I was very upset about, but contributed it largely to my medical problems.</p>

<p>Knowing I needed to boost my GPA, I took a break from science and took generally easy courses this semester. However, all of my grades have just come in, and while they're better by far from last semester, they're still no where near as high as they should be. I'm starting to realize that the problem this entire time has not been the classes I've been taking or my medical problems, but my study habits.</p>

<p>I went to a high school that allowed me to study the night before a test and come out with an A. Obviously, that doesn't fly in college, and I learned that early on. The real problem is that, unless it's cramming, I don't really know how to study at all. </p>

<p>I know how to work hard, and I've seen myself work hard for a goal and reach it in areas other than academics. I have enough drive right now to do well next semester, I just don't know where to begin. </p>

<p>What are some study habits I should establish with myself? I'd like to have a strict guideline to follow every day that can set a routine for me. The problem isn't so much studying for a test or a quiz in particular, it's more a matter of continuously looking over the material so that I'm not stuck cramming the night before. If you've been successful with your classes (as a result of working hard, not being naturally gifted), what are some of the habits you formed to ensure your success? Even little things, such as waking up early, or isolating yourself. I want to mimic the behaviors of those who have had success in this area.</p>

<p>Thanks you! All feedback is appreciated. Just please nothing negative; I'm really trying my hardest here. I wasn't out partying all year, I actually studied on a very regular basis. The problem is that I don't really know how to study well, so I never saw any results. </p>

2

<p>You’re not alone with this problem, but it’s great that you’re taking action. Read some of Cal Newport’s books or blog on study skills for college students. </p>

3

<p>I cram too, but my classes (usually) aren’t so intensive.
Here’s what a friend of mine does:
Divide up your readings and take notes/make outlines as you read. Have a review day each week of your notes/outlines and see your professor weekly to just discuss the material.
Three days before an exam begin preparation. Divide up the material so you can go over the majority of it in the first two days and make the third day a final review day of the most complicated material/newest material.
I hope that helps.
I just know if you’re able to discuss/teach someone something you learn you retain the information so much better.</p>

4

<p>There are some great ideas in this thread, here are some more, none of them my own. Let me start with this, your willingness to recognize what isn’t working is your greatest advantage.</p>

<p>First, organization and time management. Keep a central calendar. Write in all assignments, and test and quiz dates, from all classes…If you have down time work ahead. Include at least one weeks review time before all major tests.
Use your down time, between classes or on the bus, waiting for a friend one more review may bring you from a b+ to an A</p>

<p>INTERLEAVE YOUR WORK do not spend all day on Chem maybe 2-15 minute chem sessions then move on to something else.come back later if needed. Blocked practice (where you do problems over and over) makes you feel like you have mastered the concept but 2 hours later you may forget important steps. Spreading that practice over days and weeks offers the best chance for success.</p>

<p>more repetitions less time per session space them out</p>

<p>You will retain much more if you study your lecture and book notes many times, so review as soon as possible after class. Summarize what you learned and make note of anything you don’t understand so you can ask the prof. The next day review the notes and make flash cards of important facts and concepts. Review notes again before the next class and again over the weekend 4-6 short reviews of notes will help cement the information in long term memory using “the spacing effect”</p>

<p>Test yourself from your note cards, and be honest. If you know the exact answer 3 times you are good however if it’s on “the tip of your tongue” you have to keep going over it. Remove the ones you master and prioritize the challenging ones 15 minutes per session is plenty. Keep the note cards and notes for random review before the final. </p>

<p>Here is a secret: even when you DON’T remember an answer you are learning. Memory retrieval failures actually improve long term retention. Identifying what you don’t know is key.</p>

<p>What can often be a problem is overconfidence. Thinking you know it when you don’t or thinking it will be easier to learn than it actually is. Keep that in mind and allow a little wiggle room in your schedule.</p>

<p>The prior poster was so right, if you can explain a concept then you clearly understand it. Practice that strategy in group study</p>

<p>Use tests when they are returned as tools. Think about how and what you studied and how much. Think about which study methods worked or didn’t on a given test. How could you do better? Write a note of advice to yourself after the test review. "Dear me, I need to practice more ??? for the next test. questions were similar to (the book review questions / questions on the power points, mostly from lecture notes) Write down areas you need to review. If you are unhappy with your performance go to office hours ask advice from the professor. </p>

<p>Hope some of that helps.</p>

5

<p>One additional thought, learning is a skill, a skill anyone can improve. </p>

<p>Expert learners think about the way they think and learn, they really know the difference between what they know and what they don’t (they have Meta-Cognitive awareness) and they are willing to try different approaches to build their learning muscle. Granted it is easier for some people than others, but anyone willing to work at it can become a better perhaps even expert learner.Figure out what works for you.</p>

6

<p>Here’s a little what I do to study:</p>

<p>1.) Form study groups with smarter people in your course. You don’t necessarily have to be friends with these people, but approach them and ask if they have a study group that you just don’t know about. And if not, be a leader in your classroom and start one yourself. Every time you meet, whether it be twice a week or every night, ask people to come with specific questions or problems pertaining to lecture material or homework, that way there’s more than one or two people putting in feedback and ultimately that material could be the one thing that you’re missing that could be crucial for the test. </p>

<p>2.) If you’re not feeling a study group, space out your studying. Don’t study every night for a week before a major test. Instead, study on the odd nights two weeks before a major test. For example, if your test is 12 days away, study on the 11th day, 9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd, and night before; this is repetition as well as spread out, allowing you to hang out with friends or study for other classes.</p>

<p>3.) Make sure you’re organized. When given your syllabus at the beginning of the semester, mark on a calendar tentative homework, quiz, and test dates so you know what to expect and can go ahead and start your study group or odd-day studying. If your professor doesn’t give at least tentative exam dates on his/her syllabus, approach him or her and ask when they are, it will only benefit you in the long run. </p>

<p>4.) And last but not least if the first three do not work, go to your professor during their office hours and have a one-on-one session. </p>

<p>I hope this helped :slight_smile: </p>

7

<p>1.) Keep yourself organized and prepared: I would highly recommend getting a calender or agenda in order to note any exams, quizzes, assignments, and meetings that you will have through out the semester so nothing comes up as a surprise. Keep everything tidy so you will be able to find it and bring a note card with you that has a list of the items you would like to accomplish by the end of the day. This note card Idea has really helped to keep me focused on my goals and prioritize activities</p>

<p>2.) Study Early: This was an important lesson that I have learned while in College. Cramming before an exam in college is not the same as high school, mostly because there is simply more material you have to remember for college exams. If possible try studying for an exam a week in advance even if it is only for a few hours a day. This will help keep the information fresh in your mind and it will be easier to retain as you get closer to your examination.Exams in college primarily make up the bulk for your final course grade so it is important to do well.</p>

<p>3.) Notecards: Personally, I never used notecards as a studying tool back in high school, however, they have become my close friend during college. I have learned that the act of simply writing down information while I was creating notecards was another way to reinforce the information. Notecards help you learn a massive amount of information but you will have to be patient and sit down for a while to study them.</p>

<p>4.) Take Breaks: This is something that I personally have struggled with. You need to learn that it is ok to take a break from studying to help refresh yourself. Leave the library and go for a walk or watch an episode of your favorite TV show. Hardcore studying can easily wear out your mind and at that point it will feel like you aren’t absorbing anything else.</p>

<p>5.) Lastly believe in yourself: Don’t put yourself down for your failures, just make sure you learn from them and improve. In college, it is easy to feel like you are a small fish in a large pond and that no one else is looking out for yourself. Just keep working hard and staying motivated because it will only help you get closer to your end goals.</p>