5 Tips for Developing Effective Study Habits in College
By Sara Laiti
Are you a college student and worried about your academic standing? Do you feel like the course material for one or more of your classes is too rigorous? Have you ever felt as if you’re constantly studying but can never seem to make the grades you want?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re not alone, and we’re here to help.
College level coursework differs greatly from high school–yes, even those AP classes you were positive would fully prepare you for the college workload. Truth be told, unless you’ve already taken classes at a college or university, there’s no way you can be 100% sure of what to expect and know how to achieve that 4.0 GPA you so desire.
These five tips will not only aid in your newfound academic success but will keep you organized and ease your stress as you prepare for testing day.
- Don’t postpone studying for an exam until the night before.
You’ve most likely heard this a plethora of times before; holding off studying for a test the night before can be detrimental to your grade, especially considering exams count for the majority of your overall course grade. If you’ve already made it a habit to only study for exams the night before, it won’t be easy to break the mindset that cramming is the only effective way to prepare for a quiz or exam. Even still, you can do it! Write down all of your exams in a planner, and plan to begin studying for each one a week before. Then, designate 1-3 hours each day to studying. You’ll be less stressed since you’ll have more time to better understand the material, which will ultimately result in more efficient studying and more time and space for your mind to retain the information.
- Make flashcards your new best friend.
This may seem old-school, but writing down material and then taking time to memorize each term is extremely beneficial. There are numerous studies proving that writing down information aids in better understanding and memorization, so once you’ve created your flashcards and are ready to start using them, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ve already learned just by writing down the information.
“The only way I’ve succeeded on exams is when I’ve used flashcards to study” said Leila Fleischman, a Junior at Virginia Commonwealth University. “Writing everything down and cold-hard memorizing has always done the trick for me.”
- Spend more time studying alone than in groups.
Although group studying helps gather new insight on material and makes studying more enjoyable, it’s important that you designate some time to studying alone. Turn your phone off and sit in a quiet area if need be; having alone time to study helps you stay focused and repel distractions.
“I’ve noticed that I study most efficiently when I’m alone,” reinforces Fleischman. Between jokes, restlessness, and side conversations, much of the information covered in group study sessions gets lost or easily forgotten.
While not all of your studying has to be alone in order for you to succeed, consider incorporating at least a little bit of secluded study time into your day.
- Take healthy study breaks.
Give your brain some time to absorb the information you just reviewed. After every hour or so, allow yourself 15-30 minutes of free time. Go for a walk, listen to music, talk to a friend, eat a healthy meal, or even watch an episode of whatever show you’re currently binge-watching. Whatever you do, give yourself some time to relax and refresh before you return to studying. If you attempt to take in too much information at once, your brain will have a difficult time keeping the material organized, resulting in poor understanding and memorization.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
If there’s something you don’t understand, get help! There are plenty of resources available to students to help you do your best. If your professor holds office hours, go to them. There’s no one who understands the material better than the person teaching it, so pick their brain to gain a better understanding. They’ll probably even tell you what they’ll be expecting you to write on the test if it’s essay-based, or give you hints on what will be on the test if it’s multiple choice. Professors always appreciate students who go the extra mile to perform well on their exams, so use this helpful resource to excel. If your professor isn’t available outside class hours, make a friend in the class who seems to have a good understanding of the material. There are also plenty of student-tutors who help free of charge.
If you haven’t done as well academically as you wished you could, don’t give up! It can be frustrating to perform poorly on an exam or essay when you’ve put a lot of effort into it; however, it is possible to succeed with study habit adjustments. By following these five tips in preparation for your next exam, you’ll be sure to make yourself–and your professors–extremely proud.
