Franco
What are the best study tips for the college experience?
I will be a freshman in college in about 5 months and I am kind of worried about how to make sure I do good in those classes. I'll be majoring in Neuroscience, any tips on studying and/or the overall experience? #studying-tips #college-advice #college
5 answers
Rachel Weinheimer
Rachel’s Answer
Melanie Deguzman
Melanie’s Answer
I have four tips for you and they fall along the lines of time management, test-taking, essay writing and group assignments.
1) Time management: In college, it is extremely important to be aware of assignment and test due dates. Many teachers will load you with assignments and the more one procrastinates, the more work that piles up. Because of this, creating your own schedule is vital. Start by looking at everything you have due in the week. Look at the due dates and assess what assignments are due the soonest and which will take the longest. For example, let's say you have a paper due Thursday, a project due Tuesday, a discussion board post due on Wednesday, and a test on Friday. Imagine none of these assignments are started (don't do that in college!). First, you would complete the essay since it is due first. Next, it looks like the project and discussion board post are due. An easy way to make projects seem less daunting is to split it into parts and divide the work between a few days. Discussion posts are usually simper, so do that in one sitting. With the test, split the review into a few days and schedule out times to stay that work with your class schedule. Apps like Calendar and Planner are helpful for this and will allow you to be aware of assignments before they are due.
2) Test-Taking: Tests vary from teacher to teacher. Some do all multiple choice, all essay, or a mix of both; however, regardless of the format, you can study in similar ways for all of them. Here's a fun fact that many don't know: environment can affect your success on a test. You may be wondering, how?! Well, if you study in an environment that is similar to the class where you learn the information in, information will be retained better. So one tip for everyone is to recreate an environment like your classroom. If it is quiet and spacious, then rent a study room in the library for an hour and study there. If it is mostly quiet with some noise, recreate that. Trust me, I do this now and it works exceptionally well. Secondly, do not MEMORIZE. As easy and natural as it is, you will retain less information. Instead, create links between the material you learn and what you already know, so when you need access to the material, you can pull it right out. Recall is easier when you have links. After you have reviewed your material, take the test part by part and pay attention to the questions. Not only can you read over parts of a question easily, but more often than not, teachers will relate (or even repeat) questions on the test. Noticing these things can bring from a D to a C or an B to an A. Lastly, this is the hardest part, do not STRESS. Stress can inflict self-doubt and can affect your performance. Instead, calmly think though your answers and assess each choice you make.
3) Essay Writing: Now let's face, the one-hour, 30 minute or whatever time-length essay... It can seem scary to have a short period of time to write a good paper, but really, it is not as difficult as you think. Just like everything else, it really involves time management and planning. First, plan out your hook and thesis. For example, your topic is on why schools should get more funding for arts programs. Hooks can be anything that relates to the topic that catches the readers attention, Next, what are your reasons? Coming up with three will give you a simple framework (i.e. it is important for children to have the ability to express themselves, it influences creative thinking, and it decreases cortisol levels which cause stress). After you have your three reasons, state the first part of your topic (i.e. schools should get more funding for arts programs because) and add your reasons. This makes up an introduction. Transitioning between paragraphs is a difficult part. This is where conciseness and content can get lost. A simple, flawless way is to link the first point in the last sentence your thesis to the first sentence in the 1st body paragraph. Doing the same between all the body paragraphs and the conclusion will help eliminate choppy flow. When elaborating on your points, make sure to use references if needed and do so in as few words as possible. Now, the conclusion... Imagine, you are talking to your teacher and summarizing what you thought she did well in the class for extra credit; however, you have a class in five minutes, so you have no time to ramble. Write you conclusion like that. Straight to the point while stating all the important information from your thesis statement and paper. This process can be done in 15/30 minutes or an hour.
4) Group assignments: You got to class and the professor says, "Find a group of 3-4, today we are starting a group project." Dread sweeps over, "Oh no," you think, "I am doomed to fail." Many people have a fear of working in group, trust me, I was one of them; however, after I started implementing these processes, it became less daunting. First, get to know your teammates. This may seem unimportant, but making everyone feel valued while create a better team. Next, assign roles for what each person does and communicate due dates for parts of the assignment. You make think it is controlling, but it prevents people from leeching off of other's work. Then, set up dates to meet together (whether online or in-person) and discuss what is and isn't going well. This way no one will feel alone. Lastly, and most importantly, COMMUNICATE. Communication is the key to a strong group and a good grade. If you communicate with your team members and help them when they struggle, work will be completed by the due date and if someone is not doing there part, they cannot claim "They didn't tell me about 'xyz'."
Hopefully, this is helpful to you!
Ann Andrews
Ann’s Answer
Your classes - preparing ahead for what will be taught in class and revising on a DAILY basis should be your highest priority. Socializing, parties and time consuming relationships should only come after your preparation is complete.
Have a set amount of quality time you will spend on your class prep every day and stick to it as if your life depends on it.
Draw your sense of security from being the class topper. Respect and recognition from your teachers and fellow students will follow and give you a solid foundation of self esteem.
Jacob Schwarber, CPA
Jacob’s Answer
Hi, Franco,
I studied accounting and finance in college but I think the basic framework I'll lay out here is probably applicable across different disciplines.
Ann makes a great point about preparing for each class. Doing so is definitely going to set you up for success.
Generally speaking, I was a big note taker or highlighter (depending on how long much reading I had to do) and that was my first level of studying. I also worked hard to grasp how to correctly answer any homework/quiz/test problems before moving on to new material. If I needed to, I would ask my teachers/professors questions before or after class or during their office hours.
When it came time for big exams, my first step was always to review my notes. After that, I would rework homework problems/practice quizzes/prior tests and follow up with my teacher/professor about any questions I had. I had to work really hard to master subject matter prior to a test - I was definitely not able to just read the book and take the test. Whatever college you attend will have resources for you to help prepare you for tests and examinations. I highly encourage you to reach out to your professor, your peers, or tutors if you find you are struggling with any of the course material.
Managing distractions is also a challenge for students and professionals alike. Email, social media, and our cell phones make focusing extremely challenging. The most basic way to manage distractions is to get into a good routine. Your mind and body operate best when you get about the same amount of rest each night and structure each day similarly. There are also techniques out there to help you focus while you are studying. One that I like is called the Pomodoro Technique. It's effective for a wide variety of tasks but works well for studying/reading/doing homework. Get yourself set up to start working on whatever task you need to complete. Set a timer for 25 minutes and then focus on only that task until the timer goes off. I like this technique because it forces you to focus while also naturally breaking down whatever you're working on into smaller, more manageable chunks. It also naturally builds breaks into your study routine, which will help keep your mind fresh.
I am including some other links to helpful focus tools in the next steps section. I hope this answer helps. Good luck!
Jacob recommends the following next steps:
Richard A.
Richard’s Answer
Go to class. Plan to spend 2-3 hours studying for every hour of lecture. Attend your professor's office hours and any TA review sessions. If there is a test bank, use that as a study tool to understand what your professor wants you to focus on for the test.