Study Skills
It all Starts in the Classroom
- Go to class - BE PRESENT in class, not just physically, but mentally commit yourself to the 50 minutes of your time (and money). Being truly present during class and keeping engaged with the material helps cement it into your memory!
- Choose your seat - The best seat in the class is the front and center. It will keep you more involved.
- Read effectively - Ask yourself questions as you read – it will help you integrate the material as you go. Underline and outline as well.
- Take good notes - Use a style of note taking that you can decipher after the class is over.
- Learn your teacher’s style - It may not be the same as yours, but try to discover what they are looking for in their tests.
- Talk to your professor - Use your professor’s office hours. The value of your high cost of tuition is supposed to be personal attention from your professors. Talk to them, ask questions and build relationships.
- Keep your learning curve high - Just 15 minutes of reviewing your notes after class will help translate that into long term memory and will save you time for re-learning down the road.
Get Some Order in Your Life
- Get organized - An organized desk, room, and planner will make your life much easier
- Use a planner - Learn to use a planner. Schedule classes, study times, work, organizations, and even free time in your planner. Don’t carry it all around in your head.
- Make a list - Write down what needs to be done for the day, for tomorrow, for the week, and for the month. It will give you a clear picture of exactly what lies before you.
- Prioritize - List everything you have to do. Categorize them with 1) panic- what had to be done yesterday; 2) urgent – I need to do this before tomorrow; and 3) whew – this can wait for a few days. Take care of the most important right away.
- Focus - Complete one task at a time. Concentrating on too many things at once can spread your time and your life too thin,
When it comes to Studying
- Avoid procrastination - If you are procrastinating, stop and ask yourself why. What are you trying to avoid? Failure? Actually working to your potential? Learn that procrastination is your enemy – defeat it.
- Find a good study location - If there are too many distractions in your study location, find a new one.
- Avoid Cramming - Do your work all semester long and you won’t have to cram at the last minute.
- Study with a group - Studying with other people helps you learn from other perspectives.
- Use old exams - Get copies of old exams to discover how the professor asks their questions
- Use relaxation techniques - The best remedy for text anxiety is to take some deep breaths, imagine you in a very peaceful setting and then settle down to take the exam.
- Study, study, study - Do a little here and there – don’t wait until you are in the mood or you have a big chunk of time – it won’t happen.
- Don’t change answers on the test - Chances are likely that your first response is the correct one.
Treat Yourself Right
- Sleep - For every hour of sleep that you are deprived, you reduce your cognitive function. The best investment you can make in being successful is getting adequate sleep.
- Get good nutrition - The body and the brain are like machines – the need fuel to operate. Nutritious meals are critical for good performance.
- Eat breakfast - During the night, your neurotransmitters are firing at irregular intervals. If you don’t eat breakfast, it takes about 2 hours to get them firing regularly. Breakfast makes it happen right away.
- Exercise regularly - Regular exercise is a great investment in studying. It burns stress, keeps you healthy and gives your mind a good break.
- Avoid chemical substances - Dependence on any substance (caffeine, tobacco, drugs, alcohol) will only impede your academics. The consequences of alcohol are that it impedes memory for up to 72 hours following the drinking episode.
- Practice Stress Management Techniques - Stress can wear you down. Learn what works for you – a walk, listening to music, deep breathing, laughing, exercising – anyone of those things can relax and energize you.
- Break down tasks - Take a large task that seems overwhelming and break it down into a smaller, more manageable unit. Completing these smaller items will make it easier to obtain your overall goal.
- Shoot for balance - Too much studying and too much partying are both signs that you are off balance. Learn to spend the time studying and then allow yourself some playtime.
You’re in College, after all...
- Get involved - If you are involved on campus, you will be more invested in your experience here.
- Schedule downtime - Plan a time each day where you can just relax – take a walk, watch TV for a half-hour, or just hang out. It brings balance to your life and refreshes you.
- Use campus resources - The writing lab, tutors, teaching assistants, and The Study are wonderful resources to use.
Questions? Kate Linden, Assistant Director for Academic Initiatives in the Center for Student Success & Retention in Harper Center 4066 can be reached at 402-280-5552.