Top Ten Studying Tips
Any college graduate will tell you that the basis of a successful education starts with studying. It is really the only way to make sure that you get the grades that you need and deserve. The problem is that most people don’t know how to study correctly or the best ways to go about studying. By simply learning the basics of studying, you’ll have a foolproof way to make sure that you pass every class.
All students are different when it comes to learning styles, but these Top Ten Tips listed below can and should be used by everybody looking for that straight ‘A’ semester.
1) Location, Location, Location
It really is all about location and this can’t be stressed enough. Sure, sitting in your dorm room may seem like a convenient and easy place to open your books, but it can prove to be a not-so-great place to learn. You have to make sure you are in a quiet, clean environment that allows your mind to be completely clear and focused.
2) Don’t Turn Into a Vampire
The daytime is the best time for studying. It has always been said that one hour of studying during the day is equal to two hours of studying at night. There will be times where your schedule may not allow for this, but at least make sure you get the reading you need to do out of the way during the day.
3) Stop Cramming
Cramming for a big test the night before it happens is more of a problem than a solution – even if there is an awesome party the night before the big exam. Lack of sleep combined with a night filled of caffeine will inhibit your test taking abilities rather than enhance them.
4) Your Professor is Your Friend
They may not be your friend in the literal sense, but should be when it comes to studying. Professors look fondly upon students who give a little extra by asking about class lectures and studying. They want to know students are interested and may even offer you practice test questions to help you.
5) Get Your Notes Right
One of the best studying tools you can have is notes from your lectures, but that’s only true if you can actually read your notes. Abbreviations and jotted facts can drive you nuts when you don’t know what they mean. Try retyping them right after class or bringing a tape recorder to class to make sure you are getting all the important information.
6) Give Yourself a Break
Believe it or not, the only thing that’s more important than making time to study is making time to take a break. By studying for 30 to 60 minutes with a 5 to 10 minute break in between, your brain will be able to retain more information better.
7) Prioritize
Some classes that you take will be more challenging than others. The more challenging the class, the more time you should spend on it. This is also the class that you should focus on during your peak daytime study hours.
8) Get a Little Help from your Peers
You may find that you enjoy studying with a group or you may learn that you prefer to do this on your own. Either way, recruiting a friend to quiz you on the studying you did is an effective way to make sure you have the information right. You should quiz yourself on material, but using a friend will stop you from just looking up the answer right away in the book.
9) Get Some Sleep
All too often, students turn to pots of coffee and anti-drowsy medications to keep themselves up all night in college. While you may get what you need done, your brain may not remember any or all of it. The proper amount of sleep can make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting the best grades.
10) Highlight in Color
Here’s an analogy for you. A pack of highlighters to a college student is like a sword to a knight. Highlighting not only will bring you directly to text that is important, but it will also help you sort out note relevance. By using a color coded highlighting system of your own, you can keep track of the facts and information that are most important to each class.
That’s really all there is to it. Now that you know some general rules and tricks of the trade, studying shouldn’t be any problem at all!