Finding Your Study Stride

Practice makes perfect – or so the old saying goes.  Even the most studious kids in your high school class may find studying difficult in college. Without the strict class schedules, mandatory study periods or a parent’s watchful eye, it can be tricky striking your own balance between studying, campus activities and social outings with friends. But, luckily, succeeding in the college classroom doesn’t have to be a mystery.  By using a few key study tips, the transition from the high school classroom to the college lecture hall can be easier than you think.

Develop a study schedule

Kick your semester off right by creating a short- and long-term study schedule.  A plan such as this can help you stay on task with your class work, ensuring you have time for both studying and other important aspects of college life like participating in extracurricular activities and developing friendships on campus.

At the beginning of a course, most professors provide a class syllabus noting when assignments, tests and papers are due, which will help you plan a long-term study schedule. Mapping out a study strategy for the semester that carves out time every day to study will help ensure that you don’t leave everything until the last minute.

Find the right environment

Hitting the books in an environment conducive to studying is just as important as carving out time in your day to study. If your study environment includes a dorm room full of friends, a television and pizza, you probably aren’t concentrating enough on your course material. Find a library, quiet coffee shop or study room in your dorm that provides the environment you need.

Get the most out of your textbooks

College textbooks are an incredible resource for understanding and learning course information outside of the classroom.  At times, you may have classes that meet only a few times a week. It is up to you to stay abreast of course material during the downtime.

Your textbooks and course materials are second only to your instructors in contributing to academic success. Studies show that students who use their textbooks, along with supplemental materials, perform better and get higher grades.  For instance, 90 percent of instructors agree that their less-prepared students would fare better in introductory courses if they spent more time reading the textbook.

One way to get the most out of your textbook is to preview your reading assignments to help you focus on the reading material. This includes scanning the chapter titles, headlines, subheads and other prominent information to get an idea beforehand what material you should be learning. Taking notes in the margins of your textbooks will also help you remember key concepts and serve as a quick reference guide for future studying.

Take breaks

Give your mind a rest by budgeting breaks into your study schedule. Use this time to think about things other than the subjects you are studying. Sometimes your brain needs a break so that it can be as effective as possible when you do crack open a book.