Study Tips for College Students
It doesn’t take long for a college student to realize that high school and college are two different beasts. The old days of being able to breeze through assignments and exams while still getting good grades is something that is not as easily done in higher education, which is why we are going to outline study tips for college students.
In an effort to help all current college students and graduating high school seniors with college entrance exams, here are eight study tips that will help guarantee good grades in even the toughest of universities.
1. Create a Schedule for Studying
Rather than trying to squeeze in time for studying at the last minute, set a schedule early on in the semester and stick to it. Treat this schedule as self-mandated times where you must actively be studying. By prioritizing studying, you will be less likely to fall behind. Establishing a routine is the way to do it.
2. Make Studying Your First Priority
While college is often seen as a place to display your social skills, remember that you are there for a purpose. Your goal should be to earn a degree that will be able to provide you down the road with a good and satisfying living. This means that you must put academics in the forefront, and if you must miss a few social gatherings because of it, so be it. It may not always be as much fun, but it will be better than being a five-year senior.
3. Find an Appropriate Study Atmosphere
Have you ever tried to study in a place that is distracting and noisy? Homework that should take you a half hour to finish has stretched out to an hour or two because of all the distractions. If you want to limit the amount of time you spend studying, this means that you must find a quiet place that will be free of anything that is bothersome and disruptive. You will be able to finish your homework much quicker.
4. Reach Out to a Tutor
There are certain subjects where no matter how much you study you just can’t get the grades you want in the class. Rather than trying to bribe your professor for a better grade, you should look into finding a tutor. In fact, figure out who the brightest students are in your class and ask them if they would like to form a study group. If they don’t, then ask them if you can hire them as a tutor. Studying with them for an hour could be the same as you studying on your own for several. Your college or university may also have campus groups and clubs that organize study sessions.
5. Don’t Skip Classes
College professors like to give little hints here and there about what is going to be on the exam and academic tasks. However, you won’t ever know about these tips if you are skipping classes and sleeping in. If you pay close attention in class, you will know exactly which areas to focus on in your studies.
6. Streamline Your Notes
We have all sat next to those students who write down every word the professor says in their notebook. The problem with this is they don’t differentiate between what is important information and what can be tossed straight out. A packed-full notebook of sometimes useless data does not make for efficient studying. Instead, you should streamline your notes and just keep the essential information.
7. Use Flashcards
You probably learned most of your sight words in the primary grades through flashcards. In fact, you also probably learned all of your basic math facts through flashcards as well. Just because you are in college does not mean that flashcards are out of date. Create flashcards for every topic that you are struggling with and carry them with you throughout your day. When you have a free moment, quickly go through these flashcards and you will soon have the topic mastered.
8. Put Away Your Phone
A study conducted by Asurion (a global tech company) in 2019 showed that people check their phones an average of once every 10 minutes. This quick check of your phone can lead to you being on social media or watching the latest videos for a serious amount of time. Tuck your phone away and out of reach as this is the biggest distraction of all. If you are serious about studying, turn your phone completely off and don’t pick it back up until you have all of your schoolwork completed. This might be the most difficult of study tips for college students, but it will be worth it!
