Study Tips for College Students

College isn’t too much different from high school during the first two years before a student declares a major.

 If you had good study habits in high school, you should be able to create a plan that works for you and still be able to enjoy life on campus or life at home if you choose a school that is technical. Freshman and Sophomore year of College revolves around your general credits that you have to take before you decide on your major. A student may have to work in study groups and write papers that are generally longer than high school but students won’t have issues finishing their homework if they develop good habits. A student should be able to study their notes at least 15 minutes a few times a day and retain that information for an upcoming test. In addition, there are four years of English that is required so if a book needs to be read, time yourself and fit the book into your schedule and read for a half hour daily. Think about how many credits you can handle and stick to 12 to 14 the first two years of college. This way you can enjoy college campus fun and still keep up on your studies.

The world of the internet has also helped studies with their studies because research is at the tip of your fingers. Students can check many websites for the content they need for papers or tests they have to take. The majority of these students grew up with computers since they were in 4k and opposed to 50 years ago. Social media also makes it easier for students to attend online classes and interact with their instructor, professor, and colleagues online. There are many good college programs online for students in case they are raising a family and working and online courses fit into their schedule better.  Here are some tips for studying in college.

Try and stay organized and make sure you are one step ahead of your studies. Keep all your notes, and classmates organized. Stick to the plan you have made and encourage your colleagues to stay organized as well. Studying can be a chore, so make it simple and separate some of your work and use note cards so you can choose the time to sit down and glance at these cards. This way you won’t seem so overwhelmed.

Get enough sleep nightly because it’s easier to retain information if you are not overtired. Eat healthy foods and take vitamins so you can concentrate and your mind can remember what it needs to retain for tests and homework if you have a presentation.

Create a routine and decide when the best time for you to study is. Decide what time of the day you are more alert and ready to work. Some people have energy at different times of the day. Stick to the routine that works for you.

Remember to take good notes because this makes it easier to study when it’s time for midterms and finals. Wouldn’t you rather go through your notes than look at a 500-page textbook?

It’s very important to study but the key is to realize that there is a proper way to study. This has been mentioned before but it’s better to break everything down into small note cards and start studying ahead of time then to cram everything in 2 days without sleep. There might be practice tests on the back pages of each chapter and make sure you get the content that the professor tells you is going to be on the test.

Create a space for you to study. You might feel more comfortable in the library or in your room at the dorm but make sure your study place is quiet so you can concentrate. Don’t have your phone on, the television or have other people distracting you in the background. It’s harder to retain information if your study space isn’t quiet.

Make sure you can study with a few colleagues from college. It’s better to quiz each other in a group and see who might need more help or if you need more help. Everyone takes notes differently so you might have missed something or not of understood something important. This is a good way to be on top of your studies and it helps to learn from other students. In addition, group study is recommended because as you further your education, more colleges are requiring their students to present as groups depending on what your major is.

Never be too timid to ask questions if you don’t understand something in class. If you are having problems with calculus, find a tutor or ask the teacher or instructor for some time so you can understand and pass the exam. Friends are also very helpful as well if you don’t understand something in class. You are the one who is paying for your education and remember the teachers are there to help you succeed. You will succeed in college if you put the work into it.

College is a new experience and one experience that many students are looking forward to. Kids move away from home and learn to become more independent. There is also room for making mistakes and dropping out if you don’t take college seriously. Students probably are not used to the extra freedom of not having to answer to their parents. The problem is that you do have to answer to yourself and most likely pay back student loans. It’s your money that you are throwing away if you don’t stay organized, study, have a routine, take good notes and learn to balance your social life with your studies.

These tips can be a lifesaver when it comes to studying for college. Make sure you are ready for the commitment to studying in college because school is very stressful but everytime a student passes an exam and moves up and finishes their finals, it’s a great feeling to be able to share this experience with your colleagues and close family members. Sometimes you might feel an empty void after a major accomplishment but just remember you are closer to your goal of graduation and working in a field you love.