The best tips for studying in college can mean the difference in whether your college career is a success or failure. This isn’t high school, and while the teachers want you to do your best, they won’t provide you with the same kind of learning environment you’re used to. While you may have resented that seemingly constant “over-the-shoulder surveillance” from your parents and high school teachers, now you’re on your own and it’s time to “sink or swim.” If you need help with study skills and homework, this information contains the material and tips for studying at the university you’re looking for. Most students can tell you that it’s not how much you study, but knowing how to study properly for college lessons and exams, that determines whether someone will pass or fail.
Let’s start by reviewing what may be the most important of all tips for studying at university; Time management. If you’ve never learned to prioritize your available moments, you’d better start doing it now. Those students who organize their time and tasks are the ones who find that there is enough time in the day to do all their work, study and other tasks.
Try using a planner to keep lists of study assignments, and then you can check them off as they’re completed. Some students find that using two separate planners keeps them more organized. One planner can be used to keep track of class assignments and the other can be used to keep track of dental appointments, volunteer work, or other errands that are on your schedule.
If you keep track of your study plan tasks by writing them down in your daily planner, it will be easier for you to keep up with your workload.
Put a large wall calendar or desk calendar in your room and write down the dates of major tests, reviews, and homework assignments. This will let you know instantly what’s next on the agenda and help you manage your time wisely.
Don’t procrastinate when it comes to your study needs. If you have a work assignment, then one of the best college tips to remember is not to put off studying until later. All of this will leave you feeling overwhelmed at the end of the week and then you will never catch up with the workload and will be constantly competing just to try to “keep up” with the rest of the class.
Use your email and cell phone to help you manage your time wisely, not for idle chatter and constant gossip texting. This might be a great way to spend the day for celebrities, but for college students, studying should be the #1 priority.
Learn to say no to friends who want you to party all the time. No amount of good college study advice will help you succeed if you’re not going to use it in the first place.
Ban distractions that reduce your concentration during your study hours.
Keep your classwork your top priority while you’re at school, and don’t let your social activities prevent you from spending the right amount of time on your classwork.
Many students have found that they achieve more if they spend a specific amount of time studying each day. This study time is for class work and required reading assignments only, not for games, phone conversations, or socializing. You have to learn to set priorities and then stay on track with your plan.
Plan a reward for yourself at the end of the week. If you’ve achieved your study goals and done well on your class work, you deserve a treat. This will give you something to look forward to after a week of diligent study.
Motivation is one of the best college study tips to use when you need a way to stay on the right “study track.” Constantly partying and socializing may seem like fun now, but you need to focus on the big picture and what you hope to achieve in the future. There will be plenty of time for you to attend the parties once you successfully complete your studies and education.
The right type of setup is crucial
Make your study environment one that works for you, even if it seems strange to others. Some students try to use a strict set of college study tips to help them get better grades and don’t realize that some tips need to be changed.
A quiet, dimly lit room may be the right study environment for some people, but others will do better with background music. Other students find it easier to study when they are outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Some people need a spartan study environment if they want to sharpen their concentration and other students will learn more easily while curled up on soft pillows or sitting in an oversized comfortable chair. Determine what type of environment works best for you and incorporate these elements into your daily study regimen.
More tips for studying at university
If you are only memorizing facts for a test, then you are not giving yourself the full benefit of your college experience. You need to understand the material presented, not just memorize it.
One of the best college studying tips to keep in mind is that taking notes is essential to your success.
Keep your notes organized so they’re easy to review.
Use highlighters or different colored ink pens so you can quickly find the important information you have written.
Ask the teacher and teaching assistants for help as soon as you feel like you are falling behind. In fact, it’s a good idea to make it a habit to communicate with them at least once or twice a week. They are there to help, but you have to look for them, because they are not going to come looking for you to see if you need help.
Use a recording device to record class lectures, and then listen to the tapes once or twice a day.
Don’t rely on your memory alone when listening to a lecture, a tape and notes will ensure that you have a record of the information that was presented.
Share college study tips with other students and learn new tips and ideas from them. Host a “study party” once a week and discuss ideas and information.
Organization is one of the main college study tips that should be a part of your daily life. Take a look at some of the planners and other organization accessories at your local bookstore and see which ones will help you stay on top of your study assignments.
Food helps many people study, so keep some healthy snacks nearby when you’re getting ready to settle down and “unravel the books.”
According to many educators and students, college study tip lists often do not include information about study time. You must study your lessons every day, even if you don’t have assignments posted. This will help you reinforce material you have already learned. It is helpful to divide your study period into smaller segments, and you should arrange to take a 10-15 minute break after an hour of hard work. On average, you need to spend at least 2 hours a day on your study.
These college study tips are among those proven to help students succeed across the country. You’ll need to experiment to find out which ones best suit your own needs and personal study style.