Studying is like dating. Some people appear to be good at it. Others have to, well, work at it. Just like a relationship, studying requires time, effort, and a large dose of trial and error. College, unlike high school, is a heavy mixture of theory and application rather than regurgitated facts. Sometimes, the instructor doesn’t give you the answers, because quite frankly there may be many or none at all. What works for some will not work for others. We all learn differently. Here is a list of pointers. Keep what works. Quickly disregard the rest.
1) When appropriate, work smarter not harder.
The average institution requires three hours of outside work for every hour in class. If a class is three credit hours, you should spend a minimum of nine hours in homework and prep. For a full load of 15 credit hours, you should spend an additional 45 hours a week in homework. Most people do not have that kind of time. If you are conducting research, it is not necessary to read the entire article. Look for the gist of the study. If the professor doesn’t mind if you expand upon a previous paper you wrote for a future assignment (unfortunately most do mind), then use this to your advantage. Find ways to achieve results in less time whenever possible, but always act ethically and without resorting to plagiarism, cheating, or fabricating work.
2) Get inside the professor’s mind.
Admission: professors have preferences when it comes to exams and course content. Generally, you can figure out how a professor approaches exam material after the first exam. Professors will follow this pattern throughout the term. It is rare that a professor will completely change his or her approach from test to test. Deciphering which material is important to the professor and what is lecture filler will help you lessen the amount of time and material necessary for studying (review tip #1).
3) If it is in a book, handout, lecture, assignment, or any other referenced material, it is fair game. So, write it down.
Until you figure out how the professor constructs exam material, anything and everything is fair game. Don’t write down only what is on the lecture slide show. Some professors expect you to read the book and will test you accordingly, even if the material was never mentioned in class. It is not our job to spoonfeed the material. We don’t have to supply study guides or give a blow-by-blow description of what will be included on the exam. Include all course material into your study time until you know for sure it may or may not appear on an exam.
4) Never study when tired.
You are wasting your time. Your brain will not retain the material. It is physiological impossible. However, getting adequate rest does improve your chances for scoring higher on an exam. If you are writing a paper, you will spend more time editing the nonsense you wrote while half-asleep. Save it until morning, or better yet, work on it ahead of time instead of the night before the material is due. You will be found out. We know what a last-minute cram session looks like.
5) Unless you are in the 99th percentile, don’t cram.
Some people can cram and retain information. Most people cannot. This has to do with how the brain is wired. Cramming is better than not studying at all if you are in a pinch. The key is never to be in a pinch situation. Habitual crammers generally retain enough information for a C or D and rarely remember the information the next semester. This is especially problematic if the course is a major course or is the first in a series of courses building on previous material. Unless you have a photographic memory (and most you don’t), then refrain from cramming.
6) Study for understanding and not answers.
Many college courses take the chicken-and-egg approach to learning. Which came first? Whichever one you can explain with the most theoretical soundness. Humanities course are especially notorious for this approach. Most of life cannot be offered in a multiple choice format. If you can understand the principles and apply them accurately, you can make a good grade.
7) Study for permanent retention and not short term grade points.
Have I mentioned before that college is expensive? I know this will come as a shock, but college is not about obtaining a degree. You are receiving training on how to become an expert in your field. You need to know the language, the application of theories, and exude critical thinking skills in your area of study. If your focus is making a decent grade and getting out of the course, you will be unemployed when you graduate. There will be test later. It will come in the form of those curveball interview questions that make you squirm and wish you had paid more attention in 101.
8) Use outside resources to explain concepts and theories.
Never read the Cliffs Notes until after you have read the book. Professors are known to ask questions not covered in the notes to thwart the slackers. But referring to outside books, notes, videos, and websites to gain understanding is ethical and helpful.
9) Find real life examples that can be explained by the theory in question.
Whenever possible, find examples you can write in your notes that will help you remember how to explain a theory. Theories are abstract by nature. Give the theory life by associating it with something concrete if the professor doesn’t supply an adequate example in class.
10) Know the difference between concrete answers and the never-wrong-type of answers.
Two plus two will always equal four. DNA is a double-helix. Some courses such as math and science will have definite right and wrong answers. Humanities and theory-based courses often do not. If your professor expects a critical analysis of a poem, it will not have a definite answer. In such cases, the answer is in the eye of the beholder as long as it is explained according to the required theories and concepts of the discipline. Knowing the difference will save you a lot of headaches trying to locate an answer that does not exist.
11) Repetition, repetition, repetition.
Repetition aids in long term memory storage. This is why cramming seldom works. However, flash cards and study groups often do.
12) Review material within hours of class.
This also aids in long term memory storage. Reviewing information just hours after it is introduced will help to reinforce the concepts.
13) Make study guides from day one and review every night.
As you are reviewing information, start making a personal study guide to review each night for 5-10 minutes. You will retain the information and cut down on potential test anxiety by not waiting until the last minute.
14) Attend class and develop alliances.
Research is clear that attendance is a direct factor in course success. If you begin to fall behind or start having trouble in the course, team up with classmates who are doing well and can explain the material.
15) Find ways to incorporate the material into real life.
Joining a professional or student organization or finding a summer internship will help you to incorporate what you are learning. When you use the information, it will become second nature.
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