Welcome to today's college guide post! Studying is quite simply one of the most important aspects of college. Doing well academically expands into the rest of your life and is a valuable skill to have - without academic success, often it can be difficult to join organizations, maintain scholarships, and have a stress-free college experience. Here are some tips to carry you through your year at college, particularly for you freshmen who need to get the hang of managing your own schedule and making time for studying on your own.
... lock yourself up. Put yourself in the right environment for studying. Don't leave your door open so that people can come wandering in and out of your room. Don't set up camp to study when your roommate has her friend over and they won't shut up. Find a nice, quiet space that works for you and make sure you're as free from distractions as possible. For me, sometimes that means locking myself in my room alone. For others, that means crawling to the depths of the library. Try a few different locations and see what works!
... spend too long on any one subject. It can be tiring to look at the same material for such a long period of time. Change things up by focusing on one task in one subject, and then switching subjects for a little bit. It will give your brain a chance to rest, and you can test your memory when you switch back!
... put away your phone and electronics. I know it stinks, but in order to study effectively, you can't be on your phone or checking social media constantly. One thing I like to do is keep my phone on silent in my bag or wristlet. That way, when I take a break I don't need to wait for my phone to reset, but it's also out of sight and out of mind while I'm doing my work. For the computer, I like using coffitivity.com or a relaxing Spotify playlist for doing work. I can't jam out to my favorite tunes while studying, but calm instrumental music keeps me focused. When I'm listening to anything besides Coffitivity or a chill playlist on Spotify, I tend to wander to other corners of the Internet. But, when I'm on those websites, I get totally in the zone and don't stop!
... put yourself with people who will make you unproductive. I have certain friends who I know will keep me on task, and others who I would rather socialize with. Sometimes two people just have different studying methods, and you might not click with all your friends. Ask people who will be helpful, respectful, and valuable study buddies to join you for a study sesh, and let your other friends know that you'd be happy to grab a coffee with them on your break.
... reward yourself with mini breaks. Every once in a while, you have to get up and take a break from studying. I like to get up and stretch, go to the bathroom, or even call my mom during these breaks. It gets your mind on the topic of other things and you can get back to your studying with a clear head. Plus, you'll be more motivated to study and get work done if you know there is a reward at the end. My roommate and I used to promise ourselves late night ice cream if we got all our work done - and it surely did work!
... keep trying when you're frustrated/tired. At that point, your mind can't handle any more material and you might internally combust if you look at one more textbook. Get some sleep! Or pack up for the day and do more tomorrow. Over stuffing your brain with information is never good; chances are you won't retain a lot. Instead, try and schedule a more realistic study time - one or two hours of intensive studying instead of all day long.
... find little things that help you out. Like I mentioned earlier, music can be super helpful when you're studying. But there are other factors that can be beneficial. The University of Notre Dame did a study showing that going to sleep right after learning new material helps with recall later on, and another study shows that chewing gum can help your memory too!
... be afraid to ask for help. When you're really struggling, no matter how hard you study, sometimes you just won't pick up the material. Don't hesitate to go to a professor or TA for help. If you're scared to meet in person first, send them an email stating what you're confused about and ask if they have any tips. Odds are that they will suggest you schedule a time to come chat with them. Professors really aren't that scary; they want to help us and see us succeed in their classes. Friends can also be a great resource if you just need a little clarifying or someone to walk you through a process.
... make sure you have enough time set aside. On the opposite end of the spectrum from someone who sits in the library all day hoping to study by means of osmosis, there are those of us that want to fit studying into the tiny gaps in our day. While 10 minutes of studying here and there in between activities can be useful too, it's important to set aside real, quality study time where you don't have to worry about anything else. Studying requires your full attention and presence - if you're worrying about being late to your next activity or what you're going to eat later, you're not studying effectively.
... be too hard on yourself. Sometimes we slip up. We accidentally spend an hour on Facebook when we really just wanted to ask a classmate what the assignment was. Sometimes we don't plan our studying out well and we end up cramming for an exam. Sometimes you think you did everything right but you lose it all when you get into the testing room. No matter what happens, don't beat yourself up about the little mistakes. The most you can do is strive for better next time and put the past behind you.
... pick the right study spot. I'm the first to admit that every once in a while I'll climb into my bed with my books to read or study, and instead I end up trying to keep myself awake. Waking up hours later with your books spread all over your bed and no work done can be daunting, so make sure that you pick the right study spot. I like to do fun, short assignments in bed because it's comfy and doesn't hurt your butt like a hard desk chair, but for lengthy assignments and more intense studying, I need to sit at my desk. This set up works for me because I can lay out my computer, notes, and textbooks where everything can be seen, and I don't end up falling asleep.
... forget - a test is just a piece of paper, a grade is just a letter. College students these days are overwhelmed with work and activities, and are expected to manage everything like a pro. If you mess up, remember that one letter does not define you as a person or reflect on your character. A bad grade may seem terrible, but it's not the end of the world. You can still be extremely successful in college even with a few blunders. Learning how to study and take exams effectively is a lot of work, a lot of trial and error, and a long process. It's all meant to work out in the end.
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