College studying success comes from 6 small principles. Simple techniques straight A students are using every day to get an unfair advantage over you in the class room.
- Who needs to study
- What to study
- Why to study
- When to study
- Where to study
- How to study
Who needs to study?
You would be surprised how many people think they don't need to study. Every one wishing to improve their test scores, GPA, pass a class or obtain required information needs to study. Simply attending class and doing homework is not enough. Studying is committing information to memory, if even for a short time. Studying in not merely going through the motions of attending class or accomplishing the task of homework, it is collecting data and processing it; moving the information from short term memory into your long term memory, allowing the brain ample opportunity to withdraw given information at the required times.
What to study?
Again, a rather simple question. Of course you need to study the course for your desired objective. However many "smart" students are spending countless hours studying information they will never find on their tests. To study properly you have to pay attention in class. To what does your professor concentrate his/her energy? What types of information appear on previous tests? You see, people tend to do the same things over and over again, leaning their attention to certain interests, points or causes. Teachers are no different. What is is that your professor stresses? Take active notes in class of what points your professor gravitates to and review the curriculum. By state law the curriculum is the standard information that is required to be taught and obtained from the course. It is not merely a guideline as to what you will be "studying' in a given course, but what you SHOULD study.
Why to study?
Again, a no brainer for most. One studies in order to store information necessary to obtain desired results. The additive is that these principals can be applied to any facet of your life and not just college work. You study to pass the class, graduate, learn a new trade. The whys are endless and should fuel your desire to dig in.
When to study?
A recent article put out by Dartmouth states that you can double your success with your college studying if you use daylight hours. One hour of day study equals two hours at night! Everybody is different. Know yourself and set a side time when you are most alert to study. For some it may be early in the morning, for others in the early evening. Utilizing your time wisely and studying for college when you are most prepared and concentrated, is the cardinal rule to effective study habits.
Where to study?
So, you finally have a dorm room, apartment or parents that have given you space. While it is most likely the most convenient place to study, it is often one of the worst places one can choose to study. Your dorm room or apartment is filled with mounds of distractions and speed bumps. Lying down on the bed to read or study makes you tired as a stuffed turkey at thanksgiving dinner! If you want to study effectively and make straight A's in your college career, then develop a place to study that is just that - a place to work and learn about academics ( a park, the library, etc.) Studies show that setting aside a special place in which to study will help you recall to memory important information. Keep trying calm and peaceful places until you find one that is right for you.
How to Study?
Give it up - you aren't in high school anymore. Studying in college is a whole new ball game! Many students find they need to adapt their study habits.
- Study in 20-50 minute bursts followed by a small break of 5-10 minutes. Any more than that and your attention span will not allow you to retain the information.
-Spend your time on the most challenging class first. This will not only keep you ahead of the curb and help you achieve your straight As but will also help you keep your stress in check as -Study effectively: quiz yourself, review your notes regularly
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Plants are shaped by cultivation and men by education. .. We are born weak, we need strength; we are born totally unprovided, we need aid; we are born stupid, we need judgment. Everything we do not have at our birth and which we need when we are grown is given us by education.
(Jean Jacques Rousseau, Emile, On Philosophy of Education)
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