To get anywhere in life, it is important to both work hard as well as work smart. Just one or the other is not enough anymore, especially in these rapidly changing times. This applies even more to academics! All students seem to be looking for quick study tips for college exams, but that is not a silver bullet. Aim for competence, not speed.
Since academics is a field where you will often have to cover vast portions of the syllabus in a relatively short time, as well as balance your study and personal lives, it is doubly imperative to put in effort, but also study smartly. We have all heard the phrase, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” But there is also a lesser-known retort to this phrase, “All play, and no work makes Jack a mere toy.” Nowhere is this more relevant than modern academia.
Most college students fall into one of two categories. Either they study all the time, day and night, forsaking their social life and extracurriculars for the sake of their GPA. Or they barely put in any effort into studying, spending all their time socializing or chilling, and their grade suffers, which puts their future career at risk.
True wisdom lies in finding the golden mean between these two extremes. You should undoubtedly socialize, and party, but also put in hard work to ensure your college life is not wasted. However, most college students find it tough to manage both due to time and other constraints.
That is why we created this list of 10 study tips for college students to help them get more out of their hard work, as well as understand and comprehend the subject matter better. By diligently following these tips, we are sure you will see a dramatic rise in your GPA, as well as having more free time to pursue the things you love!
Side note, if you are a high school and graduate, and about to embark on the adventure of college life, you might like this article on the 10 American colleges with the best campus! So, without any further delay, let’s begin our article on the best study tips for college students!
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USE THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that most professionals swear by, and one of the most useful college studying tips. It uses the natural rhythms of the brain to create the ideal intervals for an effective study routine, to ensure maximum absorption, focus, and efficiency. And all you need is a timer!
It has six steps, which are:
- Decide and plan the task to be done
- Set a timer for 25 minutes and start studying
- After the timer runs out, take a 5-minute break
- Resume another 25-minute session after the 5 minutes
- After four such sessions (i.e., 2 hours of work) take a longer 30-minute break
- Repeat the whole cycle again
Do make sure that each session is indivisible – if a distraction pops up, either postpone it or abandon your current session. Use the inform, negotiate, schedule, call back strategy for this.For the first step, follow the steps of planning, recording, processing, and visualizing to plan your work properly.
UNDERSTAND THE STUDY CYCLE
The Study Cycle is a scientific model of how the brain absorbs information. It has five steps, and following this cycle is the best way to study new things, and retain that info! Since it is designed around the way your brain works, it is the best option to build comprehension, memory, and confidence. It consists of 5 steps, which are Preview, Attend, Review, Study, Assess.
- Preview consists of skimming through the material before class and identifying major objectives and areas of study.
- Attend consists of actually going to class, where you engage, ask questions, and take notes.
- Review consists of going through your notes and identifying gaps in knowledge within 24 hours of class.
- Study consists of short, intense study sessions where you memorize material and connect concepts.
- Assess comprises testing yourself through practice papers and mentally reviewing your syllabus. Identify weak points and repeat study sessions.
USE A REWARDS SYSTEM
It is vital to provide yourself with an incentive to motivate yourself to keep working hard. Instituting a rewards system for yourself on completion of specific tasks is an excellent way to do this.
Some of the rewards could be a bar of chocolate on the completion of every chapter, or allowing yourself to go to a party only if you complete that pending college paper, or even just listening to music after study time! Decide what works for you, and make sure to stick to these study habits diligently to train your brain to study!
SWITCH IT UP
Don’t stick to one subject for too long. When you feel your brain getting overloaded with a particular item, switch to another to keep things fresh and keep yourself interested. This will also ensure a more holistic retention of material and reduce fatigue and stress. Change is essential for effective study!
This also applies to location – science has proved that switching your room or going to a park, coffee shop, or library occasionally to keep things new and exciting results in more efficient information absorption and memory retention.
STAY ORGANIZED
Use your student planner! Note down all concepts covered, things left to do, areas of concern, and set up a timetable for yourself. Developing healthy and effective study habits is essential.Highlight the critical bits of your textbook to help you later on. Connect topics using mind maps. Draw diagrams and models – a picture is worth a thousand words!
Learning how to stay organized is one of the crucial things of all for college students. Even if you learn nothing else in your college life, do ensure you learn this at the very least!
GET HELP BOC
No matter how hard and smart you study, all of us need a helping hand! Sometimes the workload gets too much for any one person to handle. In those situations, the smart thing to do is to take outside help. There is nothing wrong with asking for assistance, as no one can work in a vacuum.
At buyonlineclass, we help students with their courses and assignments, with guaranteed results. Our service is known for its reliability, punctuality, and quality of work. This is possible due to our expert licensed teachers, a strong commitment to helping students, and our 24/7 support helpline! Get the best help possible to forge a brighter future for yourself!
USE THE LEITNER TECHNIQUE
The Leitner Method is a German system of learning through flashcards, based upon the principle of spaced repetition. It is extremely widely used and is a great way of reviewing and retaining information.
To use this technique, you first need to prepare flashcards pertaining to your syllabus, along with three boxes. The method is simple. Every card starts out in Box 1. While using the flashcards, if you get the answer correct, move it up a box (from Box 1 to Box 2, or from Box 2 to Box 3). If you get a flashcard wrong, move it to the first box again. These are the intervals at which you study from each box:
- Box 1 – every day
- Box 2 – every three days
- Box 3 – every week
USE THE FEYNMAN METHOD
The Feynman Method is a good study technique used by the famed scientist to understand new information quickly. It helps you get a profound grasp of fundamental ideas and retain information. It’s also effortless. All you need is paper and a pen! It has four steps:
- Pick a topic and read up on it
- Then start writing on the matter as if you are teaching to a classroom. Use plain language.
- Reread your sheet and identify weak areas and unanswered details
- Where you have used complex or technical language, try to replace it with language a five-year-old will understand.
JOIN A STUDY GROUP
One of the best study tips for college freshmen is to simply join a study group! A good study group provides you with a support system to answer questions, clear doubts, and divide the labor! It has been proved conclusively that studying in a group is more effective than going solo and helps you retain information.
Try to teach a concept to your group mates to understand it better yourself, and you can take group tests and compare performances to identify areas of concern. Not to mention studying socially is just more fun, and you may even look forward to your study sessions with joy!
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UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS
Your body has some basic needs that are inescapable. Not meeting them will only be a disfavor to yourself and lower your information processing capabilities. These needs consist of adequate rest, proper nutrition, exercise, and social time! Remembering to take a break is very beneficial and necessary to study correctly.
So make sure you get at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a day – your memory won’t work without it. Ensure you eat a healthy and balanced diet every day, and avoid junk food to keep your body functioning at maximum efficiency and health. Take a break every now and then, or a brisk walk to divert blood from the brain to muscles, and to clear your head. Hang out with friends regularly.
Your body has certain needs. Not meeting those needs will only lower your capabilities and harm you. As the old adage goes, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Food and exercise should be added to that too!
I hope you found this article on study tips for college students helpful and interesting! By following these study habits, you will surely propel yourself to new heights! Watch this space for more regular useful blog posts. Thank you for reading!
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