Best Study Tips For College Students

Ironing new study techniques and habits can help you get better with your grades in college. Use these to your advantage to get better at your studies.

Good study habits are crucial and essential if you want to succeed in college. Whether you’re just beginning college or you’re looking for that crucial senior year productivity boost, these study tips for college students will help you max out your GPA and get on that higher tier.

1. Taking Notes

Taking notes doesn’t come naturally to everyone. You got to develop the interest first and start taking good notes. The trick is to record the key points of the lecture or textbook without writing down too much complicated and messy info. Make it simplified as much as you can. If you’re worried you’re missing important details, feel free to ask your professor during office hours. Many students also record lectures so they can listen to them later to verify their notes; just make sure you get permission from your professor first!

2. Staying Organised

Keep a scheduled calendar with all the major activities, tasks, commitments,  extracurricular activities, and whatnot. This way you can keep tabs on everything.

Organizing your class materials is also one of the most important study tips for college students to stay focused on the route. Use sticky notes to remember important textbook pages, keep your returned assignments, and make flashcards for key terms.

3. Unplugging When It Matters

This can be really hard when you consider the fact that you are dependant on your phone and computer to carry out almost everything related to your studies. But keep in mind that the Internet is possibly one of the worst distractions out there. It’s a black-hole which you need to stay away from. So be prepared to limit yourself like no Instagram, Facebook during your class time or homework time, be focused on your top priorities. Everything else comes second.

4. Cramming Everything

Procrastination – one of your worst enemies out there. Even though it may have some sort of benefits to some of the rare individuals out there, it may not be the same for the rest. It’s definitely tempting to put off your studying until the last minute, but you’re much less likely to retain information this way if you keep on delaying till the last moment.

Try to study a little bit each day, rather than saving it all for the week before the exam. This will help you ward off exhaustion and remember what you learned. So don’t cram it.

5. Overdoing

Among study tips for college students, time management is one of the most essential. Make sure you’re studying the key ideas of each lecture or textbook chapter, and avoid absorbing useless information. If you’re not sure, meet with your professor to make sure you’re practising good study habits.

6. Being In The Zone

There are moments when you are in total focus while doing any task whether you realize it or not. Time slows. The mind stops churning. Complex tasks are performed with effortless grace. Psychologists call it “flow.” Athletes call it “the zone.” Find that zone while you are involved with any tasks and activities. Some like to listen to music while they study, and some need complete silence. Try a few different kinds of environments and see what works for you.

7. Taking A Break

No, really, you’ve earned it! Take a 10-minute break every hour or so, and try to take a day or two off per week if you can. It’ll help you stay energized and at peak mental condition. Try freeing your mind during such notice by taking your mind completely off from the task/activity.

8. Make Connections

Experts argue that the difference between “slow learners” and “quick studiers” is the way they study; for example, instead of memorizing, “quick learners” make connections between ideas. Known as contextual learning, this process requires students to customize their own methods of learning, thus making connections that inspire all of the information to fall into place and make sense for them individually.

Some students find that recording all information visually in one place (such as on a sheet of paper or chalkboard) can help to paint a fuller picture and aid their connections within the learning process.

9. Stop Multitasking

Multitasking is a myth. You may think you’re killing two birds with one stone by texting while studying, for example, but you’re actually forming poor study habits. According to researchers, so-called “multitasking” extends your study time and ultimately may damage your grades.