by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: September 01, 2008

When I was in college, my study habits weren't quite up to par to say the least. I'd rather be doing anything; taking a hike, driving around, hanging out with friends; than hitting the library to study. Yet studying is so very important; and these days particularly, you can't get a decent paying job without a Bachelor's degree.

Ah, for the carefree days of university living. Amidst the socializing, interest groups, internships, and extracurricular activities, time must be set aside to study. Whether it's for quizzes, midterms, finals, or regular homework, learning and applying effective study habits becomes paramount to your educational success. And if you plan to pursue a higher degree, developing good study habits is even more critical.

Perhaps you think you know how to study properly and don't need any guidance in the matter. Maybe you're a straight-A student. Even so, reading the following tips on effective studying may still help you develop better study habits, and may even give you more free time too.

1) Turn off all music. Music becomes quite a distraction, especially if there's a really cool song you like. You tend to switch the focus on the song, then you must switch back to your studying. All the switching back and forth is time-consuming and unnecessary. Don't get lost in song; lose yourself in studying. You need to place all your concentration on your studies.

2) Go to the library. Noises in the hallway and dorm-mates hooting it up in common areas are a pretty regular occurrence. This makes you pop your head out the door to find out what's going on. Maybe the guys are watching the game and you want to join them; or the girls are watching another episode of Gilmore Girls. Or maybe they're headed out on the town and they're inviting you to go along. All this is a distraction; so for some assured quiet time, head to the library and grab a cube or a private room.

3) Prioritize. Create a to-do list and organize your tasks. Assess your most important thing to study first; for example, if you have a quiz or midterm Tuesday afternoon, do your assigned reading for Thursday's English class later on in the evening. Prioritization also helps you to lessen the chances you will have to pull an all-nighter to cram for exams the next day.

4) Outline during class. Never just sit there during any class. Practice the art of outlining your professor's lectures, then review them daily. Writing down key phrases and organizing ideas on paper really helps retention.

5) Schedule

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