by Todd Pheifer

Created on: September 02, 2008

Studying in college can be a much more daunting task than it was in high school. The material is more complex and the schedule requirements are a good deal more rigorous. This makes effective studying a major key to success as students pursue their scholastic goals. Of course, studying is not necessarily intuitive for some students. In addition, there is the issue of motivation, which can be the most difficult part of studying. Students know they should study, but it isn't the most "fun" thing to do and they tend to procrastinate. Therefore, it is important to have a plan and follow through on that plan. Here are a few thoughts on ways to study in college.

START EARLY

One of the most important things to remember when studying is that the student has to start early. Students have good intentions, but too often they start studying late in the term when they are facing a test situation. By this time, it is often too late to truly understand the material. Therefore, students should start studying early in the term. Projects should be started early and material should be reviewed as soon as it is acquired. This means reading the text and reviewing notes after they are taken.

REVIEW SEVERAL TIMES

Connected to this process is the concept of review. As mentioned, sometimes students take notes throughout the term but they do not look at them until the end of the semester or quarter. Notes should be reviewed several times so that students truly understand the material. Again, this is not "rocket science" but it does take some discipline. Students must be willing to set aside social events every once in a while to review academic material.

ASK QUESTIONS

Another key part of studying is to ask questions. This means that the student has to raise their hand in class. Again, this isn't a complex concept to understand but too many students look around the room and don't see other hands in the air. They assume that everyone understands so they are afraid to look stupid. In this case, pride cannot get in the way of understanding. The student must be willing to ask questions of teachers, other students, and tutors.

Overall, the important thing to remember is that students have to know who they are and what shortcomings they have in their academic performance. The student must then put together a plan and be ready to execute it. College goes fast, and the student that wants to succeed must be willing to put other things aside in order to meet their academic goals.

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