by Todd Pheifer

Created on: September 04, 2008   Last Updated: November 18, 2008

Making a list!

Here is a list of the top ten study skills needed by college freshmen in today's society. Granted, they may not cover every skill that is helpful in collegiate settings, but they do cover most of the broad areas that are needed in order to succeed in an educational environment. Amidst all the fun and revelry of the college environment, students do need to study on occasion (perish the thought), particularly if they want to excel in their field of study. Here are a few skills that they may need.

1. Ability to find a quiet spot

It is tempting to study in the dorm room or the apartment because it is more "fun" there. However, it can also be distracting. Therefore, the number one skill a freshman must have is the ability to get away and tolerate being in a quiet space where they can concentrate.

2. Reading critically

College includes a lot of reading. A crucial study skill is the ability to read critically, so that the student can ascertain the theme of the text, as well as memorize those pieces that must be retained for later.

3. Research (beyond the search engine)

Students must be able to research in order to augment their study. This means going beyond Google or Wikipedia to an actual library and reading books, studies, and refereed periodicals.

4. Willingness to leave

Related to finding a quiet spot is the willingness to leave. In other words, a student needs to know when they must remove themselves from a distracting situation so that they can give their full energy and attention to study.

5. Focus, focus, focus

Some people would also call this "vision" because it refers to a sense of why the student is in school. Sometimes the work is tedious or boring, but the student must maintain their "focus" in order to remind themselves of why they have undertaken this journey.

6. Critical thinking

A key part of studying is understanding the material. Therefore, critical thinking skills are very important so that the student can put their brain through a process of evaluation and questioning. Some college knowledge is about rote memorizing but other learning occurs when the student is forced to ponder a process or do some critical analysis.

7. Have patience

It is very important for a student to have patience when they study. Some material is frustrating while other material is just slow to get through. Without patience, the student will be prone to leave and go find something more interesting to do.

8. Time management

Time is always against the college student. They do want to have some fun, so time management is an important part of study skills. They must have a sense of their calendar, their responsibilities, and the amount of time that each task will take to complete.

9. Take good notes

Not all information will be clearly in a book. In order to enhance studying, students must be good note takers, both in class and in study sessions. If they do not understand something, they must have the courage to raise their hand and clarify their misunderstanding.

10. Memorize and retain

Finally, it helps when studying to have a mind that retains information. Some people struggle with keeping knowledge in their head, but this is a crucial part of college. Retention takes practice and training so that all the skills above culminate with understanding and the ability to apply knowledge at a later time.

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