I am addicted to Post-It Notes. Much more than an adhesive yellow square, a Post-It is the perfect fit for my daily to-do list, the reminder of my best friend's birthday, or a label on an important study abroad form. I find it incredibly satisfying to check something off my list or toss a completed Post-It in the trash can.
Maybe that sounds a little crazy, but I respond well to visual cues, and Post-It Notes help me stay organized and focused. At the start of a new semester, many students resolve to stop procrastinating, get organized, and boost their GPA. While Post-It Notes may not be the answer, you can develop a set of unique study habits to maximize your effectiveness without turning into a total bookworm.
Get Prepared
When: 17 hours a week in class leaves 151 hours to kill. Keep a weekly planner and block out your day by activity; it will help you visualize how much time you have so you don't over-schedule or forget an important commitment. Think about when you study most effectively. Do you think better in the early morning when you wake up, or are you more of a night owl? Don't approach this question from the mindset of when you prefer to actually sit down and force yourself to do work; just because you always start your reading at 1 a.m. doesn't mean that's the ideal time for your brain to process material.
Where: I can't study at my desk. Aside from the fact that my computer and picture frames take up most of the surface space, I find my room too distracting. Try some different locations (making sure they are all quiet with good lighting) and see which one works best. You may find that after checking out the library, a study lounge, and the Fulton Honors Commons, you work best in a nook at the back of the dining hall.
What: Fact: Different subjects require different approaches. Foreign languages are better studied with others to improve conversational skills. Sometimes math is easier to comprehend if you teach it to another student. Consider your subject matter and ask yourself what you need to get out of the material in order to learn it fully and be prepared for class. Then tailor your approach to maximize the return on your study time.
Identify Your Weaknesses
Procrastination: The easiest thing for a student to do is avoid studying. There's no denying that reading 40 pages of biology is an unpleasant task, or that memorizing rock types is less than stimulating. But it's important to identify why you're procrastinating. Are you afraid you won't understand the material? Are you too disorganized? Easily distracted?
Understand the source of your anxiety and brainstorm ways to overcome it. Remove distractions like music, the Internet, and your cell phone from your study space. Break larger tasks into smaller parts and start with the easiest. Plan to study for an hour, take a 10 minute break, and start again. Give yourself a time limit and a goal to complete and stick to it. Reward yourself for finishing an assignment.
Organization: Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to locate your notes in a messy binder. They key to organization is breaking down the material into sub-sections. Keep similar items together; for example quizzes in one pocket and handouts in another. Separate your class notes from your study notes and homework assignments. Consider keeping papers in chronological order. Clearly label everything and make sure you follow your organizational system throughout the semester.
Note taking: I was taught to keep my homework and study notes on the left side of my notebook, and class notes on the right, but some people can work straight through as long as they clearly identify each change in topic. Either way, be sure to title and date every page you write on.
Whether you're taking notes from a book or a lecture, try to write in your own words. If the material is coming at you too quickly, jot down major ideas and concepts and reword them more clearly later. If you miss something or fall behind in the lecture, leave space and get the notes from a classmate. Find keywords in the material and underline them. Skip lines and use headings and subheadings to clearly show breaks in topic. And don't forget about penmanship; if you can't read the notes tomorrow, they're of no use.
Ask for Help
Study Groups: Working with others is a great way to learn new material or review old topics. You can meet once a week to resolve questions from class or homework, or just get together for a couple hours before exams to review. Regardless of the subject matter, a study group can greatly improve your comprehension.
Office Hours: Every one of your professors is required to hold office hours during the week. Office hours are specific times when they can do nothing but sit at their desks and wait for eager young students to come in with questions. Even if you're totally confident about the class, make a point of stopping by every once and awhile to say hello and review any unclear notes from class. This is your chance for a one-on-one session with the person who not only determines your final grade, but sincerely wants to see you excel.
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