Top college study tips can mean the difference in whether your college career is a success or a failure. This is not high school, and while the professors want you to do your best they are not going to be providing the same type of learning environment that you have been used to. While you may have resented that seemingly constant “watching over your shoulder” from your parents and high school teachers now you are on your own and it is time for you to “sink or swim”. If you need help with study and homework techniques then this information contains the material and college study tips that you are looking for. Most students can tell you that it is not How Much you study, but knowing How to properly study for college lessons and tests that is the key that determines whether someone is going to Pass or Fail.
Let’s begin by reviewing what may be the most important of all college study tips; Time Management. If you have never learned to prioritize your available moments you had better begin to do so now. Those students that organize their time and assignments are the ones that find there is enough time in the day to get all of their work, studying and other tasks accomplished.
Try using a planner to keep lists of study assignments, and then you can mark them off as they are completed. Some students find that using two separate planners keeps them more organized. One planner can be used to track class assignments and the other can be used to track dental appointments, volunteer work or other errands that are on your agenda.
If you keep track of your syllabus assignments by writing them in your daily planner it makes it easier to stay on target with your workload.
Post a large wall calendar or desk calendar in your room and fill in the dates of major exams, reviews and homework assignments. This will let you know instantly what is next on the agenda, and will help you manage your time wisely.
Do not procrastinate when it comes to your study needs. If you have a work assignment then one of the best college tips to remember is that you should not put off studying for a later time. All this will do is to overwhelm you at the end of the week and then you will never catch up to the workload and will be constantly racing just to try and “hang in there” with the rest of the class.
Use your email and cell phone to help you manage your time wisely, not for idle chit chat and constant texting of gossip. This might be a fine way to spend the day for celebrities but for students in college studying must be the # 1 priority.
Learn to say No to friends who want you to party constantly. No amount of good college study tips will help you succeed if you are not going to use them in the first place.
Ban distractions that reduce your concentration during your studying hours.
Keep your class work as your most important priority while you are in school and do not allow your social activities to detract you from devoting the proper amount of time to your class assignments.
Many students have discovered that they accomplish more if they set aside a specific amount of time to study each day. This study time is only for class work and required reading assignments not games, phone conversations or social mingling. You have to learn how to set priorities and then stay on track with your plan.
Plan a reward for yourself at the end of the week. If you have accomplished your study goals and have done well in your class work you deserve a treat. This will give you something to look forward to after a week of diligent study.
Motivation is one of the best college study tips to use when you need a way to keep yourself on the right “study track”. Partying and constant socializing may look like fun now, but you need to keep your focus on the big picture and what you hope to accomplish in the future. There will be lots of time for you to attend parties once your studying and education are successfully completed.
The Right Type of Setting is Crucial
Make your studying environment one that works for you, even if it seems strange to others. Some students try to use a stringent set of college study tips to help them make better grades and fail to realize that some tips have to be modified.
A quiet wee lit room may be the right studying atmosphere for some people but others will do better if they have music playing in the background. Other students find it easier to study when they are outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Some people need a Spartan study setting if they want to sharpen their concentration and other students will learn more readily while they are curled on soft pillows or seated in a comfy, oversized chair. Determine what type of environment works best for you and incorporate these elements into your daily studying regimen.
More Top College Study Tips
If you only memorize facts for a test then you are not giving yourself the full benefit of your college experience. You need to understand the material presented, not just memorize it.
One of the best college study tips to keep in mind is that taking notes is essential to your success.
Keep your notes organized so that they are easy to review.
Use highlighters or different colored ink pens so that you can quickly find important information that you have written.
Ask for help from the professor and teaching assistants as soon as you feel that you are falling behind. In fact it is a good idea to make it a practice to touch base with them at least once or twice a week. They are there to help but you have to seek them out, because they are not going to go hunting for you to see if you need help.
Use a recording device to tape class lectures and then listen to the tapes once or twice a day.
Do not rely only on your memory when you are listening to a lecture, a tape and notes will make sure that you have a record of the information that was presented.
Share college study tips with fellow students and learn new tips and ideas from them. Have a once a week “study party” and discuss ideas and information.
Organization is one of the leading college study tips that must become part of your daily life. Check out some of the planners and other organizing accessories at the local book store and discover which ones will help you keep on top of your studying assignments.
Food helps many people study so keep some healthy snacks nearby when you are preparing to settle down and “crack the books”.
According to many educators and students lists of college study tips often fail to include information about study time. You should study your lessons each day, even if you have no assignments posted. This will help you reinforce the material that you have already learned. Breaking your study period into smaller segments is helpful, and you should arrange to take a 10-15 minute break after an hour of intense work. On the average you should devote at least 2 hours a day to your studying.
These college study tips are among those that have proven to help students succeed throughout the country.You will have to experiment to discover which ones are best suited for your own needs and personal study style.
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