College Crunch

As a busy college student, it’s important to get the best use from your study time. Set aside time when you can focus, and make sure you’re in an environment that has limited distractions. This guide provides some of our top tips to time time while studying:

1. Use Index Cards

Take note of the most important material including key principles, formulas and books on note cards so that you can quiz yourself, as well as cycling through them for quick review.

2. Learn the Teacher’s Grading Scheme

Come to understand how you will be graded: by gaining a better sense of the teacher’s evaluation scale, you will know where to focus your time, whether it is on homework, class participation, projects or exams. Budget your time according to where you will earn the majority of your grade. Also, make sure to study hard for each exam if there is a final, as you will often be tested on comprehensive knowledge built upon from the beginning of the year.

3. Read Comprehensive Summaries

Research has shown that knowledge is often established through repetition, so make sure you cover important topics often and write up summaries of what you have learned. If your books provide overviews, recaps or highlights, make sure to review them to make sure you’ve mastered all of the important concepts.

4. Test Yourself

Practice makes perfect, and academics are no exception. Whether you are preparing for an exam or just reviewing material for class, try to anticipate questions the professor might ask and see if you are able to come up with solutions. Also, utilize any practice exams, questions or essays that your teacher or book provides to gain additional practice.

5. Filter and Highlight Important Information

Many classes feature a large amount of information to master – make sure that you are able to pick out what is the most crucial to the concepts at hand, and categorize them in a way that will ensure you revisit them often. In many cases, you will want to highlight your book or notes directly, while in other cases, it is best to re-write notes with a focus on the core concepts.

There are a number of techniques and methods to get the most from your study time, so make sure to test what works best for you. Over time, you will have found an effective study routine that will help you to graduation and beyond.