13 Tips For Learning How To Study In College
Find studying confusing? You’re not alone.
For college students, studying takes up a large portion of your time. Well, it should anyway.
But studying and actually learning how to study smarter are two different things. If you’re spending a lot of time doing something, you want to make sure you’re doing it the best you can, right?
We’ve got 13 tips to teach you how to study in college to help you maximize your results.
Best Ways to Learn How to Study in College
1. Make a Schedule
We’ve all been there, late-night cramming, trying to figure out how to get a textbook to actually enter your brain before the big test. But shocking absolutely no one, this isn’t the most productive way to study. Especially if you’re studying one of the hardest majors.
Making a study schedule can sometimes feel like extra work that you could be spending studying. But if you set realistic goals, sessions, and subjects in timed slots, then you can create a much more productive timetable. Smaller, but regular chunks of studying across a month are way more manageable than 24 hours of studying just before you take a test. This helps develop your comprehension of the subject, instead of just memorizing.
2. Use Timers
Following on from the study timetable, study timers can be an incredibly effective way to study in college. There’s so many distractions everywhere you turn, that sometimes it can be hard to knuckle down and focus. Instead of dedicating a whole day to studying in one big block, Pomodoro timers or just regular timers can be a great way to get your head down.
Set a timer for 45 minutes and see how much you can achieve in that time. You’ll probably find that it’s easier to shut your door and lock your phone away for that amount of time than stretching it across a whole day. Without the distractions, think of what you can do!
3. Choose Your Study Location Wisely
Think about where you are most productive. Is it mornings in the library or are you a night owl, preferring the comfort of your own room? Where you study can have a huge impact on how well you study.
Remember that no two people are the same, so even though your roommate might swear by a study session in the library in a big group, it might not be the same for you.
4. Identify Your Weakest Areas
You know when your strengths and weaknesses lie when you take your classes. When it comes to studying, it might feel easier and more accomplished to tackle areas that you feel confident in, but that’s not necessarily helpful.
Instead, use it as a moment of self-reflection. Where do you really zone out, or switch off? Hone in on these areas as focus points for your study sessions. If you’re confident in other areas, you’ll still need to brush up on these, but it definitely won’t take as long to master these. If you can feel more confident about areas you think are your weaknesses, then chances are you’ll be on the way to acing that exam.
5. Use Flashcards
Memorizing information is great, but do you actually know what you’re talking about? It can be information overload, so learning how to study in college can mean being selective with WHAT you’re learning. Unless you’re taking a multiple-choice test where the answer is straightforward, you’ll need to have some comprehension of the subject.
This is where flashcards come in.
Flashcards are a great way of thinking about how to make the information you’re learning super concise and digestible. Making flashcards on their own is a good way to understand more about your subject, and then add to it by testing your memory.
6. Buddy Up For a Study Group
A problem shared is a problem halved, right? Study groups can be a great way to gain knowledge with your classmates. This can really help if you know you have knowledge gaps that someone else can help with.
Plus, setting up study groups that tie into a social element means that you can bond with your fellow classmates and get to know them too. Study hard, then grab a bite to eat with our food and drink discounts.
7. Make Sure You’re Eating Healthily
We see you stocking up with junk food and energy drinks.
We’re not one to judge, because candy is life, and there are worse habits to have. But if you want to get the most of your study sessions, then you might want to have a look at what you’re eating. Learning how to study in college is not only down to what goes into your head, but what goes into your body, too.
Caffeine from dawn to dusk mixed in with takeout food and candy means you’ll likely crash out. We’re not saying cut it out altogether, why not add some salads or iron-rich food to help your brain power? And don’t forget to hydrate in between the caffeine!
8. Get Your Zzz’s
On the same point, you’ve got to take care of your body to take care of your mind. Sleep is always the first thing to slip, especially when you’re in college. From the study sessions to late night gaming and all the parties, your sleep is likely all over the place. But we know there’s a correlation between how much sleep you’re getting and your test scores. This same study also discovered that even if you went to sleep after 2am, but still got at least 7 hours sleep, you’d still get lower grades than if you went to sleep earlier. So there’s something to be said for an early night.
When you know you have a big test coming up, try and prioritize at least seven hours of sleep so that you’ve got the best possible natural advantage.
9. Test Yourself With a Classmate
Once you’ve sorted a study timetable, why not try inviting a classmate along nearer the time?
Having someone study with you, even if you’re not keen on big groups, can be really motivating. It can also mean you’ve got an on-hand examiner who can test you in your weaker spots and understand the answers you need to have for your tests.
10. Find Your Study Style
Are you someone who loves using visual aids like mind-maps to help study? Or maybe you swear by flashcards, or just want to power through a textbook.
There’s no one way to study, it’s super personal to you. And you know what makes you tick, so our advice? Capitalize on whatever works. Finding the right study style that suits you means you’ll be way more productive – there’s no point making mind maps if you know you’ll never look at them again.
11. Get Yourself Little Treats
Okay, we know, we’re no better than dogs. But honestly, the motivation to study increases if we know there’s a little takeout coffee at lunch.
And you know what? If it works it works, so add a little sticky note wishlist of your favorite vices to your study timetable, then when you hit the halfway mark (or whatever milestone you choose), treat yourself.
If you need fuel for studying, we’ve got the best study snacks for college students to try.
12. Review Your Goals
Studying is a bit like fitness—it can be easier to do if you know what your end goal is. So when you create a study timetable, ask yourself what your goals are at the end of each day, week, or however long you’re doing your timetable for.
This can help structure your time and give you a mental checklist that is oh, so satisfying to check off when you’ve hit your goal. Apart from just learning how to study in college, this can be a useful technique to take into life after school.
13. Ask For More Support if You Need It
Last, but certainly not least, if you need more support, then don’t feel nervous to ask for help.
Your professors are there to guide you in your college life, and sometimes it can make all the difference to speak to them. For example, if you don’t understand the assignment question, then getting some clarification on this can make it easier to plan your work. If you’re studying for finals, then see if your professor can give hints on what to study.
Sometimes just running through how you study with a professor can help, as they can give their pearls of wisdom to make sure you’re studying smarter, not harder.
You’ll never know if you don’t ask the question!
We hope these were helpful, and don’t forget to use your student discount to treat yourself in between studying for finals.
