Preparing for college can be nerve-wracking for a high school student, even if you’ve already been accepted by a school. During that final year of high school, it may be difficult to concentrate on academics, but you want to show your college that you aren’t slacking off just because you’ve already been accepted. It is always important to do your best.
This video offers a step-by-step plan to help you organize your week.
As you prepare for college, not only should you be keeping up with your schoolwork, but you should take some time to evaluate your study habits to see if you are properly prepared for college. In this article, you’ll receive the top ten study tips to get you ready for the transition into college.
How Much Studying Do College Students Do?
According to a national study, the average full-time college student spends about 15 hours per week studying. Of course, the number of hours a student spends studying doesn’t necessarily correlate with their level of academic success. For example, students who studied an average of 20 hours per week or more were not always fully prepared for class, according to the results of a campus-wide student engagement survey. The amount of time students spend studying may also depend on their major and their class load. For example, senior engineering students reported 19 hours of study per week while students in the social sciences and business studied an average of 5 hours less.
This video offers suggestions on how to study for college.
What is the takeaway here? While spending more time studying isn’t necessarily a guarantee of academic success, improving your study habits will benefit you significantly as a student. Keep in mind that not all study habits are created equal – the habits that work best for you will be determined by your learning style. Keep reading to learn how to study more effectively to improve your academic performance leading into college.
Tips for Studying More Effectively
Many students start college thinking that it is going to be exactly like high school. There are plenty of high school seniors who perform well in AP classes and honors programs without dedicating a significant amount of time to studying. You may think that you can maintain these minimal study habits as you enter college, but you might find that you are woefully unprepared when it comes time for your first quiz or test.
This video offers suggestions for studying effectively.
Academic success isn’t all about rote memorization or about the number of hours you spend poring over a textbook. It’s about studying effectively to learn the material and to remember it – not just for the quiz. So, what do effective study habits look like? Here are ten tips for studying more effectively as you prepare to enter college:
- Create a study schedule. There is no sense in blocking off a specific time period to spend studying if you don’t actually have enough work to fill the block, but it’s always a good idea to have the option. Set aside time every day to devote to your studies so you can get your work done and still have time for enjoyment. It’s always better to study a little each day than to cram in the last few hours before a test.
- Seek help when you don’t understand something. In college, you are going to come across complex and confusing subjects. If you don’t understand something, don’t skip it or try to teach yourself – ask for help! Your professors and other students are a resource you should take advantage of to make sure you understand the material completely.
- Keep track of your assignments and tests. The key to effective studying is setting aside time to do it and using your time wisely. In college, you’ll be juggling multiple classes at a time, so you’ll want to keep track of your assignments, quizzes, and tests in a planner. When you get the syllabus for your class, write everything down in your planner so you don’t miss anything!
- Change up your study space from time to time. Some students find that they work best in a calm, quiet environment and, once they find one, they stick to it. But recent research shows that alternating study spaces may help you to retain information for longer. Try changing up your study space a few times a week to see if this tactic works for you!
- Try a study group. In some cases, study groups can actually detract from your studies if you spend more time socializing than studying, but they are a wonderful resource when used properly. Find a group of students in the same classes as you and suggest a study group. When it comes to assignments, you can divide and conquer or you can work through them together.
- Make flashcards. If you have a lot of material to remember – especially if it’s small facts like names or dates, flashcards are a wonderful study tool. The act of writing everything out is valuable in and of itself, but the flashcards will also help you to solidify your understanding of the material.
- Change it up from time to time. Rather than spending four hours studying for a single class, try dividing up your academic workload and alternate between subjects. If you change things up from time to time you’ll be less bored which means you’ll focus more on the material and retain more of it in the long run.
- Use your notes wisely. When you attend a lecture, it is important to take notes. Not only will you have those notes to refer to when it comes time to complete the assignment, but writing things down actually helps you to retain the information. But don’t just take notes and forget about them – review them several times to really solidify your understanding and memory of the material!
- Highlight and rewrite your notes. In addition to reviewing your notes, you may also want to highlight them as you make your review. Highlight important concepts and facts so you can easily focus on those areas when you go back through to study. You may even find that rewriting your notes is helpful for remembering the material!
- Get enough sleep! This may not seem like a study tip, but a great deal of research shows that getting a good night’s rest is imperative for strong academic performance. If you follow the study tips above, you’ll get your work done with plenty of time to get a full night of sleep. In the morning you’ll be more alert and focused and ready for class.
In the end, it is up to you to determine what kind of study habits benefit you the most. Some students prefer to attend lectures and take notes by hand while others prefer to do the reading themselves and to study independently. Whatever method you choose, be sure that it is one that enables you to succeed in school as much as possible.
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