Let’s face it. Most freshman have no idea how to study in college. In fact various surveys of college students have found that up to 11 out of 14 students have admitted this.
So how do you study in college?
Well, preparing for tests is only part of the work. You have to take notes in lectures, do a ton of reading, take tutorials, do research etc etc. Some of the best advice on how to study in college comes from other college students.
One thing you may not know is that we all have different learning styles.
Some of us are visual and prefer reading and working on a computer. We also like to see lots of images and diagrams, and the use of color coding to emphasize various facts.
Others are auditory and prefer to hear words out loud rather than reading them. They benefit more from hearing the lecturer rather than reading his notes.
You may also find that you are a day or a night person and study better and concentrate more during specific times of the day. You need to find out what sort of person you are and structure your study around the most efficient times.
You also need to manage your time more effectively. Students who know how to study in college are usually good time managers because there’s so much more in your timetable than when you were in high school.
Find a place where you can study the most effectively. This will range from the library, the coffee shop, your bedroom at home, a friend’s house, the dorm lounge… whatever works for you.
Instead of doing required reading after your lecture, why not do it before? It’ll help put into perspective what the lecturer is talking about.
Rewrite or retype your lecture notes. This will help you retain the information longer.
The thing about how to study in college is that it’s not just about the facts but how you put them together. A great way to do this is using mind maps. This helps you connect the dots when you start writing about something.
If you want to learn more about how to study in college… check out How To Study Bootcamp and find out exactly how an ‘A’ student does it.