College Survival Tips

Along with the long hours in class comes the extra hours of studying and reviewing class material. In order to make this process easier on yourself, below you will find some helpful tips on how to get the best out of your study time and how to take control of your time:

Study Tips

Study almost everyday (allowing personal time) and review what you have studied at least 2-3 days before your quiz/exam. It is suggested that you study one hour a day for every three hour class you take.
Make sure you control your time while studying, because there is nothing worse than pulling an all-nighter. For instance, don’t spend all your time studying for one class. Also, try to study during the day. Experts state that studying at night takes you twice as long to understand as it would during the day.
BE PREPARED! It is necessary to have all of your study materials ready, so you don’t have to leave every second to look for your supplies.
Sometimes studying with someone in your class (especially someone more knowledgeable about the subject) will help you to prepare for your test(s) a lot quicker. Get together at least 1-2 days before the test and ask each other questions, this way you will see if you truly understand the material.
Choose the right study environment, such as the library or study room. WARNING: Studying in bed can lead to unplanned study breaks—such as a nap.
People learn and retain information in different ways. Figure out which method works best for you, whether if it is using note/flash cards, reading lecture notes over and over again, and/or listening to class lectures on your tape recorder.
Students always forget that the best resource to figure out how to study for a test is to go to the source: your professor. Although your professor can’t answer all your questions, he/she might be able to point you in the right direction.
Make use of study resources on campus. Find out about and use labs, tutors, videos, computer programs, and alternate texts
Take a ten minute break after every hour of study. If possible, avoid long blocks of time for studying by spreading out several short study sessions during the day.
Last but not least—be good to yourself. Studying on four hours of sleep and an empty stomach or junk-food diet is not healthy for you and can deter you from doing your best.

Time Management

Buy a calendar with large squares for writing extensive notes about your daily obligations, including your job and class schedules.
Read all class syllabi thoroughly at the start of the semester and write down when all assignments are due. Determine which courses require a large amount of reading. Keep novels or other textbooks with you to read at work, on the bus or on breaks between classes.
Make a list of any research projects or problem-solving assignments you'll be doing and map out a study schedule on your calendar.
Write down all extracurricular activities you will be attending.
Take into account long weekends and vacations and mark them on your calendar.
Allot time for exercise during the week, as a way to relieve stress.
Decide how much time you can give to your family, friends, and to your boyfriend/girlfriend.
Make sure you keep on schedule, except for those unforeseen schedule changes.
In the end try to achieve a balance. Being a dedicated student is important, but don't forget to have fun. Every once in a while, you can blow off studying for a spontaneous night on the town.