College Study Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Here are some benefits to studying for your college classes the right way: more leisure time, less stress, less pressure from your parents, less debt, better grades, and better career opportunities. Sound worthwhile? That doesn't mean there isn't work involved, but it's how you accomplish the work that matters. You can either work smarter, or keep spinning your wheels while barely hanging on to passing grades. Follow these tips to make the most of your time and mental resources:

Establish Successful Habits. Here's a simple formula: Successful habits lead to success and unsuccessful habits lead to failure. Commit to studying by establishing a set time and place. Eliminate distractions, turn off your cell phone and for that time period dedicate 100 percent of your energy to learning.

Get Roommate Cooperation: Discuss with your roommate the best times for you to study. Make that time off-limits to guests and loud distractions.

Prepare. Read the topic chapters before the lecture. (If you haven't purchased the book yet, now is the time to do it!) This will get you familiar with the material and give you an indication of what the professor thinks is most important by what is stressed in the lecture.

Take Notes. As you read, write notes on what you think are the important points. Then, during the lecture, use a highlighter to mark your reading notes when the professor touches on the same points. Take new notes on material that is not in your book or that you did not already write down.

Study More Often for Less Time. Cram sessions are the least effective way to learn and retain information. It may sound cool to pull an all-nighter, but actually, you're wasting your time as it prevents your brain and body from functioning at peak levels. Break up your study sessions into 45-minute blocks with a 10-15 minute break in between. Grab something to eat, stretch, or go for a walk. This gives your brain a chance to absorb the material. Of course this requires that you plan ahead instead of waiting to crack open your book the night before!

Study in Groups. Studying with other people helps to reinforce the material by discussing, clarifying, and repeating it in your own words. In addition, it also forces you to commit to a time and place to study since other people are counting on you.

Relate it to Real Life. It's much easier to digest and remember information in the context of a story or personal example than memorizing a bunch of unrelated facts. Whenever you can, relate the material to real life. Find examples in your personal experiences, music, books, current news stories, business, pop culture, or case studies. Need help? Ask your professor!

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor and author of the college survival guide, "My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate from Hell" (Adams Media). She offers more college survival tips on her Web site, http://www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com

---

The Oxford Student - Official Student Newspaper

Academics from Oxford University have mathematically proven long held suspicions... Read More

College Bound: The Organized Dorm

I can still remember my shopping list for my first... Read More

Outstanding Business Professors at WVU, Part 2

Stratford Douglas enrolled at the University of North Carolina in... Read More

Whats behind the Explosive Growth in Distance Learning?

There is a ground swell of support globally to support... Read More

CSI Has Made The Study Of Forensics An Exciting Career Opportunity

Forensics is not just one field of study but encompasses... Read More

Online Degree Program and Online Degree Programs

Online degree program is a good choice for busy individual's... Read More

9 Lessons for Success in College - That Actually Make Sense

Most students know what it takes to be successful in... Read More

College Without A High School Diploma - Possible?

Don't give up your dream of enrolling in an online... Read More

Online Education with the University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix Online Focuses on Team LearningUnlike some other... Read More

How To Improve Your Study Habits and Remember Better

If you're a student attending classes, you have probably experienced... Read More

Get Your College Degree Online

Have you long wanted or needed to increase your level... Read More

Do Best Friends Make the Best College Roommates?

Do best friends make the best college roommates? Not always!... Read More

Packing for College

Sending a child away for college and helping them pack... Read More

Parents: Take the SAT Challenge!

I keep a box of tissues on the table where... Read More

Online Education and Digital Divide

Digital Education is really coming along thanks to the US... Read More

College Entertainment for Less

Most of these activities are free or very cheap:* Campus... Read More

Mind-Body Secrets for College Success - Six Key Secrets

Embrace the secrets of the body-mind connection and tap into... Read More

College Residence Life Staff: Speak to Gain Respect

When you speak, do residents listen or ignore you? If... Read More

Online Degree Education - Advantages

Distance education has been getting a lot of attention lately,... Read More

Balancing College Life and Academics

1. Control Your Schedule; Don't Let Your Schedule Control YouOrganization... Read More

Scholarships not Working for You Neither, Huh?

We're going to college, and we need cash. We have... Read More

Distance Learning: Balancing Your Education and Busy Lifestyle

Distance Learning is a priority for most who have already... Read More

All About Grants for College Students

Grants are a type of student aid that is awarded... Read More

Why are Some Online Degree Colleges Better than Others?

Any student who is on the lookout for online degree... Read More

Dont Graduate - What Students Should Know About College, But No One Ever Tells Them

For all the students even dreaming about going to college,... Read More

Student Financial Guide is Your Guide to College Success

The Student Financial Guide website is divided into categories pertaining... Read More

Writing The All-Important College Application Essay

The application essay is the most crucial piece of writing... Read More

Building Interaction Into Your Online Course

You've already decided that you're ready to author online and... Read More

Quality Schools

After presenting these ideas at the NAREN (National At-Risk Education... Read More

MRCP and MRCPCH ? Preparation for the Examination

There should have been a time in the human history... Read More

Why Students Turn To Custom Writing Services

Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts,... Read More

Graduation Quotations - Top 35

"Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn... Read More

Write Your Way Into University ? The Personal Statement

The Get Into Uni personal statement writing guide contains systematic... Read More