If you asked a cross section of students why they are in college, you would
probably get a wide range of responses. People go to college to educate and
enrich themselves, to prepare for a specific career, to please their friends or
family, and for a number of other reasons. Whatever the reasons, just about
everyone hopes college will be a positive, worthwhile experience.
Many students, however, face obstacles to making the most of their time in
college. Such students come to feel that they can't do the work required. But
often their real problem is they don't know how to do the work. Making use of
the following studying tips and advice will help you to take the fullest
possible advantage of all that college has to offer.
Having the Right Attitude
Your attitude must say, "I will do the work." As the quarter unfolds, you
must attend classes and complete assignments. When you hit crunch times, you
must do the plain, hard work that college demands. Some people take on the work
and persist even when they hit snags and problems; others don't take on the work
or don't persist when things get rough. This inner commitment to getting the
work done is probably the single most important factor needed for success in
college.
Doing the Work Despite Difficulties
Some people joke that college orientation-the day or so before the start of
the first quarter-lasts a year or more for many students. The joke is all too
often true. You may find that the first year of college is a time of unsettling
change and adjustment. You may start questioning long-accepted personal values.
You might begin thinking about career goals. You are in a new environment and
must learn to form new relationships. If you have been away from school for
several years, or were never a serious student in high school, you may have to
spend a good deal of time developing effective study habits. In addition, you
may find that existing financial, personal, or family problems create even more
stress during this already anxious period in your life.
Invariably, the students who succeed, in spite of their difficulties, have
determined to do the work. You too, despite the worries and demands you may
experience during a semester, must resolve to get the work done. Otherwise you
will lose valuable opportunities that may not come your way again.
Rather than trying to do the work, you may decide to drop a course or drop
out of college for a quarter. Your decision may be exactly the right thing to
do, but before taking such an important step, be sure to talk to someone about
your plans. At school you will find people to talk to-counselors, advisers,
teachers, and others-who can help you get a perspective on your situation. From
time to time, all of us need the insights into ourselves that we cannot possibly
get alone, but that others can offer us.
Are You Avoiding the Work?
As the quarter progresses and the work pressure builds, you must make a
choice. You have two alternatives. One is to do the work: to leave the game
table, click off the stereo or television, turn down the invitation to go out,
and go off alone to get your work done. The other alternative is to avoid the
work, and, as we all know, there are countless ways to do this.
Some of the tactics students use to avoid studying are described below. If
you find yourself using these excuses or falling into these traps repeatedly,
you should do some serious thinking about whether now is the right time for you
to be in college. If you are unsure of your commitment, don't coast along,
trying to ignore the situation. Instead, make an appointment with a counselor,
your academic adviser, or some other interested person. That way you will
confront your problem and begin to deal with it.
- "I Can't Do It"
Many students adopt a defeatist attitude from the very start. Convinced they
cannot do the work, they don't even try. However, the only way you can find out
whether or not you can do something is by trying-giving it your best shot. Most
colleges will give determined students plenty of help by making available such
services as tutoring programs and reading, writing, and math labs.
- "I'm Too Busy"
Some students make themselves too busy, taking on a job that is not
absolutely necessary or working more hours on a job than they need to. Others
get involved in social activities on and off campus. Still others make personal
or family problems so tangled and pressing that they cannot concentrate on their
work. There are real cases in which people become so busy or troubled that they
cannot do their work. But there are many cases in which students unconsciously
create conflicts to have an excuse for not doing what they know they should.
- "I'll Do It Later"
Everyone tends at times to procrastinate-to put things off. Some students,
however, constantly postpone doing assignments and setting aside regular study
hours. Time and time again they put off what needs to be done so they can watch
TV, talk to a friend, go to the movies, or do any one of a hundred other things.
Beware of convincing yourself that you work best under pressure. Although it
may seem that you have your most interesting ideas the night before a paper is
due, or know best the material you study between midnight and two for a nine
a.m. exam, you will almost certainly benefit from advance preparation. One of
the truisms of psychological literature is that we learn things better, and are
able to recall them longer, when we study material in small chunks over several
study sessions, rather than massing our study into one lengthy period. This
implies that all-night studying just before a test is going to be less
effective-and a lot more tiring-than employing a series of steady, regular study
sessions.
- "I'm Bored with the Subject"
Students sometimes suggest that they are doing poorly in a course because the
instructor or the subject matter is boring. These students want education to be
high-pitch entertainment-an unrealistic expectation. On the whole, college
courses and instructors balance out: some will be boring, some will be exciting,
many will be somewhere in between. If a course is not interesting to you, you
should be all the more motivated to do the work so you can leave the course
behind once and for all.
- "I'm Here and That's What Counts"
Some people spend a good part of college lost in a dangerous fantasy. They
feel, "Everything will be fine. I'm here in college. I have a student I.D. card
and a backpack full of textbooks. All this proves I am a college student. I've
made it." Such students have succumbed to a fantasy we all indulge in at times:
the belief that we will get something for nothing. Most everyone learns from
experience, however, that such a hope is false. Life seldom gives us something
for nothing, and college won't either. To become what you want to be, you must
be prepared to make a solid effort. By making such a decision and acting on it,
you assume control of your life.
Getting Off to a Strong Start
Making a good schedule is one way to start out well in college. Many schools
require that all students have a fixed schedule their first quarter. However, if
you have some choice about what courses to take, make sure you read your college
catalog closely. It may describe the content and objectives of most courses and
indicate prerequisites-other courses or experiences you must have before
enrolling. If you don't have the stated prerequisites, do not sign up for a
course.
- Before making up your schedule, it's a good idea to speak to some
knowledgeable people who can help you select interesting and appropriate
courses. Academic advisers, counselors, or upper- level students can give you
sound advice about scheduling.
- Try to plan your classes so you don't schedule on any day an uninterrupted
series of lectures or labs. Such a routine can be fatiguing and prevent you from
doing your best work.
- Don't schedule more than the recommended number of courses your first
quarter. You don't want to end up with a heavy schedule and an impossible
workload.
Learning the Ground Rules for Each Course
Another way to make a good start is to learn the ground rules for each of
your courses. Many instructors explain course requirements in the first class,
so be sure you're there and take notes. Your instructors may also distribute a
syllabus or course description. Look at the syllabus carefully. It often tells
where the instructor's office is, lists the instructor's office hours, and
presents information about attendance, quizzes and exams, required reading, and
so on. If such information is not covered in the syllabus or by the instructor,
be sure to ask your instructor about these matters.
The first week or so of a new quarter is generally hectic. If there are
mix-ups in your schedule and you can't make it to the first or second class, let
the instructor know that you haven't dropped the course and that you plan to
attend class regularly. Also, don't forget to get the course syllabus and check
with the instructor-not other students-about any work assigned during the
classes you missed.
Keeping Up With Your Courses
If you have problems understanding the material in a course, don't waste time
complaining about the subject or the instructor. And don't sit back calmly and
assume that everything will work out. Make sure you get help, either from
another student or from your instructor. Many students are reluctant to go to
their instructors for help, but that is why teachers have office hours. Take
advantage of these set-aside times.
Whenever you are absent, you should ask the instructor, not other students,
about missed assignments. It's wise not to rely on other students for this
information because they may not have understood the assignment or may not
explain it to you clearly. Your work will invariably reflect this confusion. By
going to your instructor, you will not only get the information firsthand, you
will also demonstrate your commitment to your work.
Making the Most of Your Time
All of us need free time, hours without demands and obligations, so we canjust relax and do what we please. However, it is easy to lose track of time and
discover suddenly that there aren't enough hours to do what needs to be done. No
skill is more basic to survival in college than time control. If you do not use
your time well, your college career-and the life goals that depend on how well
you do in college-will slip through your fingers. The following three methods
will help you gain control of your time: you will learn how to use a large
monthly calendar, a weekly study schedule, and a daily or weekly "To Do" list.
A Large Monthly Calendar
You should buy or make a large monthly calendar. Such a calendar is yourfirst method of time control, because it allows you, in one quick glance, to get
a clear picture of what you need to do in the weeks to come. Be sure your
monthly calendar has a good-sized block of white space for each date. Then, as
soon as you learn about exam dates and paper deadlines, enter them in the
appropriate spot on the calendar. Hang the calendar in a place where you will
see it every day, perhaps above your desk or on your bedroom wall.
A Weekly Study Schedule
A weekly study schedule will make you aware of how much time you actuallyhave each week, and will help you use that time effectively.
Plan, at first, at least one hour of study time for each hour of class time.
Depending on the course, the grade you want, and your own study efficiency, you
may have to schedule more time later. A difficult course, for example, may
require three hours or more of study time for each course hour. Remember that
learning is what counts, not the time it takes you to learn.
Be prepared to schedule as much time as you need to gain control of a course.
Schedule regular study time. To succeed in your college work, you need to
establish definite study hours. If you do not set aside and stick to such hours
on a daily or almost daily basis, you are probably going to lose control of your
time. There are many values to setting aside regular study hours. First, they
help make studying a habit. Study times will be as automatically programmed into
your daily schedule as, say, watching a favorite television program. You will
not have to remind yourself to study, nor will you waste large amounts of time
and energy trying to avoid studying; you will simply do it. Another value of
regular study time is that you will be better able to stay up to date on work in
your courses. You are not likely to find yourself several days before a test
with three textbook chapters to read or five weeks of classroom notes to
organize and study. Finally, as mentioned before, regular study takes advantage
of the proven fact that a series of study sessions is more effective for
learning material than a single long "cram" session. Plan at least one-hour
blocks of study time. If you schedule less than one hour, your study period may
be over just when you are fully warmed up and working hard.
Reward yourself for using study time effectively, positively reinforcing a
certain behavior will likely lead to an increase in the probability of its
occurrence. In other words, if after a period of efficient study, you allow
yourself to watch an hour of television or to telephone a friend (positive
reinforcement), you will be more likely to use your study time effectively in
the future. Remember that your reward system won't work if you cheat! If you
reward yourself with television and phone conversations with friends after not
studying, you'll be just as likely to repeat the negative behavior (not using
your study time wisely) as the positive behavior (studying effectively).
Try to schedule study periods before and after classes. Ideally, you should
read a textbook chapter before a teacher covers it; what you hear in class will
then be a "second exposure," and so the ideas are likely to be a good deal more
meaningful to you. You should also look over your notes from the preceding class
in case the teacher discusses the material further. Similarly, if you take a few
minutes to review your notes as soon after class as possible, you will be able
to organize and clarify the material while it is still fresh in your mind.
Work on your most difficult subjects when you are most alert. Save routine
work for times you are most likely to be tired. You might, for example, study a
new and difficult psychology chapter at 8 p.m. if you are naturally alert then,
and review vocabulary words for Spanish class at 11 p.m., when you may be a
little tired.
Balance your activities. Allow free time for family, friends, sports,
television, and so on in your schedule.
Keep your schedule flexible. When unexpected events occur, trade times on
your weekly timetable. Do not simply do away with study hours. If you find that
your schedule requires constant adjustments, revise it. After two or three
revisions, you will have a realistic, practical weekly schedule that you can
follow honestly.
A Daily or Weekly "To Do" List
Many successful people make the "to do" list a habit, considering it anessential step in making the most efficient use of their time each day. A "to
do" list, made up daily or weekly, may be one of the most important single study
habits you will ever acquire. A weekly list should be prepared on a Sunday for
the week ahead; a daily list should be prepared the evening before a new day or
first thing on the morning of that day.
Carry the list with you throughout the day. Decide priorities. Making the
best use of your time means focusing on top-priority items rather than spending
hours completing low-priority activities. Place an asterisk (*) or an "A" in
front of the high-priority items on the list.
Cross out items as you finish them. Doing this will give you a sense of
accomplishment, as well as help you see easily what you still have left to do.
The monthly calendar, master study schedule, and "To Do" list, combined with
your own determination to apply them, can reduce the disorder of everyday life.
Through time planning, you can achieve the consistency in your work that is
vital for success in school. You will probably get more done than you ever have
before.
Other Tips
If possible, study in a well-lighted place where you can sit comfortably andbe quiet and alone. If your roommates don't keep the same schedule as you and
are socializing or relaxing during your optimal study times, plan to go the
library or student center. Many dormitories have study lounges as well. If you
have one particular spot where you usually do most of your studying, you will
almost automatically shift into gear and begin studying when you go to that
place.
Stay in good physical condition. You do not want to be prey to quick fatigue
or frequent bouts of sickness. Eat nourishing meals; you will probably master a
difficult psychology chapter more easily if you have had a solid breakfast than
if you had only a cup of coffee. Try to get an average of eight hours of sleep a
night unless your system can manage with less. Also, try to exercise on a
regular basis. A short workout in the morning will help sustain your energy flow
during the day.
Use outside study help when needed. Studying with other people can be
beneficial if everyone in the group is committed to doing work and really
helping each other to learn the material. Someone else may be able to clarify
concepts that you don't quite understand, and the camaraderie may be just what
you need to keep you going. Some students, however, use studying in groups to
procrastinate further. You may end up wasting hours talking about things that
have nothing to do with your studies, or simply complaining about how much you
don't want to study. If you become part of a study group, force yourself to
ensure that the group stays on track and is helpful to you. Also, find out if
your school or individual departments have a tutoring service. If so, do not
hesitate to use the service to get help on a particular subject or subjects.
Determine if your school, like many, has a learning center where you may work on
developing writing, reading, study, and math skills. Finally, learn the office
hours of your professors and plan to see them if you need additional help.
