Last week, all of Albizu University’s student had midterms. Some of us studied well and were prepared to take each test, others… not so much. You might have realized, while panicking during that first question on your test, that you didn’t study as well as you should have. Studying isn’t fun…but learning is! Everyone loves to learn new things and as human beings, it is in our nature the capacity to learn. However, learning is also an art. Not all subjects are the same, so no learning process is ever the same. Learning should be entertaining, instructive and life-changing. Here I will expose my tried and true tips that I’ve learned during my years in college and that have helped me excel in every class.
1. Start studying from the first moment you receive the material.
After class, read the assigned chapter for next week and try to summarize it into an outline (like the one above). It will help you see the concepts more clearly. Do this after every class. The week before the test, just read your outline instead of reading the chapters all over again. You’ll save time and prevent unneeded stress. Also, bonus points if you rewrite the notes you took during class, it’ll help you seal them in your brain.
2. Participate in class.
Your professors are there for a reason. They don’t just stand there to tell you what they’re going to ask on the test. They like it when you ask questions, analyze the information and are able to paraphrase it back to them correctly.
3. Use the internet correctly
Welcome to the 21st century, where everyone possesses a device (or two!) that can access an unlimited amount of information from every corner of the world! There are hundreds of websites made especially for students so they can exchange reading and study material, videos, text books, exercises…KNOWLEDGE! For you psych students: Try Crash Course in YouTube, look for the psychology section.
4. Listen to music.
This doesn’t work for everyone and you might need an extremely good amount of concentration to listen to music and study at the same time. Start by choosing songs that don’t have lyrics to them so you can focus better. Music may help you pick up the pace while studying because it revs you up. Research has been inconclusive whether music helps or not, but try it out and see what works for you.
5. Don’t study for more than two hours at a time.
and take 15 minute breaks every hour! Only a select few of people have the capacity to concentrate on tasks for a long time. However, most of us can only pay attention for just an hour and at times, two hours. You need to know your limits and move accordingly. If you know that you won’t be able to concentrate for a long period of time, then divide your studying into different periods of time throughout the week.
6. Brain food
When we study, our brain uses a lot of energy from working so much. That’s why we get so hungry and tend to go looking for a snack. However, we need to choose the correct snack so it can provide us with the boost we need. A donut is not the best snack. Try some nuts and dry fruit, apple topped with peanut butter or even a piece of dark chocolate.
7. Study groups
When you study with friends, you dissect the material into easier components to better understanding. You also quiz each other, correct each other and repeat things out loud. Utilizing different body senses will help you assimilate the material easily, so keep mixing it up!
8. Studying is not fun, but learning is.
This is the major you chose and you must love it. When you’re trying to study for your classes, look at it as a learning experience, fall in love with it and be excited that you’re accumulating so much knowledge.
9. Avoid all-nighters.
There will be many times in our lives where we are going to have to stay up all night doing work, however, we should try to minimize those situations to the least amount of times possible. The truth is that for our brains to actually learn something, they need rest and if you keep studying through the night, by the time you get to the test, your brain will go blank and all of that work would have gone to waste for nothing. Be responsible and do your studying on time.
10. Relax
After a study session, your brain is going to need some serious relaxation. Prevent a mental breakdown by making some time to rest and recharge. So make some tea, sit down and just relax.