If you’re anything like me, studying can be a real pain. It took me a while to learn how to study effectively and I still have trouble in some classes. These tips can work for any exams, even finals.
1. Find a quiet, comfortable, distraction-free zone
I’ve found that I can’t study in my room. I live on campus so it’s hard to work in my dorm room and I get very distracted or I fall asleep. I love going to Joyner Library. I get a starbucks and tuck myself in a corner for hours.
2. Use the study guides
Not all teachers use study guides but a lot do. If it’s cumulative then gather all of the study guides and read them, rewrite them, draw on them, whatever works for you. Same goes if it’s not cumulative. If there are no study guides, ask your professor what you should study for the exam or final.
3. Listen to some music
I created a playlist on my phone with relaxing music. It’s basically all the sad songs from Grey’s Anatomy. I play it whenever I do schoolwork and at night before bed. It really helps me block out the world and focus on my goal.
4. Handwrite when studying
It’s been proven that by writing things out by hand, you can retain more information than by typing or just reading the material. When I work on study guides I always hand write it. It takes a while, but it really pays off.
5. Use the Pirate Success Center
I’ve been to the tutoring center in the Old Cafeteria complex and few times for math and spanish. It makes everything so much clearer when it’s explained to you one on one. I don’t always understand the material in a lecture setting so it helps to go and get everything straightened out.
6. Don’t stress too much
The most essential thing is to stop worrying about all of the things you have to do and to actually get started. Once you sit down and get to business, you can get things done in no time. Just remember that school is important but so is your health. Your degree won’t mean much when you’re a ghost.