With finals right around the corner, students everywhere are stressing out about end-of-the-semester grades. In order to help out her fellow collegiettes™, straight-A sophomore Megan Gygax agreed to share some insight on the most efficient ways to study.
The first decision to make is deciding where you’re going study. The right atmosphere can really help or hinder the quality of your study time, according to Gygax. She recommends a place that is designed for people to work in.
“My favorite place to study is the periodicals section or on the fifth floor in the library,” Gygax said. “I also like to study in the common room of my apartment at night when no one is going in and out of the apartment. Study rooms in the dorms are also very helpful, but they can be crowded. I never used them much, but I think they are an excellent resource that students should take advantage of.”
Gygax recommends not studying in a place that tempts you to do other activities besides study, like your bedroom or outside.
“The worst place to study for me is outside,” she said. “The idea seems great, but once I get out there I either lay down or become distracted by the activities around me.”
Once you pick the perfect spot to study, one of the next important steps is deciding whether you want to study by yourself or with a group of students that are also in your class. According to Gygax, using both of these strategies can help the material really sink in.
“I think talking about a topic allows you to truly engage in the subject and memorize the coursework better,” she said. “I usually like to study in groups a couple of days before a test, and then have the next two nights to myself so I can relook over everything.”
One of the last (and most important) decisions you have to make is deciding how you’re going to study the material. While there’s no right or wrong answer for this one because everyone learns differently, Gygax offered some tips on what works for her.
“Deciding what method you use to study depends on the class, but visuals and repetition are key,” she said. “My favorite for any class that involves a lot of memorization is flash cards. I just go through the pile at least five times then set it aside and focus on something else. Then a half hour later I go through them again.”
As far as using your own class notes or using your professor’s PowerPoint slides, Gygax suggests using both. “I like PowerPoint slides, but I do better looking over my own notes; reading what my idea or take on something was helps me really remember the topic at hand. If your teacher has given you examples of anything, though, definitely review these.”
The last bit of advice Gygax had to give was how to avoid distractions once you start studying. One of the major problems students have is staying focused once they sit down to do work. Gygax suggests enlisting friends to help make sure you stay on track.
“Try only going on Facebook and other procrastination sites when you have downtime, like when you’re watching television or listening to music,” she said. “Another trick is to have a friend change your password for these sites. That way, even if you want to get on, it is impossible for you to do so…just make sure it is someone you trust!”
Good luck studying for finals, collegiettes™!