Some pointers for good study habits include;
a. Do difficult tasks first. (i.e. study your hardest class first, write the most difficult paper first).
b. Break large tasks into smaller tasks. Don't try to write a paper, learn math, etc all at once. Start with smaller more attainable elements.
c. Have a special place to study where you can spend your most beneficial time studying. Be sure the lighting is good, and you can relax your eyes by looking out a window or a picture, or what ever works best for you. Have paper, and other supplies available.
d. If you get tired or bored, switch to a different subject or task.
e. Study for twenty minutes, stop a minute and look around and go back to studying. After fifty minutes, get up walk around; get a coke or drink of water etc for about ten minutes then go back to studying.
f. Have a calendar that you can mark for deadlines for papers, on when a test is supposed to be. Then go through your syllabi and mark the calendar. Check the calendar often.
g. Start your papers early. That way you can write and rewrite your papers and let someone other than yourself read the paper for comments and make changes. (Allow others to make comments, and take them seriously. You are writing the paper for a reason, one of them is to get a good grade; another is to learn about a subject, as well as to learn how to write. It is counter productive to refuse to make changes because you cannot handle others remarks about your paper). One good place to go to get your paper read is the Writing Center in Douglas Hall.
h. Start studying for an exam at least a week, preferably two weeks before an exam. Twenty four hours before the exam stop studying for the exam, and let your subconscious take over (you may study for another exam, take a hike, visit a friend, but do not study for this test). Go to bed early and get a good nights rest. Eat a good breakfast and go relaxed to your exam. You will be amazed how much better you do.
i. Have a goal. If you do not know yet what you want to major in, come in to Student Support Services, or Academic Support to do a career inventory and find out about your interests.
The following are links to study skills posted from other universities. Since Student Support Services is not the author of this material, we cannot take direct responsibility for content. However, we liked the information found on these sites and are pleased to be able to put these links in one easily accessible place for you to get the information to help you study in the way that is best for you. |
