What’s the hardest thing about college?
If you ask any student, they will mention many challenges. Budgeting is really hard. Socializing with people you meet for the first time is not easy. Going to classes every day makes you tired. You have to get a job to cover all expenses, and that’s a bummer.
But the hardest thing about college is studying.
How do some students manage to achieve everything?
They are not creatures with superhuman capacity. They are people, just like you and I. The only difference is that they discovered a few college studying hacks that help them remember information faster and retain it for a longer time.
10 Awesome College Study Hacks to Help You Learn More Effectively
- Outsource When You Have To
How do the most successful students manage to attend all classes, write all papers on time, and pass all exams without a problem? It’s weird because they also have time for all the parties, extracurricular events, and various social events. You even see them being active on Instagram all the time.
This is the most common secret of successful students: they outsource part of their responsibilities. They can’t outsource class attendance and study, but they can hire a writer on essay writing service Edubirdie, or editor for their papers.
Don’t feel bad for not being able to cope with all challenges.
- Take Your Time
Always start studying sooner than you think it’s necessary! Otherwise, you’ll be too nervous to study when the deadline gets closer.
- Make Sure the Lights Are Bright
Since you’re caught up between classes all day, the night is all you have for studying and writing. Bad lighting in your room will give you a headache. It will also make you sleepy.
Bright, white light improves visual clarity and triggers the productivity process.
- Progressive Learning Is Better than Binge-Studying
Students are prone to procrastination. The exams dates are far away and there are many other important things to do right now. This attitude leads to cramming few nights before the exam. You’re jam-packing your mind with information it cannot process within such a short period of time. That’s why you forget most of that information in a few days.
Cognitive scientists found that progressive studying in small sections is much more effective in terms of information retention.
- The Library Might Help
You don’t have to go to the library if you’re focused enough in your room. But if you feel distracted by your roommate or anything else, the library may be the right place for you. Everyone goes there to study. The mere intention is enough to make you focused.
- Study Groups Are Great!
What’s your idea of a study group? Most students perceive the concept as getting around with your favorite peers, talking about the exams for a bit and then hitting the beer and snacks.
No.
A study group can be very effective if you’re all focused on learning. Each student will cover a different section of the material and share their notes with the rest of the group. With this approach, you all have effective notes without covering the entire material. Effective, no?
- Practice with Actual Test Questions
As you read through the coursework material, you should have an idea of the questions you’re going to get. With this attitude, you’re going to focus on essential, relevant information that the test questions will require.
To make this practice effective, you can find test questions and answers online. Blackboard is a great place to find such resources for practice.
- Attend All Classes
This is a major study hack that many students know, but choose to ignore. When you go to college, you’re not paying to take tests and get a degree. Most of all, you’re paying for the classes. Your professors invest a lot of effort to plan each class and make it as useful as possible for you. So why would you skip it?
Most of the learning happens during class. You get a chance to ask if anything is unclear, talk to the professor, and directly get the knowledge you need for the exams.
- Record the Lectures
If you don’t like taking notes by hand, you can record the lectures. Then, you’ll listen to them and you’ll learn effectively. It’s just like your own podcast of things you need to know.
- Put Some Instrumental Music in the Background
You don’t need text, since it will take your attention away. Play some instrumental music! You can choose classic music, instrumental jazz, or anything else you prefer.
Studying Is a Responsibility
No matter what other difficulties you face, they can never be an excuse for not studying enough. You got to college with the intention to learn as much as possible and get the degree. Now that you’re there, studying seems harder than you ever imagined.
But there are methods to help you get more focused and achieve more within less time.
If you’re willing to make an effort, the results will be inevitable. Few tricks will help you get in the “study” mode and retain most of the material you read. Are you ready for this!
Story by Elizabeth Skinner – an EdTech blogger, researcher, and academic writer. She discovered that learning was her true passion early on in life. She experiments with different learning methods and consistently takes online courses. Through her blog posts, Elizabeth shares experiences that help students learn more.
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