Making the transition from high school to college or undergrad to graduate school can be very challenging. It is vital that students find a way to understand and grasp material so they can succeed in their degree.
Hire a Tutor
Most colleges and universities offer tutors to students for cheap prices or even free of charge. They can help you understand any material that may have been touched on in class and can critique or edit papers and assignments. If a tutor is from a specialized department, they may be in contact with your professor and know the kind of material the professors are interested in. Tutors can work with you to figure out the best methods of studying and how to apply them to your schedule. If you are too busy to meet a few days a week in person, there are online chat rooms that have tutors available 24 hours a day. If you type in a particular Calculus or Physics problem, they can give you step-by-step instructions to put to use on exams.
Study Groups
Getting together with a group of people in your class can make studying fun and easy. You can compare notes and test each other on material. Having the opportunity to explain or tell another person something is the best way to fully understand it. Study games can be made up to put a little bit of competition in a typically mundane act. For papers and projects, being able to split up the work will make it easier for everyone. However, make sure you can trust your study partners to stay on task.
Time Management
Procrastination is one of the worst characteristics of students. Putting off studying for an exam adds stress and an unnecessary amount of work in a short period of time. Material is supposed to be viewed three times: before class, during class, and reviewing for the exam. While spending time with friends and enjoying college is important, your academic performance can affect the rest of your life. If you spread out your workload, and spend an hour or two per night, it will be easy to do well while limiting stress levels.
Study Aids
No matter what classes you are taking, there are study aids available. They can be found online for free, in bookstores, or ordered from various websites. Sparknotes has a variety of mini-books that summarize the chapters and scrutinize the characters. Law courses offer helpful, ready-made flashcards for memorization and case briefs. Problem sets for Calculus, Statistics, and Physics can be printed out off the internet. There are workbooks for every section with varying levels of difficulty. With the amount of study aids out there, both for free and for sale, there is no reason not to achieve your goals.
Find the Perfect Study Spot
If you find a convenient and quiet spot in the library or a study lounge to frequent, studying on a regular basis will become part of your everyday routine. Whether you like private cubicles with no distractions, or large tables to spread out your books, the library will have a spot. Try to avoid crowded rooms with people talking. The less noise around you, the easier it will be to concentrate. Another huge factor in your success will be figuring out the best time of day to study. If you are a morning person, trekking to the library before anyone else will give you an edge. For night people, getting in there later in the afternoon, while your brain is still fully active will be equally beneficial. If you can avoid it, do not pull all-nighters. They will leave you feeling exhausted and easily distracted during your exam.
Finding the best methods, materials, and time frame to study can affect your entire college career. Minimizing distractions can be a sure way to graduate with great results.