Study Tips

Time Management
  • "Be organized. The more organized your time is the easier it is to manage."
  • "Got 45 minutes? Go for a run or walk to get rejuvenated for the next round of studying or class."
  • "Take the time to write down what needs to be done. Making a list will help you visualize it."
  • "Make calendars. Compile all due dates onto a calendar and write daily homework lists. Assign time amounts for all readings then find time in your schedule for it-breaks between classes, after classes, etc."
  • "Get involved, but don't take on more that your schedule allows. Keep an updated calendar."
  • "If possible, do homework every day at the same time--whenever you are most motivated."
  • "Scheduling breaks into your study time is sometimes just as important as scheduling the study time itself."
  • "Don't let someone else dictate your study time. Be honest with yourself--when are you most awake, most motivated, least distracted? That is your best study time."
  • "Getting a good night's sleep is more important than cramming in a few more minutes of study."
  • "If you like to make a plan, follow it, keep things in order, and not have too many surprises, you should probably find one study spot and be consistent. I recommend the third floor of the library, as you can usually find a good spot there, and it is quiet."
Library Research
  • "Ask the research desk for help; that's why they're there."
  • "Try not to rush it. Give yourself the time you want and need."
  • "Use the library."
  • "Use the library's website for online searches of the catalog and journal databases."
  • "Do not procrastinate research! Some books and articles are not in the CofC library but can be shipped here.or someone may have already checked out what you need."
  • "Ask librarians for help."
Read and Remember
  • "Read something, and then paraphrase it in your head."
  • "Highlighting is good, but writing in the margins in your own words is great too."
  • "Look through what you're about to read. Pay attention to the headings to get an idea of what you are about to read, and then read the material."
  • "Take notes right after you read so that you can keep things straight."
  • "Take notes of dates and main ideas as read. These notes can be as detailed as necessary (paragraphs or outlines) to refresh your memory." "Write down titles and summarize each section."
Noteworthy Notes
  • "Make sure you can read and understand your notes."
  • "Take notes during class; review them after class. Clarify anything while the lecture is fresh in your mind."
  • "If it is written on the board, then write it down legibly."
  • "Pay attention to lecture and try to take notes on all relevant material (tangents don't need notes). Keep notes organized, date each day of class, and use highlighters for main points when going over notes later."
  • "Don't write down every word of every slide of a powerpoint. Get to important information."
  • "Use different colored ink for different topics to easily distinguish where one ends and another begins."
  • "Get in the habit of reviewing your notes for 15 minutes as soon after class as possible. It makes a big difference!"
  • "Recopy your notes in abbreviated form, like an outline or a concept map."
Lifelong Listening
  • "Listen like you are expected to respond to what you hear."
  • "Write it down."
  • "Pay attention to those around you. Find something interesting to keep you interested."
  • "Keep questions in mind during lecture so that you have something to listen for. Asking questions also helps you maintain interest. It is also very important to do the reading before lecture, so you can listen better and know some of what the professor's saying."
  • "Make eye contact. If you are watching who is speaking instead of looking at the ceiling or out of the window you will have a better chance of remembering and understanding what was said."
Test Taking Tips
  • "Talk to your teachers about their test formats. Then quiz yourself in that format."
  • "Look over the directions and test before you begin. If you get stuck on a question, skip it and return later."
  • "Read through the test first. Next answer the questions you know. Then go back to the others."
  • "Keep time and weight of each question in mind. Allow enough time for essays."
  • "Read every question carefully before answering. If you don't know something skip it and come back to it. Another question could trigger the answer to another one."
  • "Study a chapter a day before the test and then review all the chapters briefly the night before."
  • "In high school, you could study the night before the test and do fine. In college, there is too much information to do that! You must start reviewing a minimum of one week before the test."
  • "Repetition is key when studying for a test. Repeat it until you know it, then go away from it and do something else. Come back half an hour later and see if you can still repeat it."
  • "Why do people get test anxiety? Because cramming for tests makes you anxious! Don't cram!"
Advising Tips
  • "Develop a personal relationship with your advisor."
  • "See your advisor to plan ahead."
  • "Come with questions and visit often."
  • "Get advised! Advisors often know the best professors to take and the best order to take classes."
  • "Have a basic idea of what you want to take the next semester. Have a list of questions written down so that you don't forget to ask something."
Memory Tips
  • "Go over important test material before you go to sleep. Sleep promotes memory."
  • "Write things over and over."
  • "Try different memory devices to help you learn better."
  • "Create funny saying for important information."
  • "Associate information with familiar things."
  • "Flash cards."
  • "Memorize items in sets."
  • "When studying foreign language vocabulary words, find similarities among words, such as beginning letters, similar sounds, etc., and learn in pairs or groups."
Miscellaneous Tips
  • "Visit your professors early and often. They want to help, but you have to make the effort."
  • "Don't count on being able to get help from professors during exam week; everybody else has the same idea!"
  • "Snacks are a really important part of effective studying!"
  • "If you don't understand something, get help with it right away, because you will see it again, and concepts build on each other."
  • "Does music really help you study? Try studying with it and without it, and see what happens. If you do study with music, be sure to keep it low so you don't bother other people."
  • "Work hard, play hard. But work hard first."
Plans for Exams
  • "Don't study one subject for an extremely long amount of time. Study different subjects to keep material fresh and somewhat interesting."
  • "Make a calendar. (I use the tips from the CSL Session)."
  • "Plan ahead. Don't wait until classes end to start planning. The sooner you plan, the more time you'll have."
  • "Plan study time and break time. Don't stress. Get enough sleep."
  • "Know when and where your exams are. Sometimes you will have multiple exams on one day and extra preparation will be needed."