9 Practical (and Fun!) Study Tips for College

So, I’m generally successful at school, and that’s great, but I would not say that I am generally successful at studying. I’m pretty inefficient and the ratio of snack breaks I have to actual study time is honestly a tad embarrassing. The other thing is that studying for an English midterm is super different from studying for a bio test. That’s why I’ve asked my pals in different majors who are successful at studying, as well as being people.  

1.Make sure to take breaks  

Schedule in little breaks and rewards so you can stay motivated. -Rachel, Psychology and Behavioral Science, GOAT of Emotional Intelligence  

2.Write it all out 

If you’ve got a big essay test coming up, it can be very helpful to write it all out. A lot of times for those types of tests, they want you to not just regurgitate the information, but comprehend it, and make it into a story. Writing it down and saying it out loud makes the information your own which will probably make you better at writing it. - Brooke, Psychology and Behavioral Science, Luke Scholars WOMAN 

3.Minimize distractions  

“I usually go somewhere like the library where I know I won’t see that many people and I eliminate my distractions. I put my phone in my bag and I try not to even think about checking the time or anything.” - Caleb, Church Music, Webkinz Extraordinaire  

4.Don’t be afraid to ask for help 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your professors. It doesn’t make you seem lazy or dumb, they want you to succeed, so they probably appreciate it. -Isaac, Music Education, He also knows how to dance  

5.Give information time to sit  

Read through your notes once or twice a week before your test and then just let it sit for a few days. Come back to it a day or two before the test. Time just lets things sink in, whether you’re aware of it or not. -Lauren, English, Secondary Education, Absolute Baddie 

6.Schedule out your time 

Set aside time to study specifically for that test. That means studying for 25 minutes and taking a break for five minute and after doing this four times, you take a longer break. -Avery, Chemistry, STEM Queen  

7. Know when to study alone and when to study with people 

Studying can be a good social activity, but it can also quickly turn into a distraction. When you’re a history major, you need to make sure you really understand the information you’re learning, so it’s good to divide up deep reading and comprehending time and social studying time. -Nate, History, Morton Salt Maven  

8. When you do study with people, make sure they're good people

Find friends to study with! Not only is it super helpful to quiz each other, but I met some of my great friends as we studied for biology/chemistry exams together! -Jenna, Biology, STEM Queen part 2  

9. Set Aside Time to Connect 

Setting aside a specific time to go into Brommer, even if no projects are due soon is good to get ahead on work and connect with the art community since Brommer after hours is prime time. Also, talk to everyone! No matter how different you are from your peers in terms of styles and viewpoints, you are all in the same boat and can still grow with each other in skill and in crafting concepts. It only takes communication and coachability to create a healthy and productive art community. -Taryn, Graphic Design Girlie  

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