College Freshmen Study Tips
Any college student today will tell you, it’s hard to keep on top of all the obligations facing them as they pursue a degree. Developing effective study habits can go a long way toward helping you achieve your goals, not just as a freshman in school, but for the rest of your life. Here are a few suggestions to help you tone up your study habits.
In terms of note-taking, many students bring laptops or tape recorders to important lectures if the professor allows it. If not, develop a system of bullet points, highlighting the most important elements of each topic. Make it a point to write down material that the professor indicates will be on an exam. Write clearly so you can understand your notes, and review them right after class while the lecture is still fresh in your mind.
As a college freshman, it will benefit you greatly to develop time management skills now. You’ve probably got a very full course load, so noting in your planner when each assignment is due will help you keep track of your tasks. If you find you’re always under the gun to complete assignments and end up burning the midnight oil to get everything done, establishing a schedule could really help you. Prioritize based on due date of each task, and try not to put things off till the last minute.
Learn from others by forming a study group. This will help you establish regular study habits and reinforce what you’ve learned by hearing what other students took away from the class. It might help to use tips that professional writers use, including starting with research, sketching out an outline, writing a rough draft, and then finalizing your paper.
Ask for help when you need it. If it’s academic tutoring you need, talk to the professor about getting extra help. If you need a mental health day, find a way to put aside the stress of school for awhile. Students are under a lot of pressure to perform, so be sure to take time out to re-charge your batteries. Remember that physical activity can relieve tension, so try sports or long walks with your dog as a way to unwind.
Keep a positive attitude. Everybody has challenges to deal with, and what you’re learning in school is more than what you find in a textbook. You’re learning about other points of view, how to debate while remaining friends, even how to deal with a professor that never gives anyone an “A.” Also, even when you don’t do well on a test, you can learn from that experience. What went wrong? Did you study the correct chapter in preparation for your test? Are you finding it hard to keep up and feel you need extra help?
Although it might seem like a lot of effort to establish proper study habits, these skills will serve you well, long after school is over. Learning how to manage time efficiently, and knowing when it’s time to speak up and ask for a hand, are really life-skills. Coming to terms with how to get things done in a way that makes day-planning easy will serve you now and throughout your life.
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