Some studying tips that work
Take Better Notes - Notes are just that Notes! Write down the important things, but do not write down everything. You will only waste energy and attention doing so. (Learn more about note taking here)
Re-Write the Notes - The first set of notes you write in class should be a mess. If you can barely find your way through that’s good enough. After class sit down again and re-write the Notes in a more organized, clean way. Therefore I recommend having 1 Notebook for class only (this can be for all classes) and the one separate one for every class.
Add your Learning Style to the Re-Written Notes - What kind of learner are you? Visual? Auditory? Practical? Find out so you know what will aid you best when you study. Visual Learners add Diagrams, Pictures and Graphs into your notes. Auditory Learners record your voice or the professors and keep an MP3 folder of all the said notes. Please ask them for permission first. Practical Learners find sites to practice what you’ve learned or form a Study Group. There are plenty of exercises and practice tests online and teaching others is one of the best practical ways to learn.
Study a Bit every day - Go through your Notes at least once a day starting as soon as you wrote them down. Do a little every day rather than everything at once. You know this is better; it’s time to apply it!
Keep a Separate Study Environment - Do not study in the same place you live and do not do anything other than study in the environment designated for it. Go to the library, find a secluded room or create a space that you close off other than for studying. TIP: If you study in locations where the people around you focus on mostly studying that will rub off on you. Also studying where you will have your exam increases the chances you will remember what you’ve learned (This is not always possible though).
Do not be Afraid to Mark - If you bought the book it’s *yours!*Just like your notes are yours as well! Do not be afraid to highlight, edit, underline, cut, paste, etc. The only purpose this book and these notes have is to give you great grades for an amazing future. If you really are afraid to ruin it you can always buy a second book later on.
Treat Your Classes Differently - Classes, Lectures and Seminars are not places where you learn all you need to know. They merely serve as way to ask questions and Review the information and concepts you learn. Treat them as such! Go in already having studied the material and use the Classes, Lectures and Seminars to review and ask what you do not understand. Never visit a Session without having looked at the material first.
Use your Professors - They are there to help you! That is their Job, Profession and Passion! Not even giving them the chance to help is just plain stupid. At least try; if they are too busy they will let you know.
Study for Knowledge not Memorization - There is a difference between the two that will become apparent sooner or later in life. When you study to understand the concepts you learn a different way. This may mean you have to use more outside tools (such as Google) for help, but that’s okay. It will repay you in the end.
Have Fun with it - We are all more productive when we enjoy what we do. Make sure you remember that you chose to study this. You chose this path. There was a reason for that! You can do so many things in life but you are here right now, so you might as well enjoy it!
Hope this simple tips help. If you like studygrams and study tips, do check out my instagram account : https://www.instagram.com/the.happynerd/ .
