College Student Study Tips? "No more slacking"

[htxmade]

I've been half*** doing all assignments, making mediocre grades.

I'm looking for tips to be more efficient in school.
How often do you study daily?
When  do you choose to study?

 

[scientific method]

When I was in school, the few semesters I actually gave a damb anyways, I found I studied infinitely better at school. So I would just go to the library, the lab, or stay in class afterwards.

If I got home, too much stimuli going on with the tv, internet, family, bed, 'fridge, etc. to interrupt. In the lab, there is not much of anything else to be focused on.

I don't remember much of %@@% I learned in college though (went into a different career field) so maybe ignore all of that.

 

[il prescelto]

study earlier in the day, don't let work pile up (do a small amount for all your classes every day), study in places that are free of distractions, make sure you sleep enough/eat well, pick classes you think you will enjoy doing the work for (if you can, pre-reqs obviously can make this hard at times lol).

if none of that works...you need to figure out how to motivate yourself more. what i've done sometimes is purposefully failed assignments or tests to make me motivated for the entire semester, not the best strategy though

 

[fedexciter]

best advice i can give you is turn everything off and just study, even your phone

 

[kiendienn]

If you have a Mac, get the following apps:

Flux - creates a sepia-like filter over your screen, this reduces the strain on your eyes produced by the bright white screen at night; your eyes won't fatigue as quickly, thus less sleepy

SelfControl - create your own blacklist of websites that you waste infinite amounts of time on which greatly reduces productivity (niketalk, facebook, etc), this app blocks those sites for X duration which you set it at


Lastly, but firstly, maintain a positive and curious mindset, regardless of how much you hate a certain class, as long as you keep a positive attitude and maintain the drive and curiosity for knowledge, the more you are willing to learn and absorb

 

[quik1987]

Go to the library
Don't bring your laptop
Put away your phone

 

[airjordan jb23]

Best thing in my experience is to study a little bit everyday... Doesn't even have to be for that long, but if you're keeping up on it daily, it helps. Its just a question if you can get motivated to do that or not... Its not easy.

 

[htxmade]

Originally Posted by il prescelto

study earlier in the day, don't let work pile up (do a small amount for all your classes every day), study in places that are free of distractions, make sure you sleep enough/eat well, pick classes you think you will enjoy doing the work for (if you can, pre-reqs obviously can make this hard at times lol).

if none of that works...you need to figure out how to motivate yourself more. what i've done sometimes is purposefully failed assignments or tests to make me motivated for the entire semester, not the best strategy though

 thats crazy but see the point


I really appreciate all these tips, I hate waiting until the end of the semester to get my grades up

 

[dmbrhs]

I cannot stress this enough: STUDY IN THE LIBRARY

The key though is to break it up. This is how I studied for tests in college: went to the library for an hour and a half or two hours early in the evening. Then took a break for a couple hours to eat, watch some TV, and get my mind off school. Then I'd go back later that night, do a quick review of what I'd studied earlier, and then dedicated the same amount of time to more studying. Breaking it up keeps the information fresh, it allows you to remain focused, and you don't have to process as much information each time you walk away from the books (trust me, studying small amounts of information over a solid hour and a half is as productive as sitting there staring at a lot of information for four hours). Obviously these hours could increase if I had to study for multiple tests, but I always tried to maintain a schedule that limited my library sessions to no more than two hours.

Think of it this way: your professor doesn't teach everything in one sitting (it's too much information to compute), so why study EVERYTHING in one sitting? Break it up.

Also, if you can, try to leave your computer at home. It's more often a distraction than a study tool. I rarely ever had a need for a computer in order to study for a test. Obviously if it's a paper or some other assignment that requires a computer, take it with you. But I guarantee you don't need it as much as you think. And if you take notes on a computer, print the notes out and study off those. It's a much more effective way to study, and it won't kill your eyes. I even encourage people to still take handwritten notes. You'll retain the information better reading your own handwriting.

 

[odog24]

in the same situation today after receiving midterm grades ino i can do better.

cancel netflix
delete facebook
unplug the ps3/xbox
and other online activity.

reward your self for studying. like if i get an A i get to buy these kicks or this game.

we cant be wasting this precious time on stupid things.

 

[trunks206]

Originally Posted by kiendienn

If you have a Mac, get the following apps:

Flux - creates a sepia-like filter over your screen, this reduces the strain on your eyes produced by the bright white screen at night; your eyes won't fatigue as quickly, thus less sleepy

SelfControl - create your own blacklist of websites that you waste infinite amounts of time on which greatly reduces productivity (niketalk, facebook, etc), this app blocks those sites for X duration which you set it at


Lastly, but firstly, maintain a positive and curious mindset, regardless of how much you hate a certain class, as long as you keep a positive attitude and maintain the drive and curiosity for knowledge, the more you are willing to learn and absorb

 Wow man good looking out....especially the second one. Thank you x 1000000000 man!

 

[antidope]

Originally Posted by kiendienn

SelfControl - create your own blacklist of websites that you waste infinite amounts of time on which greatly reduces productivity (niketalk, facebook, etc), this app blocks those sites for X duration which you set it at

Thank you for this.

 

[quaz]

Does anyone know of any PC versions of Flux or SelfControl? I'm still looking on google as we speak looking, but would like to have a backing of one I select.

 

[jazz145]

I usually try to study at home. It's not the best way to study to say the least.

 

[6 Rings G.O.A.T.]

My last finals.. I didn't watch tv..go on the internet..play video games..no texting..no phone calls..

 

[htxmade]

Originally Posted by Quaz

Does anyone know of any PC versions of Flux or SelfControl? I'm still looking on google as we speak looking, but would like to have a backing of one I select.

here's f.lux
http://stereopsis.com/flux/

 

[quaz]

Originally Posted by HTXMade

Originally Posted by Quaz

Does anyone know of any PC versions of Flux or SelfControl? I'm still looking on google as we speak looking, but would like to have a backing of one I select.

here's f.lux
http://stereopsis.com/flux/

Thanks my man, just got it installed and I'm liking it so far. I'm still on the hunt for a free PC version of SelfControl. I'll let everyone know if I find it.

 

[jfmartimcdandruff]

hit the library
don't bring your laptop, don't bring a TV

 

[boi]

Only if everything was easy as it sounds

 

[10 piece nuggets]

The hard part for me is STARTING. Once I start though, im pretty much cruising with occasional distractions.

I agree on doing a little at a time, although it almost never ends up like that...

 

[thejrob]

Going to the library is great advice.

Whenever I go there I'm able to lock in at a different level and it's my goal to finish enough so I can bounce and go enjoy myself.

Otherwise: Go to class. Sit somewhere you can pay attention and then at the very least just listen carefully. When you study even if you're cramming, it's a lot easier to understand stuff you've heard before.

 

[hood17]

Yeah I would agree with breaking it up through out the day. No reason to sit there for four hours straight unless the coursework is that demanding.

Right now I'm not doing well in Spanish 3 and got to class early and discuss what my first 2 test grades were and dude hit me with the "We have a study group early on Fridays if you wanna join-Got me thinking of Community

, but I will be doing that, especially since I haven't taken a Spanish class in a year and before I always kinda did average in Spanish.

If you have the time visit your professors often.

 

[sonoftony]

Originally Posted by dmbrhs

I cannot stress this enough: STUDY IN THE LIBRARY

The key though is to break it up. This is how I studied for tests in college: went to the library for an hour and a half or two hours early in the evening. Then took a break for a couple hours to eat, watch some TV, and get my mind off school. Then I'd go back later that night, do a quick review of what I'd studied earlier, and then dedicated the same amount of time to more studying. Breaking it up keeps the information fresh, it allows you to remain focused, and you don't have to process as much information each time you walk away from the books (trust me, studying small amounts of information over a solid hour and a half is as productive as sitting there staring at a lot of information for four hours). Obviously these hours could increase if I had to study for multiple tests, but I always tried to maintain a schedule that limited my library sessions to no more than two hours.

Think of it this way: your professor doesn't teach everything in one sitting (it's too much information to compute), so why study EVERYTHING in one sitting? Break it up.

Also, if you can, try to leave your computer at home. It's more often a distraction than a study tool. I rarely ever had a need for a computer in order to study for a test. Obviously if it's a paper or some other assignment that requires a computer, take it with you. But I guarantee you don't need it as much as you think. And if you take notes on a computer, print the notes out and study off those. It's a much more effective way to study, and it won't kill your eyes. I even encourage people to still take handwritten notes. You'll retain the information better reading your own handwriting.

i agree with ALL of this. about the notes part, unless you have bad handwriting like me you can still type up your notes and print'em out. its worked for me. 

 

[thenewjs23]

1. I sit in the front row of ever class. Its harder to day dream. I know teachers like you to participate, but I shut the F-up and listen.
2. I have gotten in the mood where I read and listen to different music from the Lost (moving on) soundtrack. For some reason it helps.
3. My house boring. No cable, no couch and just enough food. All I have is a desk. I got tired of waking up in the library so I sold everything and I can stay at home and study.
4. Note cards are a good idea.
5. I record all my lectures and I play them to sleep.
6. Its taking me literally 10 min to take tests. One time I was done before they finished passing out the exam.
7. I pick one night a week to go out. Usually a Thursday just to unwind. No drinking or smoking. Just let my mind be free. It is important to relax your mind.
8. If you are in school you have to be stingy. Cut off ties tell your one free day. People may get upset, but this is your education.
9. Someone mentioned redline. That stuff is crack. 5 hr energy is better. One bottle can last me a semester just take sips of it on a full stomach and it will do wonders. A whole bottle is a waste to drink at once. Keep it refrigerated so your body absorbs it slow, allowing it to last longer.
10. On your way to school listen to the first the first lecture of that test. Your mind will be on the test before you get to class.

So for the lowest grade I have received is a 93 on a test and I have taken 5, three of which I made 106, 104 and 105 respectively. Got the ladies wanting to study, but I know I would be the smartest in that group so no dice.

 

[midnight hype]

It all depends on the learner. i have to turn evrything off in my room, minus the light goes that means goodnight. quiet areas always work librar or garage. I make sure no pretty females are present cause when you study next to a pretty girl, your thoughts tend to go wild you lose your train of thought and occasionaly you would check theyre lady humps or you would glance at them just to see if theyre glancing at you.. You also have to make sacrifices no niketalk, porno, bet, hanging out. now when i study and if its for a test based on memory i would try to gategorize each group accordingly for instance,  EXAmMPLE TEST QUESTION:what bones make up the eye socket, Answer: Fronatal, sePHONID, EtHMOID, Lacrimal,Maxilla and Zygomatic. i  basically organized these termscheck on the emphasis on the caps lock. That way  for the fillin portion of the exam ive already retain the info due tomy strategy. or i would read an entry over and over again out loud and i try to make sense of what im reading, when im not reading it i would think about it either when im walking or driving somewhere and i would test myself. flash cards help. i also write the same word over and over again till it sticks and when i go to bed i listen to my taperecorder. i wake up start GOING OVER WHAT I LEARNED PREVIOUSLY AND WHAT I FORGOT I GO BACKor i study with ugly girls cause if theyre pretty, you talk about things that dont relate to the ciriclium  and then you might try to make a move on them and they might like it and before you know it your paying for diapers and child suppourt. also it helps to study with smart people, you can sponge off them and maybe for the exam theylll invite you to there paper and even hit you off with there cheat sheet.