Study Techniques

Students may also have difficulty with college level work because they never learned how to effectively study. Unlike high school, the majority of work completed in college is done independently as homework. Having good study techniques is critical to being a successful college student. Below are some quick study tips students should follow:

• Get rid of distractions. Do your best to clear your desk of any clutter. Find a comfortable place to study that is free of distractions.
• Keep music low or off.
• Make sure the phone won't disturb you.
• Put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door if necessary.
• Pull out your study materials and organize them. Figure out what you have and what you're missing.
• When reading textbooks, quiz yourself to ensure you are absorbing what you are reading.
• Don't be afraid to highlight or write in your textbooks.
• Form a study group to help review for tests.
• Take a short (5-10 minute) break after 45 minutes of working. This will help keep you refreshed.
• If you get stuck on one assignment, try working on another assignment for a while and return to this assignment later.
• Review daily the notes you took in class.
• If you have a lot of assignments due in a week, make a schedule of how you are going to plan your week so that you complete all assignments. Stick to the schedule.

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