Extra credit? Fa-get about it!
Sure you were on the honor role in high school, but it's going to take a lot more than memorization to be successful during undergrad. Here are five pointers to study smarter, as told by minions from Despicable Me. (Why not?)
1. Get A Tutor The First Week Of Class
Most colleges offer tutoring services from fellow scholars at little or no cost to students. If you're taking Chemistry this semester, and the only reference H2O brings to mind is The Water Boy, then you may need a tutor. Why struggle with a class if you can get help in the beginning? If you know something isn't your strong suit, you can get the assistance necessary to thrive in the classroom.
2. Study The Syllabus
Curriculum guidelines require that professors submit a syllabus for students stating what to expect from the course. Some only list reading assignments and test dates. Invest in a planner or wall calendar and post these dates for everyday reference. Awesome professors go a step further and list homework assignments! If you take the time to map out your courses at the start of the term, you'll save yourself from missing deadlines and will be able to stay on top of everything.
3. Read Before Class
Gone are the days where you just "showed up" to class to find out what's going on. Your professors expect you to have some working knowledge of the text (most likely for participation purposes) so you need to read before class. You'll gain a better understanding of the content because they'll explain things you may not have fully understood from the text with examples.
(I'll post an article about how to best read those giant textbooks in the near future)
4. Take Notes
There are 3 main methods of learning: auditory or verbal, pictures or visual, and kinesthetically. If you're a kinesthetic learner, like myself, then you learn best by doing. Taking notes reinforces your learning because you are able to use your book as a visual source, the lecture for verbal absorption, and writing as the kinesthetic process. Because this will help you learn better, you won't have to study as much because it'll 'stick' more in your brain.
(An article on note taking soon to come)
5. Find Your Study Flow
It's important to have a routine for learning, because we are creatures of habit. If you're a morning person, then late night sessions are probably not going to be very productive and vice verser. Find a place that's well lit and study in that same spot. This puts your mind in "study mode." Stay away from TV and Facebook, and be sure to dress comfortably. Music is alright as long as it isn't distracting and snacks are a must.
College courses are challenging, but they don't have to be a struggle. Master these tips and watch your grades get better every week!
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