Ready, set, study
Alyssa Waller, Staff Writer
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Sometimes it feels like there’s a new test to study for every week. Here are a few tips to help others struggling to fit all that information in their brain.
From the Global Cognition, rehearse and remember. As if studying for a play, students should rehearse the most important definitions. More than that, it can also work for formulas and other important info from the notes and readings.
Follow the clues to recover lost memories. Sometimes it is easy to forget an answer to a question; a trick to remember is thinking of something related to the topic. Another way to get there is to imagine when and where you got the information.
Find a good study space. A common tip, but it is important. Go somewhere quiet or turn off your headphones and video. The key is to focus on one task.
Is there a concept too difficult to figure out? Ask someone else. Most of us probably do not like reaching out for help, but when push comes to shove, talking to the professor or fellow classmates can help any student overcome the hurdle of a difficult concept.
Take advantage of how the mind wanders. Most of us probably experience our thoughts going in different directions. While reading, pause and see where it leads you, but make sure to bring it back to your studies. If it happens in class, think of a question to ask to help you refocus your mind to the speaker.
Amanda Strahl is a North Greenville University student and a senior accounting major. She is also an experienced studier. Here are a few of her tips.
Study guides are incredibly useful – either use the professor’s study guide or create one. Write what seems important. Strahl will also go through her notes and see what was talked about a lot to understand what is important.
When it doubt, turn to Quizlet. When creating a Quizlet, word it in a way that a professor might word the question. Create true or false, multiple choice, fill-in the blank or full definition questions.
Take good notes. Strahl marks what she needs to know or what the professor says that the class needs to know. If she thinks it is important, she stars it. If the professor says that the class is going to need to know this, she will write “know” with a start beside it. If the professor emphasizes something, she underlines it. She also color-codes notes. If it is on a slideshow, she will use a certain color. If the professor says something that she thinks would be beneficial for her to know for the test or in general, she will use black.
