Your freshman year of college can be a confusing mix of excitement and feeling overwhelmed all at once. For the first time in your life, you are considered an adult and are now accountable for your own actions. One of the first things you’ll notice about college life is that with your newfound independence, comes all the burden of responsibility. Learning a few studying tips for college level classes will help drastically!
College presents many new opportunities for socializing, life experience, and employment opportunities, and with all those distractions it can be hard to keep track of what assignments are due when, and what materials go with which classes. Your instructors will not be as helpful, or understanding as your teachers were in high school and will consider the fact that they’ve provided you with a syllabus to be the same as you having been “informed” of what your assignment and testing requirements for each semester are.
So, how do you buckle down and focus on your studies when there are so many new things for you to experience in college? Here are the top 3 studying tips for college. Also, don’t forget to read this post on what to back in your backpack!
- First things first. At the beginning of each semester, read over the syllabus for each of your classes. Don’t just skim over the highlighted areas or bold print, but instead, actually read them with intent. Your syllabi hold all the keys to your academic success because not only do they outline what textbooks are required, what the grading standards are, and what your instructor’s office hours are, they literally spell out exactly what you need to study to be successful in each class assignment and test. Use your syllabi to map out a plan that affords you plenty of time to study. There should be no reason for you to have to cram at the last minute or rush to complete assignments.
- Next, find a place to study that affords you the most opportunity to focus and retain the maximum amount of information. For some people, simply putting their earbuds in helps to block out distractions, but others will choose to lock themselves in their dorm rooms for some serious cram sessions. Some people require complete silence, while their classmates might prefer the low din of a coffee shop. Experiment with different environments to find the one that suits you best. As cliche as it sounds, libraries often offer the ideal locale for studying because they are quiet, filled with other students trying to get their study on and offer free Wi-Fi in addition to providing you with a multitude of resources in the form of books and periodicals.
- Lastly, you’ll have to carve out a balanced life schedule for yourself. You’ve likely heard the adage, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” and nothing rings more true in college. You will need to make sure you allow yourself time for recreational pursuits so that you don’t burn out during your first year. Obviously, your academic work is important, but so is allowing yourself to explore your interests outside of the classroom – within reason, of course.
This last point, however, might prove difficult as your roommate(s) and new friends may have different priorities regarding schoolwork and social activities. Don’t let yourself get sucked in by peer pressure – after you graduate many of your classmates will be nothing more than memories. What you take with you from the classroom will apply to your career so don’t let people persuade you to sacrifice too much of your study time for recreational pursuits.