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Studying For Success

Here are some tips to help you figure out which approaches to studying might work well for you.

What to Do 

In order to succeed at the university you must be able to study effectively. Let's face it, as students we have a lot to juggle: work, family, school, relationships, and health and fitness. We're busy people, and sometimes it's very difficult to dedicate a sufficient amount of time to studying. It can become easy to say we'll study "when we have time" rather than scheduling as much time as we need to fully master the material and submit our best work. If this is an issue for you, know that you're not alone. We've outlined some strategies below that many experienced students utilized to keep up their GPA while staying sane despite their academic workload.

How to Do It 

• Learn how you study best.
• Find a study system that works for you.
• Make the most of your memory when studying.
• Check your attitude.
• Allow enough time to study.
• Have a plan if you have to cram.

Where to Get Help

PSU’s Skills Enhancement and Tutoring Center (SETC) offers a range of workshops and online materials to help you develop better study skills. Visit their website to find study resources for subject areas and courses such as biology, (general) math, math 251, math 252, stats 243, chemistry, and literature. Check out our tips in the Starting Out Right section on creating a home base for studying. It's vital that you have a place to study where you feel comfortable and that is conducive to your learning style and compliments your study habits (the good ones that is).

Learn How You Study Best 

You may not figure out your best study strategy for a few terms. That's okay, just keep trying different combinations of tactics until you've found your groove. Regardless of how you end up organizing your study habits there are some aspects that are common to all successful studying strategies.

Find a place to study: Figure out where you work most efficiently—it may be in the library, your room, or at the kitchen table—and keep returning to that place to get your work done.

Study when you're most alert and able to digest the material: Time of day makes a difference when you are trying to study. Some students find it easiest to study early in the morning when they are freshest. For night owls, you might get your best work done between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Find out what works for you and dedicate that time in your calendar to studying.

Acknowledge your learning style: Some people are auditory learners who can listen to the professor’s lecture and “hear” what material the professor thinks is important, while others learn better visually. Some people need to take frequent breaks to clear their minds, while others study more effectively by dedicating large blocks of uninterrupted time to it. It's really about being realistic, honoring your individual learning style, and using the resources at PSU to support your efforts.

Find a Study System that Works for You 

Just like sticking to an exercise routine or other self-improvement program, some folks need a more structured approach than they can create on their own. For some students, they need an externally imposed study system to do well. The A.S.P.I.R.E. study system and the Index study system are study systems that many students have utilized to improve and maintain their study habits. 

Regardless of how you systematically approach studying, being organized is key. Using your calendar to map out due dates and timelines and ensuring that your class notes, assignments, supplemental readings and texts are in an organized and accessible place is key. 

Make the Most of Your Memory When Studying 

Our brains are like any other muscle—by exercising them we can make them stronger through repeated use. The SETC has great tips on memorization and improving retention. We've also included some tips from The Academic Support Center at American University for making the most of your memory while studying:

• First understand and then organize: The first step if to make sure you understand the material. It's easier to remember material when it's meaningful to you. Then follow up by organizing the material by grouping facts and ideas in a way that makes sense to you.
• Review lecture materials and reading notes right away: You can reinforce your memory by reviewing material immediately after learning it. On average, people retain about five to ten percent of what they hear or read and ninety percent of what they teach others or use immediately after learning it.
• Write your study notes in your own words: When studying, make notes on the material in your own words. You'll have to do this during exams, so learning to express important concepts in your own words right from the start can be very helpful.
• Learn the material thoroughly: The more completely something is learned, the more slowly it is forgotten. Keep repeating the material until you feel as if you can say it in your sleep.
• Recognize your own attitudes: Be in touch with your own views and how they relate to what you're studying. If you hold strong feelings against a subject, that may prevent you from learning it. Try to be neutral toward the material. Otherwise, you may overlook some concepts and exaggerate the importance of others.

Allow Enough Study Time so You Can Master the Material 

Students consistently report better results when they plan their study schedule over a longer period of time, take good notes, and keep going back over the information several times. The goal is to reach a state of “over learning” where you can step back from the material, ask your self the question, “What do I know about this?” and then answer that question by connecting the new material to other things that you already know. 

Have a Plan If You Have to Cram

Cramming is not a good strategy. However, sometimes life's circumstances warrant the occasional cram session. If you only have a relatively short time to study before an exam be realistic and strategically decide what to focus on during the short time available. Try to predict what will be on the exam based on what the professor emphasized in class and spend your time concentrating on mastering that material. It's better to know a smaller amount of material really well than to try to memorize a wide breadth of information but to grasp it only marginally. 

In the end, you need to find out what studying approach works best for you. What works for one person may not work as well for someone else. No matter which approach you decide to use, start studying from the very first day of class. It will make for a less stressful term.

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