Study Tips for Incoming Students

As the fall semester begins, many incoming students are adjusting to life on campus. For many, college allows students more freedom in their educational decisions, such as whether or not they are going to attend class or how much effort they will put into their classes.

Studying can play a major role in how well a student may do in their courses. Different study methods may help students score better on assignments and exams.
There are many different ways to study, so it may take trial and error to find the most effective method for you. Here are a few study tips and techniques that may help you score better this semester.

1. Attend Class

As simple as it may sound, attending class allows students to receive more accurate and recent information about assignments and exams. This can be vital for having good notes to study later.

2. Eliminate Distractions

Put your phone away! Even if it’s for a few minutes at a time, it may help you retain more information. Studying in a quiet environment can also help your focus.

3. Rewrite Notes

Rewriting notes allows for reorganization and helps make your notes more easy to read. Going back and reorganizing your notes can help you better process the information. Outside of class you can also put more time into them, making them precise and clear. This can make studying easier as it could help with memorization and retaining information.

4. Don’t Procrastinate

Although it may be very tempting to wait to study or work on assignments at the last minute, try to not give in. Cramming information can be even more stressful and can also be ineffective. It may be more beneficial to study a small portion each day instead.

The Word Pause Formed By Wooden Blocks And Arranged By Male Fingers On White Table (Photo by: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

5. Take a Break

It is important to remember to give your brain a break when studying. Give yourself a few minutes to step away and just relax. A snack and some water may also be helpful in order to refuel your body and help make studying easier.
The most important thing to do is find what works for you. Try different techniques and see what improves your scores. Once you find a technique or method that works, try to stick with it!