This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org.
Pulling all-nighters studying with lots of junk food and caffeine is part of the myth of what it means to be a college student. While it seems like a rite of passage, a necessary part of really living the college experience, it is not the best way to remain in college. As long as you are enrolled in classes, you will need to study regularly and effectively. There is no way around that, but there are ways of making it less stressful—and more effective—for you.
Too often, new college students see studying as that thing you do the night or day before a test. Nothing could farther from the truth. Your professors expect that studying will be part of your daily activity, whether or not you have a test looming on the horizon. Yes, that means that each and every day you need to read ahead, review and recall the material you are learning in each class. Trust me, this will serve you well by the time you get to finals.
Don’t be a study steady.
Studying regularly is a good habit, but where you study is as important as how much you study. Contrary to what experts have said for years, new research shows that you are better off studying in a variety of spaces rather than just one. Your recall is better, experts say, if you study in different locations and at different times of day.
Find a few locations that are convenient and conducive to studying. When you know that you will have to sit and wait for a while (at the doctor’s office, for example), bring flashcards, a book or your notes and spend that time reviewing material. A coffee shop, a baseball field and your car—but not while driving!—may be all places that can work as study spaces.
Break it down.
Studying doesn’t have to include marathon sessions of your head buried in a book or rereading your notes. In fact, it should be more like a series of short sprints. Regular periods of studying over time are the best way to study, say experts in brain research. Cramming doesn’t work for a variety of reasons, but one of the most important is that your short-term memory can only hold seven (plus or minus two) items at any one time. This means you will only be able to recall five to nine items in your short-term memory when you cram the night before (or the day of!). It takes time and repetition of the material to move it from short-term to long-term storage.
If you have a test that will cover a lot of information, break the material into chunks and schedule times to study each piece over the days or weeks before an exam. You will benefit from moving the material into long-term memory as well as gain confidence when you are able to master parts of the material along the way.
Practice storing and retrieving information.
Many students reread notes and textbook chapters or perhaps listen to recorded lectures to study. This is a good first step to studying, but not the only activity that you should consider. Researchers consider this kind of studying as “storing” the information. For sure, you will need to put something in your memory “bucket” if you want to get it out later; however, it is the practice of retrieving that information—pulling it out of your memory—that provides the most long-term benefit.
One way to practice storing and retrieving the information can be to create flashcards using the information you want to study. Looking up terms and writing definitions is part of the storing process. Even flipping through these flashcards without trying to recall them on your own is part of storing. To practice retrieving the information, look at one side of the flashcard and write down or say aloud what is on the other side without looking. When you feel as though you have mastered some of the flashcards, focus on the ones that are still challenging for you.
Get a study buddy.
Talking through the material with someone else is another great way to practice retrieving information. When you have someone listening and practicing with you, you can get instant confirmation, as well as a different viewpoint on the material.
Even if you feel comfortable with the material and don’t feel the need for a study partner, consider the benefits of studying with someone else. First, your study buddy may not feel as comfortable as you and will benefit from learning how you learned the material. Second, being able to teach someone else concepts and content will strengthen your own knowledge and ability to retrieve the information. Think about this: Your professors are so knowledgeable about the material they teach because they store and retrieve it regularly.
Avoid large study groups.
If one study buddy is good, then having more study buddies is better, right? Maybe not. Be cautious about how many people you study with at one time. A group that is too large can get sidetracked easily. There can be confusion about who is responsible for what, and just the scheduling alone can cause more trouble than it is worth.
If you expand your study group, consider appointing a leader who is responsible for scheduling the study sessions and for creating and sticking to study goals for each session. For example, a leader can choose the place and time to study, as well as the material on which the group will focus for a particular session. Clear parameters regarding what will be accomplished, how and for how long will keep everyone on task.
Studying doesn’t have to be a lonely and boring task. Connecting with others and incorporating a variety ways to study can actually make it more enjoyable—or at least more likely to pay off with successful grades!