Many students enter college with no idea about how to study effectively, and each year numerous students return to campuses after summer vacation still lacking effective study skills. The following helpful hints worked out by essay writers, though, can assist both new and returning students in learning how to study in college.
Create the Right Environment for Studying in College
Students should create the right environment for studying, meaning one that is conducive to studying and, therefore, to learning. Here are some guidelines for creating such an environment:
● Study in the same place each day (It improves concentration since the place becomes associated with studying).
● Establish a set time then tell friends and family not to interrupt unless there’s an emergency.
● Have materials and supplies nearby, for example, a calculator, dictionary, computer disks, note cards, and even snacks and drinks (nonalcoholic).
● Use background noise that isn’t distracting, for instance, soft music or a desktop fountain (White noise has been proven to aid concentration).
● Do not turn on the television, but do turn off the telephone or at least set it for voice-mail.
● Study in an area with good lighting (not too dim or too bright).
● Make sure there is adequate space for books and other study materials.
● Sit upright in a comfortable but not toocomfortable chair, a sturdy table, or a desk (Do not lie down in bed).
● If attention begins to wander, get up and walk away from the study area (reserve it for studying), stretch for a few minutes, or go for a short stroll, but return with renewed determination to finish what was begun.
Improve Reading Comprehension for Studying in College
Students have to read – a lot – in college, but many don’t realize that it isn’t necessary to read every word in a textbook to understand the main points and comprehend the most important information. Students can read only select parts of a textbook and still comprehend most, if not all, of the important material if they use the “SRR Method.”
“Skim, Read, Review,” and the method involves the following steps:
1. Read the entire first one or two paragraphs of a chapter since they present the writer’s central idea or ideas.
2. Skim the chapter, paying special attention to the author’s purpose (Is it persuasion, analysis, cause-and-effect, etc?); any subheadings, since they provide an overview of main points; unfamiliar words (jot them down or highlight them); and the first and last sentence of each paragraph because they help put the paragraph’s topic into perspective.
3. Review the chapter, underlying or highlighting the central point and main ideas within paragraphs; jotting down any questions that arise (Try to answer them when you’ve finished); pausing to look up definitions of unfamiliar words, and attempting to relate the author’s ideas to personal experience.
Use Mnemonic Devices to Help Retain Information for Tests in College
For example, the essay writing service review estimated that one day after reading a chapter in a textbook, most students have forgotten 46 percent of what they read; after 14 days, 79 percent; and after 21 days, 81 percent. Moreover, in a study conducted by the Cambridge Psychological Society, when participants were interviewed two weeks after attending a seminar and hearing a lecture, no one could accurately recall more than 10 percent of the lecture.
The point is, most people, not just students, have poor memories. However, there are tools people can use to help them recall information. These tools are mnemonic devices, and most students were introduced to them long before college. For instance, when younger, perhaps they learned their ABCs by singing the letters aloud or they learned to recall the seven coordinating conjunctions by associating them with the acronym “FANBOYS” (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Different Mnemonic Devices Students Can Use for Studying in College
Mnemonic devices include acronyms, acrostics, and visualization:
1. Acronyms: Acronyms are formed using the first letter of keywords in a phrase or title, for example, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus), or HOMES (Heron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior, which are the five Great Lakes). By creating an acronym for important concepts or items, students then need to recall the acronym, which will act as a prompt and aid them in recalling the information for tests.
2. Acrostics: Acrostics are sentences, phrases, or rhymes that are created by using the first letter of each word or fact that someone wishes to recall, for example, “Every good boy does fine” for musical notes, or “In fourteen-hundred-and-ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
3. Visualization: Visualization involves creating a story or mind-picture, which can aid in retaining information. For example, to recall a formula for a math class, a student might picture some components as hotdogs and others as buns; then he will develop a brief, even humorous storyline that will help him recall the correct solution.
In summary, students need to learn to study effectively if they wish to succeed in college, and by utilizing these tips they can improve their study skills and, consequently, improve their test scores as well.
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About the author
John J. Gregg is an experienced writer on essaywriter.nyc where he provides students with an opportunity to get high grades. Besides, He is fond of reading and playing the guitar. By the way, John dreams of traveling a lot and visiting as many countries as possible.
