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Study Skills

Tips To Effective Studying
1. Effective Studying Begins With Preparation		Web Resources
2. Be Aware of How You Use Your Time		Reading
3. Block Out Time Each Day To Study		Studying
4. Plan To Study 1-2 Hours a Day For Each Hour In Class		Learning Style
5. Utilize Shorter Study Periods		Note Taking
6. Plan Ahead For Major Projects and Exams		Other Tips
7. Study the Same Subject at the Same Time Each Day
8. Study When You Are the Most Alert!
9. Mix Up the Types of Material You Are Going To Study
10. Choose a Quiet, Well-lit Place to Study
11. Be Organized!
12. Maintain Proper Health and Nutrition
13. Sleep, Exercise and "Me" Time!
14. Keep a Semester Calendar
15. Review Your Notes From Each Day's Class
16. Ask Questions in Class
17. Do the Assigned Homework
18. If You Need Help, Don't Procrastinate

Effective Studying Begins With Preparation Budget your time Have a place to study Get organized Practice proper health and nutrition
Be Aware of How You Use Your Time Develop a schedule that includes all "regular" activities, such as class, work, meals, exercise, and sleep Don't forget to schedule some "fun" time each day, just don't overdue it
Block Out Time Each Day To Study Treat study time like a job Schedule yourself to "work" daily
Plan To Study 1-2 Hours a Day For Each Hour You Spend In Class Studying for college is much different than high school Includes reading, reflection, organizing notes, reviewing material, homework, and preparation for the next class session Professors expect you to come prepared for class and will hold you responsible for knowing the material Not all classes require the same amount of work, so it is up to you to use good judgment to determine how much time is adequate for each course TOP
Utilize Shorter Study Periods Don't try to "cram" all of your learning into one setting Study in blocks of 20-30 minutes with a short stretch break in between Once an hour, get up from what you are studying and change what your eyes are looking at, but don't take more than 10 minutes off !!!
Plan Ahead For Major Projects and Exams At the beginning of each term, your professors will provide you with a syllabus Make a note of the major projects and exams so you can plan accordingly for the heavier work/study times during the semester
Study the Same Subject at the Same Time Each Day This trains your brain to remember and will assist with your being in the correct frame of mind
Study When You Are the Most Alert! Don't wait until the end of the day when you are physically and mentally fatigued Studying is an active process and takes a certain amount of energy to be successful Study the hardest subject first and get it out of the way before progressing on to those subjects which are less challenging TOP
Mix Up the Types of Material You Are Going To Study Don't study similar subjects back to back Mix up a reading intensive class with one that has problem solving to avoid fatigue!
Choose a Quiet, Well-lit Place to Study Find a location that is away from interruptions and distractions Set up a place to study each day that has good lighting and use that area only for studying Don't study in bed; the brain and body associate the bed with sleep and will actually think it is time to shut down for the day.
Be Organized! Schoolwork is all about paper and more paper! Keep them organized in a 3-ring binder or file folder so you can find things when you need to. Clean out your book bag at the end of each day to get that day's information in it's proper place
Maintain Proper Health and Nutrition What you eat is important, but so is when you eat It can affect your mood, memory and clarity of thought Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables Eat foods high in choline (fish, red meat, beef liver, egg yolks, soy products, oatmeal, rice, legumes, peanuts, and pecans), a chemical which has been found to assist with memory TOP
Sleep, Exercise and "Me" Time! Get the same amount of sleep each day and don't cut back on the hours when you need to "cram" in study time Your body is programmed to function with a certain sleep requirement, so don't cut it short! Make time in your schedule for exercise to keep the body fueled and revitalized Don't forget to schedule time just for you, to enjoy the things that help you unwind
Keep a Semester Calendar At the start of each semester, record all of the reading, homework, projects, and exams from each class Don't forget to record your work, exercise, or "me" time Put it above your desk or on the refrigerator so you can easily see it and educate those around you of the schedule you are under Carry a pocket calendar or PDA to help you record new things that come up to put on the schedule
Review Your Notes From Each Day's Class Take 10 minutes each day to review your notes from that day's classes Do this before you begin homework as a means to get your thinking channeled in the right direction TOP
Ask Questions in Class Be active in class To learn you must talk about what you are learning, write about it, relate it to past experiences, so that your brain will store the information in a manner where you can recall it at a later time Speak up and share ideas Take the risk of being right or at least finding out what you need to know to be successful Remember, there are no stupid questions, except for those you never ask!!
Do the Assigned Homework Do the assigned homework from class Write questions that come out of this to bring back to the next class for clarification Don't give up if you don't get things right away, new concepts often take time to fully understand Look at what you learn from the assignments that will assist you in test preparation
If You Need Help, Don't Procrastinate Get help from the different groups on campus that provide free assistance!!! Career and Counseling Center The ATTIC Your Academic Advisor
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Web Resources
Reading How to Read A Textbook Improve Your Reading With The SQ3R Method
Studying How to Study & Make The Most Out Of Your Time Improve Your Study Skills Study Skills Self Help Ten Traps Of Studying
Learning Style Learning Styles Inventory Make Your Learning Style Work For You VARK Questionnaire
Note Taking The Cornell System Of Note Taking Taking Notes
Other Tips Improving Concentration & Memory Listening In Class TOP