Study smarter, not harder.

Starting college, I had no idea what I was doing when it came to studying. The false image I obtained during high school of “studying” quickly failed me when I started as a freshman biology major. After completing my undergrad and starting grad school, I now understand what it takes to study effectively to ultimately get good grades. Studying does not have to be painful and full of hours of writing and reading in silence. But do not underestimate how much planning and hard work goes into becoming better at studying effectively. With time management and a better understanding of what works best for you, studying will become more bearable and you will see an improvement in your mood and grades!

1. Study frequently and stay organized.

This is a marathon, not a race. You need to be studying each day for your major classes in order to keep up with the material. Most professors will tell you that for every hour of lecture, you need to spend three hours working on that material. They’re not wrong, but this does not mean you spend three hours straight on one class a day! Realistically, your major courses require an hour to an hour and a half each day after class to re-write notes and condense textbook and lecture information. Most classes have weekly quizzes which force you to be constantly reviewing the material, instead of only looking at it the night before the exam. Trust me, keep up with your daily or even weekly studying schedule and you will spend less time studying the day before an exam, and with a better grade. Proper time management is KEY for this to work, give yourself the time to sit with the material and figure out any questions you may have along the way.

2. Avoid “all nighter” studying.

Some students may swear by this method of studying the night before an exam, but I always felt that it was more of a social event, making jokes and eating snacks with your classmates. I work in a sleep lab so of course I think sleep is more important than studying, because it is! You must get a full nights worth of sleep especially before an exam for your maximum cognitive performance and so that while you’re sleeping, your brain can consolidate the content from your short term to your long term memory! Your brain is not meant for that information dump right up to the minute before the exam. Take breaks and study up until you lose focus. It is okay to come back when you are ready! But do not set yourself up to be in an “all-nighter” position.

3. Studying is not just reading and writing notes.

Be creative and do what works best for you! Make flash cards, study guides, utilize Quizlet, try practice problems from the textbook, redo homework assignments, and retake old quizzes from class. There are so many ways to retain the material in addition to reading and writing over and over. These studying activities can be done alone, with a friend, or a study group from class. Quiz each other on the material and talk it out! I love writing out pathways and concepts on a white board where my classmates and I can make connections within the material for the class. Explaining concepts out loud to a classmate is the best way to find out if you understand the material or not and if you can relay the information accurately! Brainstorm possible essay questions by taking the broadest themes from that exam and fill in the detailed information necessary. The more ways you try to organize the material, the better you are understanding it. Take the week leading up to an exam to find creative ways to study.

I hope these tips help and give you a different perspective. Remember it takes time and habits are hard to break! Be honest with yourself and take a look at what you are missing in your study routine! Let me know if you have any comments or questions below.