Do you get anything out of study groups?

[MaenadsDance]

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This afternoon after my summer class let out, one of my classmates asked me if I would study with him and/or if I were part of a study group he could join. I told him I preferred studying alone, and wished him luck. In my experience, I study best when I study alone (although sometimes it's nice to have family around I can pressgang into drilling flashcards with me). Too often study groups tend to devolve into the A and B students effectively tutoring the C and D students, and nobody ever gets to work at their own pace.

On the other hand, a study group is great for defeating a lack of motivation (it's embarrassing to show up to the group not having done the homework/reading) and they always say that you've really mastered the material if you can effectively teach it to someone.

Thoughts??

 

[Narmerguy]

It depends on the study group and on you.

Much sociological/education research suggests that study groups, on the average, are less effective means of studying than going solo. My personal experience seems to fall in line with that. I find that what's most effective is for me to do as much as I can solo, then come together with a group for us all to address or teach other the stuff someone else didn't get.

There's not really a need to be in a group for the vast majority of stuff you could figure out on your own.

 

[MaenadsDance]

There's a couple of students who have a study group in this class, and as far as I can tell, they get together and do the homework together. I suppose it's not so bad if you're just doing problems out of the back of the book (ungraded) -- though I would worry that the weaker students are cheating themselves out of the opportunity to struggle through a difficult problem on their own -- but it just seems cheap to do the graded homework as a group. Professor doesn't care though, so whatever.

 

[Koosalagoosagoo]

I have only used study groups to get closer to chicks in my classes...

 

[MedPR]

i have only used study groups to get closer to chicks in my classes...

+1.

 

[MaenadsDance]

Unfortunately for me, the dude who was wondering whether I'd like to study with him is:

- 3 years younger than me

- The "awkward kid" in class (tells bad jokes, laughs at them, constantly interrupts the professor to tell the professor what his dad thinks about physics...)

- and about thirty pounds lighter than I am. I don't like dudes I could lift over my head.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Study groups are worthless.

Solo study + Google is really the way to go. I have never gotten anything out of a study group in any setting.

 

[Stumpyman]

I also don't like studying with other people. People say that "what if you don't understand a concept, yet someone else does." Well, I'd rather just spend some more time and try understanding the concept myself, and in that process I'll often pick up a lot of extra information as well.

 

[FattySlug]

Barring one exception, the only thing a study group benefits me is helping me stay focus instead of doing useless things like checking fb or reading manga in the middle of a studying session.

 

[typicalindian]

I study solo but if I'm caught up with the material and get asked to join a group I'll usually do it because then I can help teach someone something that they don't understand which helps me learn it a lot better.

 

[Law2Doc]

A good study group is often the most effective way to study. You motivate each other, learn things better if you are forced to explain things, hold each others feet to the fire, and you don't get to gloss over and skip things you "think" you know like you might when you are studying alone. However most study groups are not very useful simply because people select each other for their groups not based on what they bring to the table, but based on friendships, desired friendships etc. So yeah, if done well, this is extremely valuable. But most won't work well because of the wrong personnel, the motivation and effort simply aren't directed toward the work and it deteriorates into a gab session with your buds.

 

[aposkaha]

I only use study groups a few hours/minutes before the test when everyone knows their stuff.

 

[Miss Terious]

I've tried using study groups but I always find them to be more distracting than beneficial. That said I knew the material in Gen chem better than my peers so I decided to tutor them when it convenienced me.

There's a study that suggests that teaching someone else material indicates the highest level of understanding.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using SDN Mobile

 

[REPTAR013]

Study groups in my engineering school have been extremely effective IMO. Most of the problems we cannot solve solo, and it takes group effort to come up with these solutions. This type of group study is actually encouraged all the time by our professors. Come test day, however, you better remember how your group came up with the solution or else you're done.

 

[TipToad]

I get so much out of study groups. I learn all the new gossip around campus, and my partners and I get to bond through our mutual hatred of the same people.

Nothing educational, though.

 

[passerine]

I actually like study groups. I'm an auditory learner, so talking through concepts really helps solidify them for me. The best thing for me is when I'm teaching the material to other people; when they ask questions, I can figure out what I know or don't know, and it helps me know the ins and outs of the concepts in more depth than I would otherwise.

 

[lobo.solo]

I also don't like studying with other people. People say that "what if you don't understand a concept, yet someone else does." Well, I'd rather just spend some more time and try understanding the concept myself, and in that process I'll often pick up a lot of extra information as well.

This is so true

 

[Goobs]

I only go to study groups after I've finished reviewing by myself. Then when people ask questions you can explain it to them, and I feel that it really helps because whats the difference when your classmate asks you to explain ____ compared to when the test asks you to do it? I find it helps you breeze through the test since you've already explained the concepts so many times. But yeah...if I don't understand something, the study group is usually the last place I go to for answers. The ones I've been in sort of just look at me and then buried their heads into their books looking for the answer.

 

[rodlops]

I found study groups helpful. Teaching other people always made it stick more in my mind.

 

[sibitrum]

I'm definitely in the learn it yourself first, then do a study group crowd. The only exception is if it's really tough material and it takes you too much time to figure out by yourself.

 

[Dmr6186]

I did study groups from time to time. Sometimes they're effective for me. My worst experience was when I studied orgo with these two girls who were friends with each other. I finished a lot of my flashcards while listening to them talk.

 

[endowed]

.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Never ever.

 

[Neurophage]

I used study groups as my primary method of studying in college and ranked #1 in my class at a pretty competitive school. I would do it again.

Thoughts:

• Study groups motivate you to study more than you otherwise might.
• Discussing information with other intelligent people often reveals knowledge holes you'd completely miss by sticking to textbooks, study guides and other methods.
• Doctors have to communicate complex info to patients and each other. Study groups are good practice.
• If you are a social person, studying with other people can help keep your spirits up when you lack leisure time.

I have found that, even when your studymates are not A students, explaining concepts to them can be a good exercise. (Only once did I have to cut someone off because she genuinely needed to go back to square one and I simply didn't have time.) Overall, I would say that the key is not finding partners who are academically excellent, but rather finding ones who show up consistently so that you all stay on the same page.

Another caveat I'd add: When it comes to classes such as calculus that are very heavy in problem solving and light on theory and memorization, I found study groups inferior to simply doing a ton of practice problems. This includes the MCAT.

 

[LaughingMan]

I've had personal bad experiences in study groups.

Our group only progresses as much as the weakest member. I felt bad burning through material when I knew one person in our group wasn't getting any of it and was feeling excluded. This hurt me as I spent so much time going over basic problems.

Luckily, I stopped after the first two semesters and began on my own. Wrecked it from there.

If you are to do study groups--do them with like minded individuals. Don't do them with friends.

 

[BenzylAcetate]

Study groups in my engineering school have been extremely effective IMO. Most of the problems we cannot solve solo, and it takes group effort to come up with these solutions. This type of group study is actually encouraged all the time by our professors. Come test day, however, you better remember how your group came up with the solution or else you're done.

Agreed. I would have been SOL if I didn't have the few other people I consistently worked through problem sets with. Also once you get into the upper level engineering courses a lot of the work is team based, so learning to work and study with other people is important.

However, when it came to classes like immunology or endocrinology I never saw any value in studying with other people. When the extent of the work is reading X number of pages and memorizing Y number of slides, having another person doesn't really help much.

 

[Ansar]

Never been useful for me if n>2

 

[xxhopefulxx]

I think it depends on the people in the group and the class that is being taken. I personally have only been a part of a study group in my orgo classes (same study group for orgo 1 and 2). It really did help because the entire group worked very well together.

 

[MicroSteph]

I had one useful study group in college, but the majority of the time I needed to focus on learning the material 'my way' and at my own pace. I'd check it out and see if it meshes with your style. You may be surprised.

 

[MissMD1]

Personally, I find study groups help me when the other people actually wan to focus and learn. If you're trying to study with one or two other people who has the same goal, and that is to actually get things done I think they're helpful. I stay focused in study groups, and if I can explain something to another person I can definitely figure out the answer on a test. I think people do need to have studied before though, study groups should be review not learning everything fresh.

 

[screamin eagle]

I prefer study groups, with that being said I only usually study with people who are in the top of my class. I study and now live with 2 other guys who major in the same thing as me. I try to avoid dealing with people who have a harder time learning the material, but it is sometimes beneficial, if you can teach the subject to someone you know it.

 

[thehappydoctor]

Personally, me and this other girl used to study for a science class together and what ended up happening was

Her: I DONT GET IT!!!
me: let me help...

few mins later...
me:I DONT GET IT
her: ME NEITHER
........

Moral of the story: study with someone who get what you don't get and be able to explain to them also so its a mutual relationship

 

[Haislip]

I hate group work. Ditto!

 

[Ellie Arroway]

I only find study groups useful if "study group" actually means studying solo in the presence of other people who are studying solo (but everyone is open for occasional questions). Study groups with a structure or agenda never seems to match up with where I'm at - we always end up glossing over the stuff I don't understand and spending hours on things I think are easy.

 

[Charles Darwin]

This bird flies solo.

 

[chillaxbro]

When I study in groups, I end up having to quiz people and explain things to them which is a waste of my studying time. However, it helps me remember and understand the material better which I guess is okay.