I need some help with studying.

[I wannabe a doc]

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Well basically I have always been a B average student through high school. I think this was because I barely studied for exams, quizzes etc. This is really pathetic cause im carrying this bad habit with me to college. I don't know anything at all about studying. I'm so lost cause I don't know if I am doing it right either.
I also have no impulse control at all and can't stay longer than 5 - 10 mins reading notes or doing hw. Can anyone suggest any methods to memorize or know stuff really well? I really want to get serious about school but need help. Also should my daily routine consist of studying etc or just for exam time?

 

[I wannabe a doc]

Anyone?

 

[FirefighterDoc]

Well it helps being legitimately interested in what you are learning, but I have always been in the same situation. I found that if i limit distractions ( eg unplug my television, limit my internet distractions like facebook and sdn) I can accomplish so much more. I use those things as a reward if ive finished so much studying or work. Ive also found that i can finish things in a much shorter time without distractions if i work straight through instead of procrastinating( who would have thought right?)

As far as staying interested in reading and not being bored, take breaks if you need to. Sometimes i listen to the radio( i cant listen to songs that i like because then ill be forced to sing them and nobody wants to hear that) I usually listen to my local morning talk radio( which can get pretty raunchy at times so its not like a double bore). I just cant watch television because my eyes will wander too much.

This is just whats been working for me, hope this helps!

 

[Marcus Brody]

I also have no impulse control at all and can't stay longer than 5 - 10 mins reading notes or doing hw.

hm elaborate on that to your PCP or college health clinic and they'll help you out 😉 👍

/not medical advice

 

[vin5cent0]

Well, I can only think of two things off the top of my head that you can study for: rote memorization and problem-solving.

For problem-solving, such as reactions in chemistry, physics problems, etc, all you can really do is go over the material and then do practice problem after practice problem until you have it down cold.

For rote memorization, I do the same thing each time and it has proven to work very, very well for me.

I go through all the notes gone over in class, read the book and add notes to the class notes, and make a several page long overview of what might be on the test. Then I sit down.. and write it out by hand, over and over and over and over again.. until I learn it. Ecology test in 30 mins, I didn't start studying until this am at 5. Wrote out my 7 page study guide about ~6 times and I have it all fresh in my head right now. I find I also retain the information pretty well.

 

[I wannabe a doc]

Idk studying last minute always is bad for me. I think my main problem is remembering the stuff. I also cant focus and lose my focus really easily.

 

[Elpenor]

step 1: Set a time to study.

Step 2: study


it is that simple

I had a 2.7 gpa in high school and didn't even really go to class, even on test days lol

my gpa is 3.9+ now in college

if you "never had to study" and got B's, you will be fine with just a little studying

find a way of studying that works for you, and dont procrastinate

 

[auburnO5]

hm elaborate on that to your PCP or college health clinic and they'll help you out 😉 👍

/not medical advice

👍

 

[sunsfan]

Does your school have a free tutoring center / learning assistance center. It may help you to pay them a visit. Sometimes they organize workshops about time management, study skills, etc. which are good places to start in learning to be a better student.

But also keep in mind that you may be overthinking this. Some of us don't need to be regimented students to see good results. Some, like you, will do just fine with minimal structure/ effort. Experiment with other study routines, but if you find that the "laid-back" style is your learning style, embrace it!

 

[LaZigeuner]

You might find Cal Newport's Study Hacks blog helpful, as well as his red book, and his yellow book. I've got the red book (resold the yellow)---both were good. iirc, the yellow book is of stuff that I found on his blog.

 

[Velocity]

Some studies have shown that we can develop insomnia by doing work on our beds. The recommendation, then, is to utilize your bed only for two things: sex and sleeping. (That is current medical advice.) I take that to mean that our mind subconsciously comes to associate a location with an action. If you're having trouble focusing, establish a "study spot." Maybe it's a table in your apartment, or maybe it's a library on campus. Go there, and - at least in the beginning - put most of your focus on making sure that you just do work and don't mess around. Eventually you may find that simply being in that place increases your focus and puts you in an industrious mood.

As food for thought, Pascal once said (roughly) that habit becomes automation, and automation leads the mind. The hardest part is establishing a good habit while avoiding bad habits. Once you have the habit (routine) down, everything else may come on its own with very little effort on your part.

The key is to be disciplined, particularly in the beginning. It's like strength training - in the beginning it's very difficult, painful, and disappointing, because you invariably will not be able to meet your expectations the first couple of times. Keep at it, and don't beat yourself up if you fall off of your routine here and there. What you are doing is building your discipline and your ability to focus. The material you learn in class may feel trivial, but those two skills are things that you'll need to get into and through medical school. So if for nothing else, keep that in mind and don't feel that you're wasting your time.

As for how to study, I'm afraid that varies class by class and from person to person. Some people do well with study groups; others hate them. To aid in memorization some people do well by drawing things out in a concept map; some create mnemonics; some create stories; others just read it over and over until it's ingrained in their mind. If a test bank is available to you then studying off of old exams can help, particularly if a professor tends to keep his test formats the same.

You recognize your shortcomings and want to change. That's good and admirable. No one bit of advice in this thread will be the answer, but consider the ideas, try certain things, make them your own, and keep at it. Best of luck!

 

[Morsetlis]

If you're anything like me you can't stand reading a textbook. That's ok.

Do it anyway.