To study or not to study?

[orthomyxo]

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Right now I have so much going on at school and I need some study tips badly. I'm swamped with upcoming tests and new material, and I just want to know how you guys determine what to study on a certain day and what to hold off on. Do you just study for the classes you had that day, or do you study everything?

 

[chman]

I hear ya. #1 stay off the SDN, and get away from distractions. This is a, "do as I say not as I do," suggestion.

 

[GlamDoc]

I'm really feeling the pressure now (I've got several midterms tomorrow back to back!!!!!). If asked now, of course I would say study the material covered in class on a daily basis. So if you only have a certain class MWF, then study for those classes on MWF (going over lecture notes, reading the text, attending office hours). Before exams, study daily or however much necessary to be well prepared.

I really wish I took my own advice. Me + procrastination are like this:

And why am I on here now?!?! 😀

GL with everything! 👍

 

[mglavin]

study things you don't know that will likely show up on the test

if your crunched for time don't waste time reviewing things you have a good grasp on. Be brutal in deciding what to spend you time learning. Next block try to review earlier so you don't end up in the same pickle

 

[Algophiliac]

It's hard to get things done EARLY, like reading ahead for your lectures or planning ahead with writing your papers and everything, but you just need to do it! Regardless of how lonely, bored, etc. you are, planning ahead and getting stuff done will prevent that stressful time crunch and those long library nights.

As for me, I only study for the classes I am going to have the following day, regardless of how much work this requires. Some days I get off easy, while some I have to work my ass off to get through all of the material. Tests, of course, are an exception...and I really should take my own advice and study for those AT LEAST a week in advance. 🙁

 

[orthomyxo]

I hear ya. #1 stay off the SDN, and get away from distractions. This is a, "do as I say not as I do," suggestion.

I hear ya...it's so easy to get distracted when you're studying for something as mind numbingly boring as the gas laws from intro chem 😴
Too bad I have an exam on them tomorrow, but I think I'll do pretty well

 

[orthomyxo]

I'm really feeling the pressure now (I've got several midterms tomorrow back to back!!!!!). If asked now, of course I would say study the material covered in class on a daily basis. So if you only have a certain class MWF, then study for those classes on MWF (going over lecture notes, reading the text, attending office hours). Before exams, study daily or however much necessary to be well prepared.

I really wish I took my own advice. Me + procrastination are like this:

And why am I on here now?!?! 😀

GL with everything! 👍

Don't even get me started on procrastination. Us two go wayyyyy back...I'm actually procrastinating as we speak

 

[marele86]

Yep, study as you learn it, NOT just right before a test.

This is pretty nerdtastic, but when I'm completely unmotivated to study, I can usually just bribe myself with new office supplies. Having new colored pens, notebooks, or highlighters will usually make me want to use them.

Also, going to a coffee shop is crucial. The library on a weekend or night is too depressing, but a coffee shop feels less like a jail for students and more like a legitimate Saturday activity, so I'm just more likely to go there and stay.

Just don't take the internet with you. I don't have a laptop, so I'm not tempted, but I have friends who have finally come to terms with the fact that writing their essay on a laptop with internet access will actually take longer than writing the damned thing by hand.
And you don't need the internet to look anything up. Print something out and take it with you.
If you need to be in study mode, the internet is your enemy.

 

[chman]

Y
This is pretty nerdtastic, but when I'm completely unmotivated to study, I can usually just bribe myself with new office supplies. Having new colored pens, notebooks, or highlighters will usually make me want to use them.

I do this too. I buy pens when I don't need them. Just today I bought a nice metal ruler because I knew I would be doing math tonight.

 

[orthomyxo]

I do this too. I buy pens when I don't need them. Just today I bought a nice metal ruler because I knew I would be doing math tonight.

Hahaha, metal......ruler......NO WAYYYYYY!!!!

 

[chman]

All joking aside these are my study tips:

-Rewrite notes soon after class, maybe key points on note cards.

-Find a study time that works best for you, as in morning, night, different people function better at certain times.

-As I said earlier in a joking manner, distractions are killer. I know for a fact they tack on an extra 2 hours a night for me.

-Find some people from the class you can study with.

-A lot of people chug coffee. This is actually counter productive, at least that is what my doc said, and after some experiments I agree with him. Caffeine is not a clean drug. It puts you on edge and allows you to get distracted easily, or should we say, easier.

-Learn to pick up what the key points are. I like what one of the posters said earlier about studying the things you don't know.

-Lastly, I find I study better if I have eaten well (protein and carbs are key), and gotten some exercise that day.

Hope this helps.