surviving school without study partners

WickedRedRN, BSN, RN · May 20, 2008

Well, I found I did not need a study group per se. Eventually, I wound up talking with others regarding projects and clearing up points, but I never really had a study group. I found I work better when studying alone vs a group.

If you feel you really need a study group, just make yourself accessible and ask someone who sits near you if you can study together. Give it time, being together in a program for any length of time leads to relationships being formed. I am sure you will settle in soon as well too.

Acosmo27 · May 20, 2008

I ALWAYS study by myself. I dont find study groups to be helpful to me at all, but thats from my personal experience. Its nice to have other classmates that you can call if you need to clarify anything but other than that, im the lone ranger when it comes to studying! I just finished my first year, and ive gotten great grades all by myself.. it can be done.

:redbeathe A.

Jaxs · May 20, 2008

You're right. I only feel if I'm not 'connected' I won't know what I may be missing in the 'grapevine'. I suppose I need to just trust myself more. I , too , did fine so far my 1st year.Thanks:mad:

Jules A, MSN · May 20, 2008

You're right. I only feel if I'm not 'connected' I won't know what I may be missing in the 'grapevine'. I suppose I need to just trust myself more. I , too , did fine so far my 1st year.Thanks:mad:

This is a great point because I'm also someone who didn't like study groups but staying connected to the inside buzz is very important. It can be done and what helped me was sharing pointers I found while studying, other sources of information, practice questions etc. with the group of very connected students (they are in every class) during class time. It kept me inside the group enough so I was privvy to the info but didn't smother me.

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · May 20, 2008

Maybe if you want to stay "in the loop" with what is going on you should volunteer for a position on the student council, national student nurses association, or whatever other body they have at your school. That way you will stay in the loop of what is going on and have something for your future resume.

By the way, I don't study with a group because it doesn't suit my way of learning, and I am doing very well in school. Hopefully, once everyone chills out and gets that you are all in this together, the little cliques will break down a little. It takes some people a little while to realize that you are not competing with one another any more, you are all in this together!

Good luck to you.

suzy253, RN · May 20, 2008

I ALWAYS study by myself. I dont find study groups to be helpful to me at all, but thats from my personal experience. Its nice to have other classmates that you can call if you need to clarify anything but other than that, im the lone ranger when it comes to studying! I just finished my first year, and ive gotten great grades all by myself.. it can be done.
:redbeathe A.

I was the same when I was in school. Study groups just didn't work for me and I passed and am an RN for 2 years now. Good luck.

allnurses Guide · May 20, 2008

Me too - no study groups because they don't suit my style of studying either. And I was an older student with kids and a husband and a 70 mile commute. The one thing that really bothered me was the varying answers you would get from students in a group - too confusing.

I did become a proctor for the anatomy teacher during pre-reqs and I was the student rep in our last semester during nursing school. That helped keep me in just enough . . . to not feel smothered.

steph

MrsRNn2009 · May 21, 2008

I had a study partner my first semester who became a great friend, but i found that i depended on her too much and counted on those sundays we studied before the tests. i ended up failing out my first semester. (not mentally ready i guess) i had never failed anything in my life so the next semester i was allowed to come back in, i knew no one and it sucked at first, however, i began to rely on ME~ when i got my first test results i was so proud of myself and you will be the same. i have been able to do all of my studying alone because i know no one else will do it for me. you can always call a friend to clarify a subject. good luck and hang in there.

Esther2007 · May 21, 2008

I study with a group and also on my own. I run the study group, I wont allowed people to talk before we take a break. My study partners love the fact that I am tough on them. This semester the entire group passed Meg Surg 3, which was very challenging. Dont feel left out, study group is not for everyone. If you feel the need to be in a group, just ask a couple students if they can study with you. To complete nursing school, study group is not a requirement.

naide88 · May 21, 2008

Studying in groups is actually kind of distracting for me because sometimes it goes off topic.

Its nice to have friends in class, though, because if you ever miss something in class that was important your friends could let you in on it. Also, other people have a different way of studying and understanding material so they can explain things to you in a different light and vice versa.

Try putting up signs around your college, asking to form a study group in the college.

Music in My Heart · May 27, 2008

I'm returning to school after many years and after my first year I find myself without study buddies. I tried to hook up several times with several different groups or individuals but they either lived too far or already had their 'buddies' from previous classes. I feel like a fish out of water and this time around school is no fun, especially since it is so stressful, competitive and difficult! Any other 'loners' out there who survived on their own? This site is SO helpful!

I'm a loner. I live far away from any of the other students and my family schedule doesn't provide much time to get together anyway. I study on my own but it seems to work for me. I enjoy the social connection at clinicals and lab days but other than that, I'm pretty much doing NS solo.

I find that one key is to hold myself accountable just as I would be were I in a study group. I am brutal on my self-assessments and quiz myself mercilessly.

I think that for many people, study groups and study buddies are actually distractions. I think I do better studying on my own. It's not as much fun, for sure, but it is more efficient.