Do you NEED a study group to get through nursing school?

I prefer to study alone. Whenever I study with other people, I feel like they're using me as an easy source of information when they just don't want to look at their own notes (you know, put in the work that I did in order to tell them that info).

If I do study with other people, I've found that it's best to do it when I know we've both already put in study time, really know most of the material, and either need reassurance or clarification on a few stick-out points.

Bottom line, if you don't feel like you need a study group, don't feel like you need to. I can't tell you how many classes I made it through on my own, even after an instructor told me I needed a study group. If you are concerned about your scores though, find someone who is doing about as well or better than you, and use each other for mutual support (I HATE when study groups are one-sided).

I've been studying by myself since the beginning of nursing school, and I'm currently in my last semester.

You have to do what works best for you. I was never a study group person. I felt like every time I tried the study group thing we would get off task and waste time. If I had a pretty good grasp of the material already then I wouldn't mind joining a study group for a little bit to reinforce what I know. Otherwise I go over the info on my own at my own pace which worked out fine for me

I just graduated in December. I didn't use a study group until the very last week of finals...a few of us met before each final for a couple hours. It was amazing how well that went...we regretted not doing it earlier! We just reviewed the info and would share what we though were the main points and take-aways. So, if you're introverted like me and prefer to go it alone, you may do well. But finding a few to do a final review prior to tests can't hurt. When it's getting down to just a couple hours before a test, our group stayed very focused.

I found it helpful to meet with a study buddy once or twice coming up to an exam and study the rest on my own. Groups tended to be less productive--more chances to go off topic and mess around, just one other to study with was best. But the time or two studying together was really helpful, we'd talk through questions explaining our logic and then decide on an answer. Sometimes she had a (correct) train of thought I would have never come up with on my own and vice versa. It really is beneficial, you should give it a try!

NOPE! You can do better all by yourself , most of the time it distracts you and some

Don't want you to succeed , stay focus on your own , the only person that will taking that NCLEX is you , not you & your study group

I survived alone. I felt that others weren't on the same page as I was and always found them studying material from stuff I already knew. I just do so much better alone and can go at my own pace.

I've been in nursing school half a semester and we keep talking about forming a study group but never have.(Most of my friends/classmates work). One thing that we do instead though is use quizlet and text each other sample application questions that may be on the test. But I can say I am doing great in my classes without the study group I guess it just depends on the individual.

Nobody wants to form a study group when I asked. So I study by myself.

One thing though, they use my quizlet notes that I make for myself and study with that. I really don't know half the people using my notes. People claim to be lone wolfing but my quizlet profile keeps getting hit up.

Nobody wants to form a study group when I asked. So I study by myself.

Smart man... missing out on study groups is no loss in my experience.

I'm only a month into my first year so my views might change over the course of the program. But so far I study alone. I find it too distracting trying to study in a group. Plus already I've found 2-3 people latch on to me in lecture and lab and want me to tell them my answers to things. Umm no. I am not going to spoon feed them my answers that I've studied hard to achieve. There's definitely a few hard working students who are getting good grades and I'm happy to talk stuff through with but I'm not going to get into the habit of doing the work for others so they don't have to. If you haven't done the reading or taken notes, don't expect me to copy mine for you to study from! I'm kind of shocked at the gall of some students already.

There are pros and cons to both. So always be open. This doesn't have to be an either/or way of life. I've never used a study group before, but my first semester of nursing school I joined one because people told me I NEEDED one.

I found pros & cons. Pros: someone else will have info that you didn't pick up on in class and vice Versa. Sometimes a study group can help keep you on track. Everyone has a moment that puts them on the shoulder (home life, a poor exam grade, trouble getting a skill or subject etc). Your group will share how they did well on an exam that you didn't (such as how to understand the questions).

A study group can help you better your interpersonal skills with professors or fill in those gaps if you have questions but your professor has zero interpersonal skills. Someone always has info on your next semester courses because their friends/sibling is one cohort ahead. Groups can have good referrals on school tutors or non-school academic aides that you haven't tried before or weren't exposed to. These are your professional peers, look at it as networking if you're not fond of them personally. Someone will having hiring info for you that isn't advertised on the company website. These are all pros.

Some cons: it only takes one unfocused student to derail the path of the group with their study. Suzy always has relationship issues and always wants to talk about it, yep she's a con.

There's the student who never studies and only leans on the group knowledge. This person can only help you review what you think you know, they'll never help you catch a mistake. Plus you can't go over what you're struggling with.

There's the student who only shares info with SOME people in the group. That's a problem.

The student who thinks everyone needs to focus on helping THEM pass. The student who doesn't want anyone to get together if they can't make it.

Group members can have a personal fall out and cause a strain for the rest of the group. Groups can get together too often and end up studying too long so now the members have become co-dependent for times sake before the next exam. Cons baby.

What I've learned is that it's good to take what I call a hybrid approach. My goal for the upcoming semester is to Study 60% solo; 20% with an expert in the subject matter (tutor; professor; an RN WHO is good at teaching; online group resources) and the final 20% is to use a study group simply for a quick review prior to an exam and social network with AFTER the exam.