How much time do you spend

SparklyGirl · Aug 11, 2007

Actually, it was my understanding that each credit was supposed to require 2 hours per week.

However, on average, I probably only spent about 3 hours per week studying for each 5 credit class I was taking. Does that make sense?

I took micro, physio, and anatomy last semester (15 credits). I studies *a lot* before tests, but like I said, on average I probably only studies about 10 hours per week. And I got all As.

coolpeach · Aug 11, 2007

It really depends on the class for me. For example when I took psych 3 credit hours I spent maybe an hour a week and made an A. When I took speech, and english I never studied unless I had a paper to write and I made an A in both. For A&P 1 and 2 I studied all the time. I studied flash cards in the doctors office, car, bathtub lol. I spent a couple of hours every day in addition to class, and somethings whole days studying to make an A. For micro I just spent a couple of hours every other day or so. Spanish I spent a couple of hours a day trying to memorize the words,and conjugate the verbs. Again it justs depends on the class. I found English, speech, psych, dev psych, music appreication, were easy with almost no studying.

Algebra (i hate math), pharm, spanish were a little more difficult and required a bit more.

Biology, Chemistry, A&P 1&2, and micro required a lot.

LMRN10 · Aug 11, 2007

Definitely depends on the class, but I've always heard...2 hours of study time for each Credit Hour.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2007

This issue is actually a pet peeve of mine, IRL. (I'm not referring to what anyone has said here).

It seems that the issue will come up and some student will say something like "I only study about 5 hours per week for all of my classes and I get all A's." Or students say some variant of this theme, meaning they are claiming to not study much.

What then happens is the other students listening who do study a lot feel like something is wrong with them that they have to study so much - and they don't say anything.

Sure, some have to study more than others. There are rare individuals with spectacular memory function who truly don't have to study much. Key word - rare.

I've had conversations with friends at my church about this because I thought something was wrong with me in the beginning when I started college. These two friends have PhDs, one in psychology and one in education. They both said that researchers have studied this very issue of boasting about not having to study much. Behind closed doors though, many students study far more than they will admit! At least the ones getting good grades do.

I agree with what the others here said. It's not an equal relationship as far as 3 credit class = 3 hours of studying weekly. It really does depend on the class. For example, for English 101 I put in very little time unless I had a paper to write. On the other hand, I took a Psy 101 class that required about 50 pages of reading weekly and ~15 pages of research papers weekly. I probably spent 10 hours a week on that class. It was similar for both A&P's as well. My experience is that the longer I've been in college, the better I've gotten at being efficient with my study time and honing in on exactly what the instructor is after and what she or he isn't.

Ok, I know I've been lengthy here. Like I said, this issue strikes on my pet peeve.

Chantels1 · Aug 11, 2007

Thanks everyone. You confirmed my feelings exactly. I don't think my med terminology will take too much study time. Just making flash cards, Nutrition, I am not sure of especially since it is my first online course. My Bio class is the one that I know will take a lot of study time. I read the first chapter yesterday and today and did not absorb enough of it! Had to re-read to answer the review questions correctly!

coolpeach · Aug 12, 2007

I think it depends on your professor also. If they only test off lectures and are very clear, and your a good note taker then all you have to really do is go over your notes.

Then again if you have one of the professors who uses power points only, is all over the place in lecture, and expects you to read and memorize the whole book then your got your work cut out for you.

txnursingqt · Aug 12, 2007

Then again if you have one of the professors who uses power points only, is all over the place in lecture, and expects you to read and memorize the whole book then your got your work cut out for you.

So you know my A&P1 teacher? That was her exactly. You had to know everything and she gave no chance for extra credit. 5 m/c exams and that was it. I ended up making a B (an 89.2) and I studied my tail off. I got an A in lab but our lab teacher gave extra credit and that pushed me over to an A because I had a high B in there too. I have never studied more for any class in all of my life.

I am one of those students who I guess is rare because I honestly have never ever had to study much, and I am not lying. In highschool I was in all honors classes and I never studied. (I am not trying to brag, I promise) I was told that I would have a rude awakening in college. Well I am now a junior (I just switched my major to nursing so I am finishing up the pre-reqs for that but I have all my other basics towards a bachelor's degree). Anyway, I am just now finding out that I have to study with the science class pre-reqs. Everything else has been a breeze.

Just my experience.

SparklyGirl · Aug 12, 2007

I said I only studied 5 hours per week on average while taking all three sciences....but that probably isn't even true.

I probably studied that in just a normal week (though I also know there were weeks when I didn't study at ALL) but when I had a big exam in just one class....I could easily study 40 hours in one week just for that test. Crazy. And when I had more than one exam in a week, I thought I was going to go insane (and my husband was ready to kill me because I was so stressed out)

I also have a science background and I hired a lot of help (with the kids and housework) so I could spend that much time studying. Otherwise I don't think I would have made it.