I Don't Know How To Study :(

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Aug 18, 2012

What helps me-

drawing diagrams and charts, and reviewing those

and practicing explaining the concepts to a variety of people, either really doing that or just to myself, for practice.

Both of these help me understand how the facts relate to each other.

i♥words · Aug 18, 2012

It has taken me a long time to figure out how to study. Only when I started college did I realize that I had no idea how to efficiently study and my grades suffered until I figured it out. I took a learning style quiz for one of my classes that basically showed me I was nearly an even mix of all types: visual, auditory, and tactile. You can look online for some free learning style quizzes; I am sure some are better than others, as the one I took was 60 questions are something like that. Anyway, that did help me some but then I just had to figure out what to do about it.

1. For me, taking notes is important. Some people I know can go to class and not write down a word and later remembereverything the professor said. That is not me. When I take notes I like to use different color pens and highlighters, and I try to summarize what the teacher is saying and not write everything down word for word. I had one teacher who talked ridiculously fast so I typed notes on my laptop but bolded and italicized phrases and concepts that stood out to me.

2. When I study, I read the book first, read the teacher's power points second, and my notes last. Some teacher's power points are word for word from the book so aren't even necessary to read at all. Other teachers have said that the book should be used for understanding of a topic but the power points are the "bible" for the class and everything from the tests will come off of those. So it really depends on what the teacher's guidelines for the course are and where he/she will take information for the tests.

3. I like writing numbered lists of processes, or drawing a diagram repeatedly, or making flashcards. I haven't had as much help with flashcards as I have with drawing on a dry erase board. I'm a huge fan of flow charts, trees, and other arrow/numbered type diagrams.

I think once you figure out what kind of learner you are you'll be able to figure out how to study. If you are an auditory learner than a recorder is a great thing, and group study (like "teaching" each other the material) would help a lot. Like I said, I'm a mix of the styles so usually after I've studied a topic I'll find someone to explain it all to.

stefanie0202 · Aug 18, 2012

Flash cards and memorization.

CallieNM, ASN, RN · Aug 18, 2012

Seriously. I don't know how I got by during the summer semester. Now fall semester is almost here. I have some tough classes- biochem, college algebra, psychology....any tips on how to study? I always just sit there and read and it gets boring. Its hard to try to study at home. I can never focus. I really want to do well this semester.

This past semester I discovered FLASHCARDS... not an application or anything on the computer, although I guess you could do it that way. But actually writing out flashcards on an index cards.... and it REALLY made a difference in my grades on my exams!

Good luck!

rubato, ASN, RN · Aug 18, 2012

For me, it depends on the class. For math classes, I don't study. Just doing the daily homework is enough.

For science classes, I go over my in class notes on the power points, and I got in a study group for A&P. I eventually narrowed down my study group to one other person. We would meet in the lab and quiz each other on bones or muscles or whatever we were working on.

For other classes like psychology, ethics, etc.... I would just go over the study guide and my in class notes.

I am terrified of how bad my study habits are going in to this first semester of nursing school. I HATE reading my books and know that I have 100s of pages every week to get through. Yuck. But, I'm hoping that I get it together soon since I start Monday.

kabooski · Aug 18, 2012

It all depends, there are some people that can absorb/remember the lectures very well and do great with little reviewing before an exam. I call these people passive learners. I'm an active learner, which means that I have to constantly reinforce what I learn. I record the lectures and replay them as I go to the gym, do chores, drive to work and back. I read the textbook for 45 and break for 15 min, and I come back the next few days and reread it again (This for Bio, AnP, Micro, Psych). I don't just try to remember for an exam, but I actually want to understand the concepts, and if it is not clear enough, I seek out videos on the net. If the professor says tests are mostly based of the PowerPoint/Lecture then I study those the most and use the book to get a wider/more indeph view.

For Stats, Chem, College Algebra and even Speech, it is all about practice, practice and more practice. Use the Tutoring services and use the professors office hours to have them explain their rational/expectations/explanations ...

Always aim for an A in every class. Never have the mentality that "well as long as I pass" that is self-defeating. Put studying as the number one priority in your life. De-prioritize things like "Facebook, Tweeting, TV, and going out.

All those who took studying for granted always come back with "do you think I can make it in with this low GPA?"

And if you can't handle the pre-reqs interrupting of your social-life, you better get ready for Nursing School.

I finished my A.A this summer with a 3.95

bubblejet50 · Aug 18, 2012

I lost all my scholarships at my first college after I failed two classes freshman year. That was due to not knowing how to study. I was a straight a student in high school but was never challenged enough to need to study. You should find out what type of learner you are first before you try a bunch of ways to study. You want to find methods that incorporate your learning style. Im an auditory learner and have a photographic memory if I can keep my attention long enough to read and process a textbook. I can literally see the page and the text on it but I have a hard time focusing when I read texts. I found flashcards helped like with definitions or review questions from a study guide. Id make up some then bring them with me and run through a few in my downtime. Also if you are a visual learner youtube has a lot of videos to watch on the subject you are learning but make sure its not just a spoof. Some people do well in study groups. Dont try to cram all in one night either. Do a lil bit every night and add to it

timmedico · Aug 18, 2012

College Algebra - YouTube actually has a plethora of great videos to help you out. I used YouTube for Calculus 1 and 2, and I learned WAY more than my book or professor could teach. Math, for me, was never a subject that I could understand by reading...it seems like the people who made the book intentionally tried to complicate the already ridiculous problems. :) When you do equations and such and you find the correct answer for a problem, do the same problem a few times. You'll start to pick up on patterns and even shortcuts to make your work simplified and easier to understand. :)

Psychology - I never read a chapter for Psychology, never. Vocabulary is absolutely key. However, applying it to your life is even more crucial. If you are a visual learner, look at the vocabulary words and the pictures that go along with them...you'll start remembering that Skinner was the Behaviorist that tested with rats, etc.

No matter what subject you study, nothing will make sense unless you give it meaning in your life. For example, when I would do parabolas in math, I'd imagine that the "curve" was the path a football/baseball takes when thrown (word problems do the same). Doing stuff like this will keep you interested and will ultimately give you some knowledge to take away after the semester is over. :)

Stephalump · Aug 18, 2012

I lost all my scholarships at my first college after I failed two classes freshman year. That was due to not knowing how to study. I was a straight a student in high school but was never challenged enough to need to study. You should find out what type of learner you are first before you try a bunch of ways to study. You want to find methods that incorporate your learning style. Im an auditory learner and have a photographic memory if I can keep my attention long enough to read and process a textbook. I can literally see the page and the text on it but I have a hard time focusing when I read texts. I found flashcards helped like with definitions or review questions from a study guide. Id make up some then bring them with me and run through a few in my downtime. Also if you are a visual learner youtube has a lot of videos to watch on the subject you are learning but make sure its not just a spoof. Some people do well in study groups. Dont try to cram all in one night either. Do a lil bit every night and add to it

I feel ya there! I totally blew my first semester of college. I just had no idea what to do to succeed because I never had to do much of anything before that. Tests were only over material covered in class and I could remember anything my teachers said, so I was always good to go without ever (and I mean EVER) studying.

A&P my second semester was a game changer. I was so enthralled by the information and so challenged I shifted gears and was basically willing to try anything and everything to succeed. I learned that I do great in study groups (auditory learner, once again), that I'm best reading text before class, not after (helps cement the lecture in my head. Reading afterwards is too repetitive to keep my attention), that I absolutely cannot study at home, and that I need to do a little every day, but keep it cumulative or I'll be struggling to remember earlier stuff on test day.

macalania54 · Aug 19, 2012

the essay idea sounds genius! I think I'll try it this semester :)

Despareux · Aug 19, 2012

Kids screaming and running around while the television is blaring worked quite well for me. I tried to study in silence; it felt eery and empty; I did not like it.

I liked the noise because it made it so I HAD to concentrate more.

Also, I discovered that I learn best by listening to lecture and thinking about key points and how I would apply them to practice. Once I realized this, studying became fun and easy, and the best part was, I barely had to crack open my books.

My point is, it's a really good idea to know what works for you. All those college students we see on tv or in advertisements, who have their nose in a book, or who are in study groups with great big smiles, promote this image of what a student is supposed to look like and how they're supposed to study, when in reality, EVERYONE has their own distinct study style.

I would suggest taking a little bit of time to discover how you learn best--just Google it.

tenn_bsnstudent · Aug 19, 2012

(Not that I am glad that anyone bombed their first college semester) But it makes me feel better knowing that I am not the only one around here who has done it. Finally starting back to classes 2 years later!!!