How much time do you put into homework and studying?

[megkat]

My university (and I'm sure most others) recommends that we spend 3 hours for every one credit studying ( 4 credit class = 12 hours studying and so on). Well I find that I put WAY more time than that into my studies.

I know I've said it about a hundred times on this forum, but I am taking Anatomy and Anatomy Lab (my school separates A & P into two classes) this semester. In total 4 credits... Today marks my second week of classes and I have already put in well over 50 hours of reading, open lab time, study exercises, and I watch the corresponding lecture videos from the Intro to A&P class. The videos aren't as in depth as the regular Anatomy class goes, but it gives me the basic concepts of each chapter.

So I'm wondering how much time do you put into studying? Are you one of those lucky people that can read something once and completely understand it? Or are you like me and studying becomes a full-time job?

[rubato, ASN, RN]

I am the opposite. I barely opened my book and pulled an A in A&P, Chem, Micro. All with no problem. Then, I started nursing school. Well, having no good study habits hurt me BAD my first semester. I had to teach myself how to study, how to read or skim a chapter, what was important and what wasn't, etc.....

My friends that had to really study hard in the science prereqs did a ton better than I did that first semester. So, get those good study habits now. They will help you so much.

[PhillippaX50]

I too feel that I put a lot more than the "recommended" amount of time for science courses in particular. I think it will pay off in the long run. I am older too, almost 37, so maybe age has affected my ability to learn as quickly - I don't know...sometimes when someone says "oh I only studied 2-3 a week for microbiology" and now that I am taking it, I wonder how it is even possible to study that little.

I'm about the same age as you and I wonder the same thing! I was told that when people get older, their short-term memory declines and long-term memory improves. I agree with that to some extent because I feel like I have to study a LOT more than what is normal - but I can recall information long after I've learned it. When I was taking my A&P classes, I had to cut down my work schedule to half and even that didn't seem to give me the time I really needed. I took the fast-paced summer sessions, so I was studying around the clock. I've found that if I rewrite notes and main points from the lecture/ppts/text, it sticks. I'm an organizer - so I like to make charts with whatever it is I'm learning....for some reason that really helps me file the information in my mind! When I recall things, I see the charts LOL

[ShelbyaStar]

I aim to put in around 3 hrs/day. It seems to keep me pretty caught up without going insane. I get my reading done ahead of time and have time to start studying well before the tests. I break it up throughout the day because my attention span just isn't that good. If something comes up and I'm short one day I try to make it up as soon as possible. If something like a big test or paper throws me into overtime I try to take it a little easier for a couple days after.

I usually find one particular class to be the one I spend the most time on. Like right now I'm taking Human Bio which I take very careful outlines of while reading and there's a lot of memorization, so it takes a lot of time and it's worth more credits so I really want to do very well in it. OTOH intro psych is more the type of thing I mostly remember reading once, and it offers extra credit and more homework, so it takes a backseat a little bit in comparison.

[queserasera, RN]

I am really lucky in that if I'm explained something once, I pretty much have it. This really aided me in classes like A&P. However, on the other end of the spectrum I have some kind of number dyslexia and have to spend countless hours reinforcing math skills. pre-calc, finite math, stat, chemistry were all my worst nightmare. I generally use a 2:1 ratio for study to credit hours and it's done me just fine. I thank my lucky stars that I haven't had to work as hard as my peers to achieve the same high grades.

That being said, I do try to "put my time in" and study above and beyond to really expand my breadth of knowledge past what my professors expect of me.

[Futurenurse75]

SMH for A&P i've been studying about 4 hours a day. There is so much to read and memorize. I have to give myself time to memorize so much. Haven't studied in years so right now it's tough but i have to deal with it because the nursing program will be much tougher and more chapters to study.

[monaa]

Absolutely. Reading for many hours dose not have to mean you are were effektiv all the way. There are workshops as mentioned, teaching you how to study smart.

[dtaleton88]

My AP professor teaches a separate workshop on "how to study". She says that just because you are reading for 3 hours does not mean you are studying for 3 hours. Your eyes are skimming the words but you are not retaining the info. She has a hardcore system of how to study smarter, not harder.

Before taking her workshop, I was researching a great deal on this subject of studying smarter and not harder, and if it were not for my professors wise words and study techniques, I would be spending lots of wasted time on studying in an ineffective way.

What are some of the tips that she gave to study more efficiently. I'm one to worker smarter than harder some my study time is also managed that some way.

[stephanie30]

8 or so a week. I am taking american lit and nutrition online, and A&P 2 as a hybrid. The hybrid is online lecture all tests and lab in class. Am lit and nutrition require a midterm and final on campus. I learn pretty quickly though. I studied more for A&P 1 per week simply because it was a summer class.

I was required to take a class on study techniques and at first it seemed pointless, but now I realize how valuable it was!

[bcstsp_mg]

For A&P I've been reading the chapters before, I highlight as I go then I take notes on the section after. I hate flashcards but I know I'm going to need them for this class. I'm switching back to 3-11 this week so I'm not sure how my study schedule will be changing right now I'm just doing at least 2-3 hours a day.