Study groups... To be or not to be?

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I'm starting NS in Sept :D , and I'm wondering is it worth starting/joining a study group? :confused: Any advice? Any pros, cons, stories, tips are greatly appreciated! :) Is it beneficial or just a waste of time? :rolleyes:

I find a mixture of independent studying along with study groups works best for me. I usually try to make sure that I have done quite a bit of independent study before I get together with people in a group though because I use the group mainly for clarification of certain things I don't understand that maybe they will, etc. I also think when you are in a group it helps to have something that you can focus on such as review questions, practice tests, former tests, etc in order to keep the group focused so that you don't get off track etc. However, unlike someone who had posted before I have found it can be helpful to be in a group even when you have people who don't understand the information as well as you do because if you understand the concept, etc. and can explain it to someone else it is a way of testing and/or reviewing concepts yourself. I also don't think it is bad to get off track for a little bit (everyone needs a little blow off steam time) but that you need to be able to keep that under control.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
I don't like study groups. I usually find myself teaching someone else because they are not on the same learning level as me so it is only beneficial to them and not me. If you can find individuals on your same learning level, then it would be good. Otherwise, it's a waste.

I personally learn better on my own. But some people learn better with others.

Teaching someone else is actually a form of learning - it forces you to not just know but understand the material and reinforces it because you use the knowledge to instruct someone else.

That said, spending the whole time teaching and no time actually doing your own studying does not make for a fun or productive group study session.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Study groups is about as big a waste of time that anyone can come up with. Nothing ever gets done but BS and what not. What I prefer is helping to teach other students when they come to ask me questions. Teaching others is a lot better for me than trying to learn from others

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However, if by 'study' you mean 'get together with an inordinately large number of people and talk about anything but course content' then you can do without.

You just described me to a T. I study alone because I will talk about anything and everything else.

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Discussing the content does help me remember it better. So, my husband hears ALL ABOUT what I'm learning. I even quiz him from time to time. He over looks me good naturedly but I still remember things I've been talking about. :D

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I tried a study group for the first time this term. I thought it would be a waste of time. It was anything but a waste of time.

We studied on our own first and answered all the study guide questions on our own first. Then met to discuss the material and answers. We also shared test taking strategies and things we had learned in other classes or from outside sources. I think part of the reason our group was so successful, is we had different strengths/weaknesses and were all willing to share from our strengths and take help with our weaknesses.

We each had times of explaining to the others and of learning from another. I was helped either way.

There were no disadvatages to being in this group.

I could've written this post 18 years ago! Our study group was great. Of course, we got "off topic" at times, but that's o.k once in a while. Can I just say, also, that we were a study AND support group. And my oh my, did we all need that support at times! Good luck.

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I used to be against study groups, because I thought I'd never get anything done. However, this past week (finals week) I've been studying with a few other students, and it is helping. Maybe it's because we're studying on our own as well, and the group sessions are helpful on top of the other reviewing we're doing.. I don't know. But hearing it, writing it, and saying it helps remember a lot more than just reading it to yourself.

Good luck!!

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Specializes in Nursing Education.

I definitely agree with Intern67 and TheSquire...even if you end up doing more 'teaching' than 'studying' in a study group, it still really helps you learn the material even better. You to have a higher level of mastery and understanding in order to be able to teach it to others.

When I was in nursing school, I did a combination of solo and group studying. I had a small group of classmates (4-5) that I would study with 1-2 times a week, and then I would do an occasional in-person or over-the-phone session with other individuals or groups from my class. Often I did take on a teaching 'role' in my study groups, but never had a classmate who blamed me for doing poorly because of it. If that had been the case, I definitely would have declined to study with them in the future!

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I have found that as long as the group is really selective in who gets invited (info moochers need not apply ;)), study groups go very well. In the one I was in for several of my prereq classes, there were about 4 of us who got together only before tests. We each went through the material independently beforehand, and wrote out study guides for ourselves. Then we got together and compared notes, and really focused on the questions that everyone in the group had in common. We ended up with 4.0s all around :D but I think that was a function of having to prepare on our own ahead of time since our schedules only allowed a 2-3 hour session together. We all got along well, but there was very little time for BSing. If you can find people who are all (or at least mostly) business, then it can be really useful in directing and motivating the studying you do on your own.

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I had a study group for A&P with a girl and a couple of guys who weren't going into nursing. Since we were good friends from high school it was lots of fun, we just met on weekends before big tests. I don't think I've ever done a study group with people I don't know very well though, there are a lot of ways in which that wouldn't end well.

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Specializes in GI.

It's up to your personal study style. Personally for me, I study much better independently. If I get together with people, study time becomes happy hour. It just doesn't work for me

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I like to study by myself first and then do a study group session after. I always find it more helpful doing it this way instead of just doing a study group immediately without any preparation. i think study groups are helpful because you might not always get everything down when you are studying by yourself. Sure you might go off-topic a few times but who doesn't need a break?

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