Daily Study Routine

August 23, 6:17 PMStudy Tips ExaminerBridget Logan

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It is important to have a 'daily study routine'.  If you have never used a study routine, you might want to consider developing one.  Without a quality study system, you will be at home cramming for tests and receiving mediocre grades while your friends are out having fun and getting the praise for their good grades.  Staring at a book while your mind wanders is not a good system.

The following tips may help.

• Be prepared.
  • Have all the necessary supplies required by your instructor and also the ones that you use on a regular basis.  Keep them in a supply drawer or other place where you can always find them.  You don't have time to search all around the house or school for necessary study items.
  • If you don't have the funds for supplies, be sure to ask friends, relatives, or neighbors if they have extra supplies around the house.  Don't let pride leave you unprepared.  Everyone needs help at sometime.
• Be aggressive in your approach to study.
  • Develop a study system that works for you and stick to it.  (If it doesn't work... dump it and take a new approach.)
  • If your mind tends to wander while you study, you're not focused and you're not being aggressive.  You may be tested on what you just read.  Make sure you remember what it was about.
• Be aware of the 'Big Picture'.
  • What am I supposed to get out of this class?
    • What information is this chapter trying to convey to me?
      • What is the purpose of this lesson?
        • What is important in this paragraph?
  • Does the instructor have a class outline, synopsis, or study guide?
    • Keep them in the front of your notebook and refer to them often... just to make sure you're on the right track.
    • If the instructor doesn't have such documents, ask what chapters he/she plans to cover this semester.  Then use the Table of Contents in your text as a general outline.
  • Be creative in your focus on the big picture.  It never hurts to look at things from several different viewpoints.  This will help to ensure that you don't overlook anything.
• Document everything.
  • Take notes.
    • You can't write down everything.
    • Think in outline form.
    • Make sure you write down the things that the teacher emphasizes.
    • If you read and study the material ahead of time, this will be easier because you will already know the main focus of the lecture.
    • Reference notes using Page #'s from the text.
    • Develop a system of abbreviations, but make sure you remember what they stand for.
• Think of school as your new full-time job.
  • You want to keep your job.  Don't get fired for doing a poor job. (Fail in this case.)
  • You want to be successful.
    • Get a promotion or raise... good grades.
    • Get recognized by your employer... teacher.
    • You want to do the job better than any of your co-workers... fellow students.
• Set Goals.  (You may have additional goals... just add them to the list!)
  • Long-term goals.  (Revise and modify them often.)
    • Make a list of your possible career choices.
    • Make a list of schools offering good programs for your choices.
    • Find out what academic requirements are necessary for your choices.
    • Determine if your career choice is in a very competitive market.
  • Short-term goals.
    • Do not fall behind the other students.
    • Maintain a certain grade point average.
    • Try to determine how the courses you are taking actually interconnect to complete your educational training. (They really do.)
  • Immediate goals.
    • Keep up with homework.
    • Complete daily assignments.
    • Turn in all assignments (early if possible).
• Don't be afraid to get help and don't wait too late to do it.
  • Talk with your instructor often.  (Always thank them for the extra time.)
  • Organize a study group. (Not a party session)
  • Ask your family for help.  Sometimes your parents or siblings know more than you think.  It usually makes them feel better if they are able to help.
  • If needed, get a tutor.
    • Even students with good grades have tutors in order to maintain those good grades.
    • Tutors do not have to be expensive and do not have to be used on a regular basis.  However, if you are behind and need a lot of help, it's better to schedule regular sessions.
    • A tutor should be thought of as someone who is there just to help you, not to judge you.  There are some great ONLINE tutoring options.  This method is convenient and less expensive (no gas or travel).

 Good Luck and let's hear the questions and the success stories.