Top 10 Study Tips for College Freshman’s this Year

Setting off to college for the first time in life can be a daunting ordeal for student; leaving home, being away from friends and family, learning to cook, fending for yourself, sharing a dorm room, the list goes on and on. On top of all this, where are you going to find not only the time but the motivation to study and pass your exams?

To help you out, below you can find our top 10 study tips which if you follow are sure to make your freshman year that little bit easier.

1. Work life balance. First off, it is important that you understand that you need not dedicate your entire life to study, in-fact it would be unhealthy to do so! That’s not to say you should be out partying every night (although the temptation too to so will be very high). It is important to find a healthy balance of work and play. Make sure that you are on top of your work load but also make sure you allocate time to doing the things you love to do. Set yourself work goals to complete and then give yourself rewards for completing them.
2. Plan. So this brings us on to our next point, college life is going to be busy, where are you going to find the time to attend all your classes, study, socialize, play sport, cook and so on. At first it can all seem a bit over whelming, but if you sit down and plan it all out, you will soon realize you have more time then you think. Start with a blank piece of paper, write down all the tasks you have to complete each week, each month and each semester. Once you have your list, begin to prioritize them. Then get an A4 sheet of paper and create 7 columns (one for each day of the week) and 16 rows (one for each hour of the day). Using this weekly planner you can begin to mark down when your classes are, and then begin to allocate lectures, time for study slots, socialising etc. This is your general week by week planner. Now for bigger tasks, buy a calendar and highlight all assignments and exams and allocate any study/revision days that you need to do leading up to these exams. Planning allows you to maximize the time you have available. Having both the weekly planner and your calendar on your wall will enable to plan your weeks and see exactly what deadlines you have coming up. If you are true to yourself and stick to what you have agreed upon, you will pass your exams and have time to do all the fun things you enjoy in life.
3. Understand what motivates you. One of the biggest reasons college students drop out in their first year is due to too much partying! A big reason that college students especially freshman’s give in to temptation is a lack of motivation to study. This point is very important - your success at college is very closely linked to your motivation to learn. The key lies in understanding that you are mostly driven by emotional needs and not necessarily logical ones. It is logical to go to college; however it is my emotional reasons that will motivate and see me through my study and exams. So as a student you need to find a deep emotional reason for achieving success otherwise all logic can go out of the window. Once you know this, you will have the motivation to study. Ask yourself; what is my emotional reason for being here, what do I ultimately want college to give me?
4. Study Resources. Make use of all study resources on and off campus. On-campus; labs, videos, computers and tutors. Be sure to sign up for any orientation sessions on your campus. Get to know the key people that will be vital to your success – students and professors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you are unsure. There are plenty of resources to help you off-campus; Google is your gateway to the world’s information. As with everything, try to get a different perspective on a topic, websites like Wikipedia provide accurate accounts on virtually any subject, other websites allow you to buy research material and college essays to provide you with a different point of view on a topic, when using such websites - do not pass the work off as your own; they are intended for additional research only.
5. Study with others. Find at least one other student, two if possible in each class to study with. Studies have shown that students who study with their pears often get better grades. Studying with others can also be motivating as you have others sharing the same experience - the highs and the lows. Being able to teach a new concept to someone else is re-enforcement that you understand the idea. Be careful, study groups can have a negative effect if they become too social so remember to stay focused and not let your study partner(s) become a distraction. On that note, be sure that you don’t become a distraction to your pears also.
6. Establish a routine and a place to study. Your study place should have a desk, comfortable chair and good lighting. It must be free of distractions. Ideally not a place where you routinely do other things. It should be your study place. Be sure to establish a routine time to study for each class. For every hour you spend in class, you will probably need to study an hour, maybe two outside of class.
7. Make notes each week. Instead of cramming all of your study in two weeks before your exams, try taking notes at the end of each week throughout the semester. Summarize the week’s classes in your revision book. That way when you go to study for your final exam, you can refer to your notes that you have summarized. This will save you time and stress at the most critical point. Consistent study and preparing is much more effective and stress-free then leaving it all to the last minute. Planning as outlined in point two is key here.
8. Begin with what you feel most comfortable with. When studying for an exam, if you start with your worst subject, you can easily become frustrated and defeated. Try start with the areas you are most comfortable with, this will help to build your confidence and get your brain in a `thinking mode’. The same logic applies when you go to sit your exams, start with the questions you are most comfortable with and you will give yourself the best chance of success.
9. Establish when you are most productive. Everyone is different, some people find that they study better in the morning, others find the evening more productive. Find out what is best for you and try to plan your study around this.
10. Take a break! Your mind is like a sponge, it can only absorb so much information. When studying, take a 5 or 10 minute break every hour to allow you brain to reset itself and store all the information you have learnt.
11. Healthy living. And finally, be good to your body and your body will be good to you. If your diet is high in sugars and junk food, your energy levels, your motivation and general well-being will suffer. Regular exercising and healthy eating (5 fresh fruit and vegetables a day) will give you increased energy throughout the day; you will feel better, look better, sleep better and study better.

Yes it is scary, but it need not be. Your college years will be some of most memorable in your life. Stop for a minute and enjoy this moment in life. If you follow these top tips you will easily pass your way through your college freshman year.