A+ Study Tips

Zoe Carr
Oct 24, 2017
3 min read

I am not, and never will be a straight A student, and that's okay. Over the years I have come to terms with my averageness, but have tried to better myself as a student and a studier over the years. As a creature of habit, I have found certain habits that have worked well for me and have proven to be successful.

If your teacher mentions something, write it down
even if it not on the slide during the presentation, you should still write it down because it might be important for a test later on. a lot of professors I have encountered upload their notes, but do not put all of the information on them because they expect the students to fill it out as they speak through the lecture.
Pretend it's for someone else
I struggled for a while when it came to teaching myself new concept information leading me to have a hard time studying. I found that if I rewrote my notes or made them into a study guide and acted like it was for someone else, I did a better job. I included more and was very detail-oriented, instead of rushing through it. This is the same when teaching myself something new. If I went on to explain the concept or topic to myself like I would another person, I found that I simplified it into something relatable, helping understand the concept from that angle.
Don't over color notes
while I am a very colorful person (I use a lot of color in my planner/on my calendar), I hate having notes that are too colorful. If too many colors are used, I end up getting extremely confused and distracted, unsure of where I need to be looking. I will typically write or type my notes in black in, and will use either a yellow or pink (depends on what is in my bag that day) highlighter to mark what is important to remember when studying.
Prioritize homework
this seems like an easy and basic concept to grasp, but in reality it is one of the easiest to lose sight of. I used to think that because there is a day off in between classes, that's when I should do my homework. However that ended up not working out for me, because I would have more school work piled up with less time to do it. Staying on top of assignments and starting them the day or night you get them will help to avoid rushing to meet the set deadline and will alleviate any possible stress.
Make lists
even with an extremely detailed planner, I am still a huge list maker. I utilize a list system multiple times a day, from basic daily to-dos, to what homework is getting done when. I find that planning out and listing a schedule and sticking to helps me accomplish more during the day because I am able to see how important it is that the work gets done during an appropriate time. Lists keep me organized and give me a clear plan of what needs to be done.
Keep things realistic
making lists and setting goals is extremely helpful, but you have to be honest with yourself on how much you can and will get done. You might want to do tonight's math, Wednesday's math, and next week's history study guide, but in reality that might not work out. Knowing your habits is extremely important, because that is what will determine how much you actually do. Maybe you only get done tonight and Wednesday's math, but that's better than nothing OR overreaching for what you want