Whether you’re taking 10 credit hours or 20, it can often seem like there just isn’t enough time in your day to complete your homework, study for tests, go to meetings, eat well, and go out with friends. With all of these demands on your time, it’s impossible to spend the day studying. And you don’t have to, even if you’re determined to maintain a high GPA. Just try some of the following study tips that will keep your brain engaged while saving you valuable time.
1. Copying your notes to supplement your memory takes more time than it’s worth. Instead of doing this, skim your notes like you would a textbook, then put them away and type up a quick summary of what you remember. It usually works best to do this by reading a page, then typing a short paragraph about it. You’ll remember the most important points and get good practice for recalling information, too. You can even print out your summarized notes later for quick cramming right before an exam.
2. Create a study play list. If you have a microphone or voice recorder, this is a great way to study while you walk across campus every day. Simply spend a few minutes recording yourself as you read the highlights of your notes or textbooks, then download the files onto your mp3 player. You can also record questions if you’d like to test yourself instead of just listening to information. A good way to find questions is to check the end of each chapter of your textbook, where you can usually find review or comprehension quizzes. Another option is to read vocabulary words to see if you can come up with the correct definitions or read factual sentences with missing information. You can get creative, save time, and ace your exams just by using this strategy.
3. You know pretty far in advance when you’re going to have an exam. Take advantage of this fact by getting a friend from class to exchange notes with you once you’ve both studied your own enough to be comfortable with the information. Chances are that you each missed some lecture or textbook information that the other one was able to write down. It’s much faster than reading your entire textbook the night before your exam or clicking through every PowerPoint posted by your professor, and it’s likely to cover the same information. Two heads really are better than one, so make use of the resources available to you.
4. Let’s face it: sometimes, class is a waste of time. This doesn’t mean that you should skip it, but you can certainly supplement your educational experience by studying rather than banging your head on the desk. The professor can’t fault you for having your textbook or notes open, so do a little reviewing if you find that you’re being subjected to a personal anecdote about this morning flu vaccine snafu. If you have better things to do, do them.
5. If you insist on studying in a group, tell everyone to bring their running shoes. Going on a ten-minute campus run is well worth the time you think you’re wasting because you won’t have nearly as much hyperactive drivel to contend with once you crack the books. Exercise is proven to help people focus, and group work demands focus in extreme amounts. So if you want to skip that hour of whiny gossip, invest ten minutes in some healthy exercise.