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College course work is more rigorous and intensive than the coursework you experienced in high school. When approaching studying for college courses, you need to make sure you are engaging, interacting, and immersing yourself in the coursework.  

The following are study tips & advice as you prepare to transition to college life.

  1. SCHEDULE TIME EVERY WEEK FOR STUDYING.
    Studying is very important for you to understand and retain the information you are learning in your classes.

  2. READ YOUR SYLLABUS.
    Plan your semester accordingly. Most college classes will lay out your entire course in the syllabus so consider using a planner to stay on task throughout the semester.

  3. UTILIZE TUTORING AND WRITING CENTERS.
    College campuses often have study groups and other academic support groups on campus for you to take advantage of.

  4. DON’T BE AFRAID OF YOUR PROFESSOR. 
    Utilize their office hours to begin a dialogue with them and build an academic relationship. If the professor knows who you are, they may be open to working with you when you are struggling.

  5. GO TO CLASS.
    As obvious as this may sound, you must remember that you or your family are paying for you to attend that class.

  6. BE PREPARED FOR CLASS. 
    Make sure that you’re coming to class prepared and you’ve done all the required readings and assignments.  Value the ability to take notes. You never know what may be reviewed or tested on. Find a note-taking technique that works for you. You may record lectures if you get permission prior to class.

  7. LEARN TO READ ON A COLLEGE TIMELINE. 
    You will be doing a lot of reading so make sure to schedule reading time away from distractions. Learn about different reading techniques and find what works for you. Make sure you read introductions, abstracts and conclusions and use any study guide resources available.

  8. KNOW YOUR CLASSMATES. 
    Knowing your classmates gives you a network of resources to take and compare notes and build study groups.

  9. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STUDY SESSIONS. 
    Classes will occasionally hold study sessions before an exam or quiz so take time to attend these sessions.

  10. VALUE EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES. 
    Not all classes will offer extra credit so take advantage of EVERY opportunity you receive, even if you don’t think you will need it.

Did you know?

Most colleges advise three hours of studying per week for every credit hour you are enrolled.  For example, you should be studying 12 hours a week for a three-credit-hour class.