Mastering Strong College Study Skills

About this article
It's important to develop strong study habits and time management skills in college. With these tips for organization and proficient time management, you may be able to become a more successful student with your refined college study skills.
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One advantage some students have over other college students is possessing good college study skills. You may wonder how some students excel on tests and understand the homework while you may struggle with what to study and how to take tests. Knowing some good study skills may help you to become the high caliber student you have always wanted to be.

Create a schedule. Just as you designate time to go to class, work or go to sleep, make sure you have time set aside exclusively for homework. Whether it is a couple of hours a day or several throughout the week, allocating time for homework can provide the opportunity to complete more assignments and review the study material.

Make friends with people in your classes. Becoming friendly with your classmates may help you to create study groups. Study groups can be incredibly effective (assuming everyone is there to study, not socialize) because you will have the opportunity to review material with other students. Also, if you are not clear on certain concepts or ideas, asking one of your classmates may help you to better understand what is being covered in your class.

Take advantage of small windows of free time. For example, if you have to wait thirty minutes between classes or if you take mass transportation to work or school, then you can effectively use that time to study. Even if it is a ten minute break, you can at least review your notes or go over your homework assignment. It is very important to make every minute count when it comes to maximizing your study time.

Rewrite your class notes or write an outline from your textbook chapter. Reiterating what you have just learned will help you to retrain the material for the class. Also, by rewriting and reviewing your notes and texts on a regular basis, you will be getting a leg up on studying for exams and finals.

These are just a few suggestions that may help you to refine your study skills.

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    1. Grand Canyon University

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Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?

Colorado Christian University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
  • Criminal Justice, M.S.
  • Communication Studies, B.A.

What is your highest level of education completed?

UMass Global

  • MA in Organizational Leadership
  • BA in Communications & Media
  • AA (General Education)

Which subject are you interested in?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Educational Leadership

What is your highest level of education?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?

Liberty University

  • Doctor of Business Administration: International Business
  • DBA: Information Systems
  • MA: Communication
  • MS: Criminal Justice

What is your highest level of education?

Fordham University

  • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance

Are you located in the U.S.?

Full Sail University

  • Film Production Masters - Campus
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Sportscasting Associates - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?