How can I develope better study habits?

Question

I'm a freshman at Baylor University majoring in Biology. I took Bio in high school, but I am still struggling with with the class. I know I can handle the material, but I just can't get on track. I have a hard time following a routine. Since I'm premed, I know I am going to need to fix my time management problem.

Answer 1

I have worked with students to develop time management skills and one method that works is to develop an ABC listing of tasks that need completion on a daily and weekly basis. A = most important, B = necessary but not vital, C = if there's time. A would be the time you need to block off for classes, studying, sleep, etc. B would be grocery shopping or errands, laundry, etc. C = would be watching TV, partying, etc. It sounds burdensome to begin with but if you have trouble managing your time you need to start somewhere - and if you do this you'll notice how when you know you should be completing a "A" task and you're in "C" mode you begin to self correct because the partying or watching TV isn't nearly as enjoyable when you realize it isn't what you should be doing to be successful.

The key is that you must tell the truth about how you spend your time and be honest about why you waste it. I would also strongly suggest that you find a peer tutor in classes where you struggle or get additional help in a lab or through a study group. The students who admit they don't have all the answers and seek assistance are very typically the most successful.

Good luck to you, and do check out the "Master Student" link that offers many excellent resources regarding time and money management, note-taking, etc. -

Answer 2

The big transition from high school to college is high school is survivable without much study. College isn't.

There has to be a paradigm shift from what I call "putting checkmarks in the boxes" to "I know this"

For example, just because you worked the homework math problems doesn't mean squat if you didn't understand what you did. Same thing with most science and technical subjects.

Change you focus from "did I do the work" to "do I understand this" and then study until you understand.

Some techniques I find helpful. Use a desk lamp with the room dark to ease distractions. Get a second source (such as Schaum's outlines) to check your understanding.

Write notes (even if you don't read them) Writing fires different learning pathways.

Draw a lot of diagrams.

(Hate to tell you this but it gets worse. During the junior year there's another paradigm shift from content mastery to cognitive processes. We (professors) stop telling you details. We assume you've learned them already. We start asking you to apply them. Junior level classes are usually the hardest ones.)

Answer 3

set up a timetable for your self to stick to of when to study etc. usually an upcoming exam will motivate!!
i found the difficulty with uni after school was that you were no longer told what and when to study, it was suddenly up to the students to manage all that. so you can get away with not studying, no one cares, but then you fail!
find a good study friend, one that is serious about studying and who is also good at their work. that always helped me.
good luck.

Answer 4

What helps me is to go to a place where i have nothing to do but study either a library or a coffee shop. that way I am not distracted by other things.

Answer 5

Maybe if you studied w/ friends it would be easier to get on task.

Answer 6

WELL I DONT HAVE ANY BF!! OR ANYTHING THET HAVE ASKED ME OUT! BUT I JUST FOCUS ON MY STUDIES!! IMAKE REALLY GOOD GRADES!!

Answer 7

you need to learn how to discipline yourself....