Now that you are somewhat familiar with the university and the new environment around you, it is time to plan your studies a bit. The goal is to help yourself so that the experience is not stressful, but rather that you enjoy your studies and have more time to spend with more people with the confidence that the academic part is covered.
- Make a physical calendar of daily activities.
College life is not as structured as high school. There are days when you will have more free time than others. If you are a Master's or PhD student, you will be expected to organize most of your activities yourself with a few regulatory subjects. Therefore, it is important that you organize yourself from the beginning. Check your calendar every day and renew it every week to make sure you don't fall too far behind.
- Plan smart.
Most college classes are planned to require approximately three hours of work per week per credit in the course. By multiplying your credit load by three, you can get a good idea of how much time you should spend studying in addition to the time you spend in class. Depending on your abilities, there will be subjects that require only one or two extra hours. Be sure to attend to the subjects that are most difficult for you first.
- Leaves a certain amount of free time in case of unforeseen events
Lack of flexibility is one of the main reasons why students do not follow a schedule. Make your schedule and stick to it. Remember that it usually takes 30 days to establish a habit. Consider that in this new stage you are responsible for meeting the goals you set for yourself. Don't get discouraged if things don't go according to plan the first time.
- Create study habits.
This is extremely important. Determine a place in your dorm room or library as a study area. Knowing what and when you are going to study saves you a lot of time when making decisions. Treat your study time as you would a class: don't miss it unless you're sick, have a family emergency, etc. It should be a permanent part of your daily routine.
- Study as soon as possible after each subject.
Studying for an hour shortly after class will serve you well both in developing comprehension and memory of the materials several hours or days later. If you can, copy notes while they are still fresh in your mind. Start doing your essays while your memory of the assignment is still fresh. By doing this, it will be easier to transfer information from short-term memory to long-term memory.
- Study a maximum of two continuous hours.
After studying for 1 to 2 hours your mind starts to get tired quickly and your ability to concentrate decreases. Take a 10 to 15 minute break and then switch to another course. Study difficult subjects when your mind is more rested. For some students, it is in the morning; for others it is in the late afternoon.
- Use the hours between classes.
The free hours between classes are easily wasted. If you use them to study for the class that just ended, you will have free time for recreation and other activities at other times during the week. Make the most of the hours in the day. Research shows that what can be accomplished in an hour during the day can take an hour and a half at night.
- Take copious notes during lectures or during your bibliographic research.
Clear and abundant notes are the best basis for studying. Pay attention to the key ideas in the lectures and try to express them in your own words in your notes. It may be useful to date and number the pages.
In the case of Master's or PhD students, preparing worksheets is essential for outlining the thesis later in the course.
This level of organization may seem overwhelming at first, especially if you are not pursuing a Master's or Doctoral degree. However, it is the easiest path to success. You can count on Wittington's expertise to help you with further tools or personalized guidance. Our experts are available around the clock to answer your questions.
