20 Tips for Studying in College

College is an exciting time, filled with many new experiences. But of course, there’s studying too. There will be times where you find yourself writing papers, reading textbooks, and studying for exams. 

Cramming may not work as it did in high school, as you are now facing a much bigger, college-sized workload. Plus, your newfound independence and constant access to friends, will not make things any easier. 

If you want to succeed in college (and we’re hoping you do!), you’re going to have to adapt your study habits to meet the new demands of college. Here are twenty college study tips that will help you pass with flying colors. 

Tips On Studying For A Test

1. Find a Quiet Place to Study

One of the most important college study tips we can give is to find a quiet place to study. If you live on campus or with roommates, this is even more important, as sometimes friends and fun are just too tempting.

Luckily, college campuses offer plenty of space for studying. If one library doesn’t work for you, another one might be a better fit. Spend time exploring different libraries to find the one that you work best in. 

Even within the library itself, there are often different floors and different options. Some students might enjoy sitting at a communal table, while others need a cubicle with absolutely no distractions.  

Another kinda-quiet study option is studying in coffee shops. That is if background noise doesn’t distract you.

The important thing is to find a quiet spot that works for you and ensures you won’t be tempted to socialize rather than study.  Many students fall into this trap and end up paying for it later. 

2. Switch Up Your Study Spots 

After you find your perfect study spot, it might be a good idea to switch it up just a bit. Things can still get boring sitting in the same spot for 8 straight hours straight, days on end.

To spice things up, try finding a few places to study and create a schedule for yourself. For example, you might start at a coffee shop from 9-12, grab a quick bite, and then switch over to the library from 1-6. 

And one more thing… as comfortable as your bed may be: Don’t study on your bed!  Your bed should be a place only for sleeping. 

3. Keep Your Phone On Silent Or Completely Turned Off 

There’s not much point in being in the library or a quiet spot if you are going to spend that time socializing with friends on your phone.  Put simply – phones can be a massive distraction. We all know how a few minutes of scrolling can turn into long stretches of time wasted. 

If you’re on your phone, you might also come across something exciting (or upsetting) that could stick in your head and make it nearly impossible to study. 

The solution? Keep your phone on silent in your bag. If the temptation is still too strong, keep your phone turned off, or maybe just leave it at home.  

4. Study what you Need to Know 

It may sound too good to be true, but oftentimes your professor will tell you exactly what you need to know for an exam. Our advice? Listen to them! They are on your side, they aren’t out to get you. There’s no reason to study the whole textbook if you don’t need to.

5. Actively Study 

Reading over the course material is a good start, but to really master it you need to become an “active learner”.  

Active learning means actively doing something with the material rather than just reading over your notes. 

You can do this in a number of ways. You can teach others the material, or even say the material out loud to yourself to make sure you understand it. You can draw pictures to represent different concepts or make flashcards. You can even re-write the notes you already wrote, as sometimes that helps it stick in your mind a little better. You can also rely on different study materials like StuDocu to refresh your learnings from a different perspective.

These tricks make studying more entertaining and will help you retain the information better. It will also make it very clear to you if you don’t understand the material and need some extra practice.  

6. Partner Up 

While some of these tips talk about finding quiet areas to study, that doesn’t mean you need to study all on your own! If you study well with others, find a buddy or two to tackle the course material with. As long as you’re doing more studying than socializing, this can be a great study tactic to adopt. 

Studying with a friend divides the coursework in two. You benefit from more notes and a friend who can help you with concepts you don’t quite understand yet. It’s also a great opportunity to explain the material and do some active learning. 

As long as the main focus is studying, learning with a friend or two can be a great way to learn the material and can also bring you closer with new friends. 

7. Be Prepared On Exam Day 

Being prepared on exam day doesn’t only mean studying enough the day before. It also means giving yourself enough time before the exam so that you aren’t rushed. 

Eat a good breakfast before the test and leave yourself time to make it to your exam without having to stress and run. Arriving at the test feeling calm will help you ace that exam.

Organizational Study Tips 

8. Get Organized With Supplies 

Staying organized and making sure you have the correct supplies during college is absolutely key. The organization may look different from one person to the next. 

Some prefer binders, notebooks, and dividers, while others might use their computer for everything. If you do choose to go the digital route, there are plenty of apps that can help you stay on top of things.  

Being organized is crucial to studying successfully. How can you possibly study if your notes are all over the place?

9. Take Notes In Class

Now that you’re organized, it’s time to start taking notes in class. Note-taking is an invaluable skill that will help you pay closer attention, and will also help you when it comes time to study later. 

It doesn’t matter if you take notes by hand or on your computer. What matters is that you pay close attention in class and jot down important things that your professor says. 

Recording the class is another option. By recording the class, you can devote your full attention to what your prof is saying. You can also review the lectures later if you didn’t pick up on everything that was said in class. 

If you do decide to use your computer to take notes, we suggest disabling the wifi to get rid of distractions (cough cough, social media). 

10. Use A College Planner

Once you have your supplies and are in the habit of taking notes, the final element of the organization is a college planner. 

If you didn’t have a planner in high school, you should definitely consider getting one now. Planners are synonymous with adulting, and that’s basically what you are doing in college. With a bigger workload, plenty of due dates, exams, and outside commitments, a planner keeps things organized and makes sure you are organized and on top of things. 

Take your planner with you to every class and log assignments as soon as you find out about them.  

If digital is your thing, you can use Google Calendar or a plethora of other apps to keep you organized. 

Tips To Study And Managing Your Time Better

11. Be Independent

In college, you will experience newfound independence that you may have never experienced before. This is exciting, but it can also be intimidating. You will no longer have mom and dad by your side (at least physically), reminding you of important due dates and commitments you have. It will be your responsibility to remember these things by yourself and to make sure you turn assignments in on time. 

While less support from your family may seem scary, it is actually a great opportunity for you to learn to be independent. If you ever run into problems with due dates, try talking to your professors. They will try and help you work things out so you can turn your assignments in on time. 

12. Go To Office Hours 

Speaking of professors, all of them hold office hours for their students outside of teaching time This is a great time to stop by and get some one-on-one help with anything you’re having trouble understanding. It also allows you to get to know your professor and vice versa.  

Professors let their students know when their office hours are at the beginning of the semester. If you are unable to make it to their office hours, email them to set up a time to meet. 

13. Learn How To Prioritize 

In college, especially towards the end of every semester, you will have a lot of work to complete. You’ll have multiple exams to take, and papers to hand in, all within the same two or three-week period. Honestly, it gets really hectic. 

You’re going to need to learn how to prioritize and decide which assignments and which exams need the most attention on any given day.   

Prioritizing also means being mature enough to know when you need to put school ahead of your social life, and maybe even a part-time job.  During the more hectic periods in college, you will need to put anything other than studying on the back burner for a little bit.

14. Learn When To Say No To Friends 

It’s safe to say that in college you will probably be presented with plenty of opportunities to hang out with friends. While socializing in college is extremely important, remember that if you don’t keep your grades up, you might not be allowed to stay in college. 

For this reason, you need to sometimes be able to say no to friends.

If you have a lab at 8 am the next day, learn to say no to your friends. If you have a test coming up that you absolutely need to study for, learn to say no to your friends. If your paper is due tomorrow and all you’ve managed to write is the same sentence over and over, learn how to say no to your friends. 

We think you see where we’re going with this. Going out will feel like more of a celebration when you’ve finished what you need to finish.  

15. Don’t Wait For The Last Minute (again)

You’ve heard it before and we will tell you again, waiting for the last minute to study for a test or get started on a paper isn’t going to turn out well. Instead of waiting until the last minute, make an honest effort to get started on things earlier. 

One strategy is to study and review notes throughout the week, even if you don’t have a test coming up. Start making an outline for a paper even if it’s not due for another few months. 

This will help you stay on top of your workload and prevent you from facing a ton of stress at the end of the semester when everything is due at once. 

Mental Health / Wellness Study Tips

16. Catch Enough ZZZs 

This one is pretty simple. Your body and brain need sleep to function. All the caffeine and ramen noodles in the world won’t keep you going nearly as well as a good night’s sleep. Make sure you are getting enough sleep so that studying will be much more efficient.   

Staying up late will also cost your mornings and afternoons which you could have used to finish a paper or study for an exam. Prioritize your course load as best as possible so you don’t end up having to finish assignments at 12 am, the night before they are due. Trust us, your body and brain will thank you for it. 

17. Don’t Overstudy 

As important as studying is, it is also equally important to give yourself a break. Overstudying can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health, which in turn can negatively impact your grades. Find a healthy balance. Don’t study to the point of exhaustion and poor health.   

18. Manage Your Stress 

With so many things going on, you might start to feel stress and anxiety. It could be the first time that you experience these emotions. It is very important that you manage these feelings rather than ignore them. They could be a serious sign that you need to take a step back or talk to a professional about the way you are feeling. 

Many schools offer free mental health services for their students, and we highly recommend accessing them if you start to feel anxious. Don’t feel ashamed about using them, as it is completely normal to feel this way. 

19. Don’t Forget to Exercise 

We’ve spent lots of time discussing your mind but don’t neglect your body either! Exercise is a proven way to make your brain work better. Whether it’s the beginning of the year, midterms, or final exams, physical activity is a great way to keep your mind and body in great shape. Not only that, but exercise can also be a great way to blow off steam and meet new people. 

20. Treat Yo-Self!  

Because why the heck not? If you’ve been studying hard, you definitely deserve it. Do something nice for yourself. It can be as simple as a cupcake, or as debaucherous as a rowdy night out. Whatever works for you. You’ll be working hard in college. It’s important to be kind to yourself and give yourself a treat once in a while.   

Final Thoughts 

College involves a lot of studying, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily have to study more or harder than you did in high school. It’s all about adapting the way you study and doing it in a more efficient manner. Make use of these study tips to become the best student you can be.