27 Study Skills
Helpful Study Strategies
Every student studies differently. What works for your classmate might not work for you. However, successful students all have one thing in common, they have found good study habits that work for them, and they manage their time well. One of the best ways to ensure success is to manage your time effectively and to avoid overextending yourself. Keep in mind that 3-unit classes require 9 hours of work per week: 3 hours of class time, and 6 hours of study/assignment work time. Many students try to get through their program as quickly as possible, cramming their schedules with many classes each semester, only to find that they will actually take longer to graduate because they will have to retake classes they drop or fail. Many CHDV students work, have families, and take other classes in addition to their CHDV coursework. We are aware of this, but our standards remain high. Only you can be in control of how much you put on your plate.
Tips for Studying
- Read the book.
- Before class helps you to prepare for the lecture.
- After class, use the book to help you flesh out your notes.
- If you are taking a class with a lot of terms, concepts, or theories, notecards can be a good way to quiz yourself.
- Utilize campus resources.
- There are MANY services here on campus that will be able to help you with your assignments and projects.
- Take advantage of your professor’s policies on rough drafts or feedback.
- Many CHDV professors allow you to turn in your partial or completed work for feedback before a due date. Almost without fail, students who do this score better on their final assignment.
- When taking notes, don’t just write what the professor writes on the board or has on the PowerPoint. Instead, make sure you are writing down concepts discussed in class. Almost all professors engage their classes in discussion beyond what is recorded on the board- this is all valuable information!
- “How to Study” is a website with a lot of good study tips for college classes.
- Time management is the best way to be successful. Some students keep a calendar with deadlines and dates, some set reminders on their phone.
- Instead of just marking due dates, break down assignments into chunks and set yourself deadlines for each of those as you move towards your final product.
General Student Success
Successful students tend to have the following characteristics:
- They accept personal responsibility for their choices, actions, and outcomes.
- They utilize self-motivation to achieve their goals.
- They master self-management by planning and taking purposeful actions.
- They rely on interdependence, engaging in supportive relationships and utilizing help from others to achieve their goals.
- They have self-awareness, consciously working to stay on the right path.
- They engage in life-long learning, finding valuable lessons in every experience.
- They have emotional intelligence, effectively managing their emotions and their reactions to the emotions of others.
- They believe in themselves!
(Adapted from Downing, S. (2011). On Course, 6th edition. New York: Cengage., used with author permission.)
We know that our CHDV students are some of the best and brightest- and we also know that you can achieve your goals in your CHDV classes. Don’t be afraid to ask us for help!
