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In high school, they spoon feed you what you need to know, nice and slow.
In uni, they just dump a whole lot of content on you and don't care if you make it out alive. Therefore, new effective study methods are essential.
1. The year is a lot shorter - time management
Everything is crammed into the short space of 12 weeks per semester so deadlines are a LOT closer together. This means that you need to be able to organise and manage your time efficiently.
If you are an AUSA member, they give out wall planners during O-week. Use whatever works for you - a calendar, a wall planner, a timetable, a To-Do List - and make sure it is realistic. This allows you to visualise when things are due, when you need to study and how to organise yourself to complete assignments and do well in tests.
It's also a good idea to plan out your day, whether you use a physical diary, a notebook or a calendar app. Figure out when you have lectures and labs and what times you have to study.
2. Quality, not quantity
This applies to study and assignments. Use your time efficiently. Don't spend hours at the library, but not learn anything. You're wasting your time on 'study' when you could be doing other (hopefully fun) things.
One way to be efficient is to schedule study and breaks. Study for 45 minutes, then take a 15 minute break. Time it. This should prevent procrastination since you know you'll be getting a break anyway.
3. Take breaks
Following from the last point, make sure that you take regular breaks! You can't concentrate for 3 hours. You'll recall a lot more if you take breaks within those 3 hours and come back with a fresh mind.
4. Weaknesses are for strengthening
Don't study something you already know - what's the point? Spend time on stuff you don't know. Yes, you'll feel better about knowing the stuff you know but it's not going to bump up your grade.
5. Take time to discover your study methods
Everyone learns differently. Take some time - but not too much time - to find what works for you. It could include drawing, writing, or listening. Highlighters or different coloured pens work wonders.
A lot of lecturers use slides so you can either print them out or download them and annotate during the lecture.
6. Keep it simple
This is for content as well as for studying. Simplify things - it's easier to learn a couple of bullet points or a flow diagram than to write an essay about it.
With your study space - declutter. You don't want so much around you that it ends up distracting. Same with stationery and colour-coding your notes. Learn them, don't use them to be Picasso.
Whatever you do and however you study, make sure you do it smartly and efficiently! Good luck.
-Diana
In uni, they just dump a whole lot of content on you and don't care if you make it out alive. Therefore, new effective study methods are essential.
1. The year is a lot shorter - time management
Everything is crammed into the short space of 12 weeks per semester so deadlines are a LOT closer together. This means that you need to be able to organise and manage your time efficiently.
If you are an AUSA member, they give out wall planners during O-week. Use whatever works for you - a calendar, a wall planner, a timetable, a To-Do List - and make sure it is realistic. This allows you to visualise when things are due, when you need to study and how to organise yourself to complete assignments and do well in tests.
It's also a good idea to plan out your day, whether you use a physical diary, a notebook or a calendar app. Figure out when you have lectures and labs and what times you have to study.
2. Quality, not quantity
This applies to study and assignments. Use your time efficiently. Don't spend hours at the library, but not learn anything. You're wasting your time on 'study' when you could be doing other (hopefully fun) things.
One way to be efficient is to schedule study and breaks. Study for 45 minutes, then take a 15 minute break. Time it. This should prevent procrastination since you know you'll be getting a break anyway.
3. Take breaks
Following from the last point, make sure that you take regular breaks! You can't concentrate for 3 hours. You'll recall a lot more if you take breaks within those 3 hours and come back with a fresh mind.
4. Weaknesses are for strengthening
Don't study something you already know - what's the point? Spend time on stuff you don't know. Yes, you'll feel better about knowing the stuff you know but it's not going to bump up your grade.
5. Take time to discover your study methods
Everyone learns differently. Take some time - but not too much time - to find what works for you. It could include drawing, writing, or listening. Highlighters or different coloured pens work wonders.
A lot of lecturers use slides so you can either print them out or download them and annotate during the lecture.
6. Keep it simple
This is for content as well as for studying. Simplify things - it's easier to learn a couple of bullet points or a flow diagram than to write an essay about it.
With your study space - declutter. You don't want so much around you that it ends up distracting. Same with stationery and colour-coding your notes. Learn them, don't use them to be Picasso.
Whatever you do and however you study, make sure you do it smartly and efficiently! Good luck.
-Diana
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