How Top College Freshmen Study
How do top students study? Are they just born much smarter? While some students are more gifted intellectually, the key to their success isn’t being smart but working hard.
Academically successful college students determine to well. They discipline themselves, refusing to do some things while forcing themselves to do other things (even when they don’t feel like it). They create many good habits but also refuse to form 4 bad habits.
1. They refuse to copy the PowerPoint screen.
Your professors may or may not use PowerPoint slides during your class. If your teacher does use PowerPoint, the slides may include minimal information or too much information for you to write down.
As a student this can be frustrating, because you want to copy down every last word. However, top students realize that not every word is worth copying down. Often the most valuable information you receive in class is not even on the slides but instead heard in the professor’s words.
So, instead of robotically copying down every single word on the screen, read for understanding and try to copy down only the most important information from each slide.
Remember what your teacher says is almost always more important than what is on the slides. Listen for important illustrations, explanations of terms, or repetition of ideas. Aim to get these ideas in your notes.
Don’t focus so much on details that you miss your teacher’s main point! When taking notes, your teacher’s words are your first priority. Next in priority are powerpoint slides.
2. They refuse to multitask in class.
Many college students try to do other things while in class. Whether they’re messaging, looking at instagram, watching a football game, or doing homework for another class, they are actually hurting themselves.
Some of these things are obviously distracting and wasteful, but others are actually good. So, how can these activities hurt students? They hurt students because they divide their attention.
Multitasking is actually a myth. You can’t do more than one thing well, regardless of what you think or have experienced. Your brain actually switches back and forth between different activities rather than doing them simultaneously.
Students who attempt to multitask usually have to spend more time studying outside of class. While you may think you’re saving time, multitasking uses up more time. Because of their lack of focus in class, students have to “catch up” on the details they missed in class by studying more outside of class.
Students who attempt to multitask struggle to keep everything organized. If you are attempting to complete many tasks simultaneously, you will probably find that details can easily slip through the cracks. You may find you have a hard time even knowing when you’re supposed to be where you are much less what you’re supposed to have completed.
Multitasking college students are actually hurting themselves, because they pay for their distracted behavior later. If you focus in class, you actually save yourself time later.
3. They refuse to misunderstand class material.
Sometimes your professors can be confusing or maybe you just don’t understand their teaching style. You may feel like you hardly ever get what your teacher is trying to say. Instead of throwing in the towel, staying down for the count, or blaming the teacher, top students refuse to misunderstand class material.
Even when faced with difficult concepts, these student will do everything possible to understand. They will ask questions before, in, and after class. They schedule meetings with professors to discuss class content, because they are not afraid or too embarrassed to get help when they need it.
In my time at college, I would often feel too embarrassed to ask questions in class. I was afraid of looking dumb or sounding like I wasn’t paying attention. What I came to discover is that others students also were confused about the same concept. I was usually not the only student with that question.
If you’re struggling to understand, you’re likely not the only one. If you feel comfortable enough in class, formulate your question in your head. Decide on a straightforward wording, raise your hand, and then speak up when your professor calls on you.
If you do not feel comfortable enough to ask questions in class, try talking to your teacher after class. Even if your professor is incredibly intimidating, remember he or she is there to help you succeed and wants you to learn. (That’s why he or she chose teaching as a career.)
During class, when you have the question, write down a few notes about what you don’t understand. This will help you remember what to ask later. Gather your things quickly after class is dismissed. Walk to the front of the class and respectfully approach your professor (e.g. “I’m not sure I understand __________. Could I ask you a few questions?).
If you do not have the time to stay or your professor leaves directly after class, drop by your professor’s office during his or her office hours (usually given on the course syllabus). If you are not free during the office hours, email your professor. (I wrote an entire post on how to email your college professors, click here to read more.)
Top students seek answers and solve learning problems. They don’t allow weeks to go by before getting help from their teachers. They know the key to succeeding is admitting when they need help and getting that help.
4. They refuse to be behind.
Getting behind is incredibly easy in college, but getting caught up is incredibly difficult. Top students avoid getting behind by staying on top of their course work. Despite having a busy schedule, these students complete their homework. They almost always come to class well-prepared, and they do so by actually staying slightly ahead.
You might be thinking: how in the world can I possibly get ahead? Getting and staying ahead requires much self-discipline. Although people are more important than grades, top students know that getting and staying ahead means they will have to skip out on some parties or late night fast-food runs with friends. They know that they will sometimes have to spend Friday nights and Saturday afternoons cooped up in the college library.
They carefully organize their time well during the week, so they cannot only get everything done but also stay ahead. They carefully schedule every hour of their day, so that they can complete all of their homework ahead of time.
So, if you’re already behind (and maybe have been from week 1), what can you do now? You may not be able to get ahead at this point, but you can work to get caught up. Start by identifying what behaviors caused you to get behind in the first place. Then strategize how to correct those behaviors.
For example, if you are behind in your calculus class by several assignments, identify how this happened. Maybe you misread the syllabus. You thought you were supposed to work on a different assignment. You had two options: continually be one assignment behind or skip that missed assignment and do the current assignment. You tried to do both, and failed to get either done.
You know how you got behind—you misread the syllabus. Refuse to let this happen again. Put all of your assignments in on spot: a planner or an app. Dedicate an entire Friday night and a Saturday morning to getting caught up in your calculus class.
Cancel all social plans, and get your work done. Remove any distractions, and force yourself to complete at least 3 of your late assignments. You may not be able to get all of your missed work done, but you can get more caught up.
Top students students relentlessly pursue academic success, even if they fail at times. They are passionate about learning and will not let embarrassment keep them from succeeding academically. They refuse to let any obstacle prevent them from learning in college, because they know that’s the real secret to being a top college student.
