Common student study myths

With the end of the fall semester nearly here and finals staring students right in the face, many at Parkland are scrambling to cram in that last portion of study time. Suddenly, all-night study sessions fueled by excessive caffeine intake become commonplace. This haste can lead to a number of errors in study methods, mistakes which often go unrecognized by the students. The potential mistakes are numerous, and can severely affect a student's educational career.

According to a blog on State University's website, two major mistakes that students should avoid are neglecting to purchase the textbook for the class, and failing to actually study. Due to the ease that some students experience while in the high school, many assume that they can continue to excel in their classes without a text book or time spent studying. Many of these students are in for a rude awakening. College courses are very different from those taught at a high school level and cover more ground in a shorter period of time.    

Also important to successful studying is general maintenance in your classes. By simply taking the time to study regularly, go to class and take notes, you dramatically increase the likelihood of scoring well on exams. Virtual Education's website pointed out that students who do well in their studies do so by establishing a routine of studying, with a set time each day devoted to hitting the books. Successful students who have scheduled a time to study will generally stick to it. The alternative is the notorious college habit of pulling last minute all-nighters, which result in less retained information from the material. Another way in which college students study ineffectively is by spending several hours straight studying. A more productive method is to take occasional breaks, spending about fifteen minutes out of every hour getting up, walking away from the material, and clearing your mind so as to be able to return to studying refreshed and better able to absorb more information.

The website belonging to Education Corner possesses some valuable insights into how best to spend your studying time. It points out the importance of focusing your time by reviewing only the information that you need. Reading dozens or even hundreds of pages will yield limited results, but studying what you know will be on the exam can make all the difference. In addition to narrowing the focus of a study session, Education Corner suggests that students preparing for exams should always have a set goal in mind for a study session. Whether you aims to go over a particular chapter or review for a specific exam, knowing what and when you are going to study has a tremendous effect on your achievement in the academic arena.

Another deciding factor in the effectiveness of studying is location. Choosing a loud, crowded area is sure to provide plenty of distractions, which may have an adverse effect on your performance during finals. Even if you decides to work with others, you should consider meeting in a quiet place such as a library, or some other area specifically used for studying.

Another mistake students make is forming ineffective study groups. A good group is organized, goal-oriented, and is made up of people who are willing to help each other. A bad group is full of free-loading, unorganized individuals with no sense of direction. If you find yourself in such a group, it may be to your benefit to work alone or attempt to find a better study group.

Everyone has their own way of doing things, but the all-too-common mistakes listed above are best avoided. In essence, what's important is making the decision to maintain a balanced schedule of studying, and then sticking to it. But there is one last thing worth mentioning; the best way to conclude a study session is to find some way to reward yourself, so don't forget to do something relaxing and enjoyable when you're done.