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Whether you are at university or college, you want to get the best grades that you can, which will mean studying hard—and playing less! Or does it? For many students in higher education, they want to get the balance of studying right, while also having enough free time to make friends and socialize.
Luckily, going to university or college is a balancing act that many get right, and there are some key tips that can help you to get the most out of your higher education.
Here are some top tips to ensure that you get the most out of your time at college or university.
Get the right tools
First of all, you need the right tools—not only for the course you are studying, but for your style of learning.
If you are a visual learner, you will need to watch online videos, which will mean having access to a computer or laptop. Even 11 inch Lenovo laptops can be of benefit. Do you find it hard to take notes in lectures? If so, it may be worth downloading dictation software to record the lecture onto your computer, or alternatively, you could purchase a dictation machine.
Schedule your studying
Lectures are pretty time-consuming, so it is important that you schedule your out-of-class studying to make the most of your own learning. Do not simply start reading on a random subject on a random day as it is less likely to sink in. Aim to arrange the days of the week for set parts of your course. If you are studying psychology, for instance, Monday can be social psychology; Tuesday can be neuropsychology; Wednesday can be statistics; and so on. This will also help you to mentally prepare for the study session. If you have a paper due or an essay looming, then your study time will need to be rearranged accordingly.
Talk to your lecturers or teachers
Your lecturers aren’t just there to lecture you, they are there to help you develop effective study techniques. If you are prepping for exams, ask them for extra resources. They will be able to provide you with access to past papers, extra reading, and of course, online help if you need it.
They will also know exactly what your examiners are going to be looking for, and thus, they can advise you accordingly on what to study.
Manage your sleep
Working hard is a part of getting good grades, although this doesn’t mean you should neglect your self-care. Sleep hygiene is important when you are a student, so try to avoid the stereotyped all-nighters. These will cause you to be less focused during the day, which will in turn affect your concentration.
Many students find keeping good sleep hygiene essential to good studying. Aim to go to sleep at the same time each night and set an alarm to wake at the same time the next day.
Take breaks
If you find yourself becoming irritated or frustrated while studying, take a break. Walk around a local park, eat a healthy snack, or talk to a friend. Studying is meant to be enlightening—not stressful. Plus, working while stressed will not make your memory better!
