Study Tips for Online College Students
Finding the right study techniques as a busy adult can be a rollercoaster. Whether it's learning course content or studying for an upcoming exam; studying to learn and understand concepts in your degree can be tricky. We've put together a simple guide to help you study for your exams, write your papers, and help you achieve academic success.
How to Succeed as an Online College Student
1. Set time aside.
Set time aside for studying. You can gauge the amount of time it takes to study based on previous experiences. You can also ask your professor how long an assignment or essay will take. By setting time aside to study, you are creating an environment of intentionality around your schoolwork.
2. Know yourself.
Do you like music or noise? Do you prefer silence? Do you want a study buddy or prefer to study alone? Do you need to minimize distractions? Knowing how you study best will be to your advantage. If you are not sure what works best for you, try different scenarios or techniques to figure out what helps you become most successful.
Pro Tip: Once you determine what environment works best for you, make yourself a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, or a snack. This will keep your mind fueled and it's also a nice treat while you study.
3. Find the best time of day.
What time of day works best for you? What time of day are you most productive? Morning, mid-day, nighttime? By scheduling study time during the time of day that works best for you and is most productive, you will allow maximizing the time you are studying or doing an assignment.
4. Take thorough notes and save all assignments.
During your course, take detailed notes and reference them while studying. By referencing your notes, you will be able to recall information more readily and make additional connections to other course material. If you reference your previous assignments before writing a paper or taking a quiz, you will be able to apply either real-life scenarios or different examples that will help you when it comes to testing.
Pro Tip: Take notes using an app or note-taking tool that you can reference from your computer or your phone. That way you can reference them at any time.
5. Ultimately, do what works for you.
No two students are perfectly alike when it comes to studying; that's why you need to do what's best for you when it comes to preparing for a test or an assignment. If that means turning on music, being in a silent room, being in a loud coffee shop, or studying with a group of people, do what works best for you!
Studying for college courses can be a daunting task, but stay rooted in your "why." Remind yourself why you began this journey and what your destination is. Don't be afraid to read articles or follow influencers to rekindle your passion for what your end goal is.