2.Get into college
I am sure this is not the first time you have heard someone mention the importance of good study habits, and it will probably not be the last. So how can you learn how to study?
First, note taking will help (there she goes again!). You may want to get into the habit of reviewing your notes to help solidify the information in your memory. If you write fast and tend to be thorough, meaning that you write down enough so that someone who was not in class could understand the lesson with only your notes, then you could review notes 2 to 3 days after taking them. However, if you tend to write down just enough, as in keywords and abbreviations, then you might want to review them that night to flesh out details or fill in the gaps that you did not write down in class. Taking these steps will help you start studying in chunks, instead of cramming.
Second (and this may be the filmmaker/creative type in me), role-play. Pretend to be the teacher. Start asking yourself questions based on your notes. For example, if you wrote down “George Washington was the first American president,” ask yourself, “Why is this important to know? Why was he selected as opposed to someone else? What was so special about him, if anything? What role did he play in American history? World history?” Are you getting the idea? There is a reason why your teachers include certain facts in a lesson plan and omit others. Consider what those reasons might be, and this will help you become a better student in school and life in general. I know these skills help me tremendously as an adult, as a former journalist, and currently as a documentary filmmaker.
Third, do NOT procrastinate or “cram.” Of course, there are times when one is forced to cram—and, believe it or not, not being in the habit of doing so will make you more effective when you have to quickly memorize a lot of facts and figures. However, if you get in the habit of studying in chunks, you will have more time to digest what you have learned AND you will have time to process what you do not thoroughly understand in time to ask for clarification or further help from your teachers and classmates.
Fourth, make up practice tests. Write down questions based on the answers you have in your notes, and then test yourself in a setting similar to where you’ll take the actual test. You may have experienced this with practice SATs and similar efforts. The better you get under pressure, the better you will handle a pressure experience with ease—and then ace the test, of course!
