A L&S Peer Adviser discusses study habits...
My first semester at Cal I took 13 units. I came to class some days surprised that a paper was due, and would beg my professor for a few-hour extension so I could rush to a campus computer lab and furiously type something up. On nights before tests, I would be up late trying to glean all the key points from several weeks', sometimes months' worth of text. My classes were a source of frustration, not enlightenment. My grades weren't fantastic. And I wasn't learning half of what I should have been...
Now, I'm a senior. My current 19 units feel easier than my previous 13 because I've developed the study habits I need to succeed. I have a handy-dandy weekly planner, which is filled with all the deadlines of the semester. I do course reading whenever I get the chance, not just when it's most likely to be the subject of a test. I plan study time into my weekly schedule and stick to it as if it were class time. I've learned that reading when I'm awake and alert is twice as productive as trying to wrap my head around tough concepts when I'm fighting the urge to fall asleep. I've learned that using a highlighter while reading is both an excellent way to mark key points, as well as to not zone out. I've learned that no good research paper is written in a week; that's what a 16-week semester is for.
I've determined that good study habits are not merely the secret to good grades, but to maximizing sleep, having a social life, and not being overwhelmed with stress. I encourage you to try out some of the things I've mentioned here, ask friends for tricks that have worked for them, and practice what works for you. Best of luck!
Anna Callahan
College of Letters and Science Peer Adviser
Sociology, '08
