From a young age, we are never really told how to study. We’re told that we need to do it, but no one ever shows us the process. That’s because studying is more or less a relationship between a person and subject materials. Each relationship is different.
One thing we’ve come to learn at Flashnotes is that everyone studies differently. What works for one student, doesn’t necessarily work for another. Case in point:
Andrew and Andrea. Andrew and Andrea are in the same class- BSCI124.
Andrew studies “a little bit” 2-3 days before his exam. He reads his textbooks if it’s “important and relevant”. He refuses to do all-nighters. He maintains a 3.4 GPA.
Andrea does all her studying the night before, “drinking massive amounts of coffee”. She reads all the required textbooks and readings multiple times. She also maintains a 3.4 GPA.
So which approach is right? Does anyone have the right to tell students how to study?
There are multitudes of articles- all written by adults (not in school) that claim they know how to maximize a student’s time and efforts. A UCLA study claims that studying during all nighters isn’t great. Another article shows that studying the night before can work. If the “experts” can’t agree on what the best practices for studying are, then they have no right to try to impose their will on students. So what are students to do? I’m glad you asked.
Do you get good grades? Keep studying the way you’ve been studying- it’s workin’.
Do you get less than perfect grades? Maybe it’s time to look up some “best practices” and make an educated decision.
Are you ashamed to tell anyone about your grades? It’s definitely time to switch up your game. Immediately change whatever schedule you’re operating on- because it’s not workin’ for ya.
You have to do what works for you. You’re also an adult- so it’s time to start being accountable for your own decisions. Good luck!
Flashnotes 