5 Study hacks to get back into the school groove

With Sinclair College’s upcoming fall semester, there is an adjustment period for getting situated with new classes, schedules and course loads. It can be overwhelming, especially for new students, but there are multiple strategies to ensure success here at Sinclair. 

Make a calendar

A great strategy for staying up-to-date is to make a calendar and/or planner. Whether physical or digital, having a written reminder of approaching assignments or exams is a great way to plan for time to study. 

Organization is key to maintaining ones productiveness and keeps us on track when things begin to feel overwhelming. It is better to take it one step at a time and listing out a manageable to-do list for each day helps to keep sanity in check.

Stay in touch with professors

Another great strategy is to maintain consistent contact with professors.  Check the school email at least daily. If any problems or questions occur when studying, talking to the professor is typically extremely helpful. 

During my time here at Sinclair, some professors have personally called to ensure that I am doing well with my assignments. Professors at Sinclair are all too happy to help, so don’t be afraid to reach out. 

Highlight what matters

Another great practice while studying is to highlight important information within a textbook.  With a physical textbook, it’s much easier but there is a highlight function in the eCampus reader, along with a flashcard function. 

Even if the textbook is not re-read often, the simple act of highlighting the needed text will make it more memorable. In a last-minute study session, highlighted information on what is important is invaluable. 

Learn strong notetaking strategies

This tip is easily the most obvious tip in an article of obvious tips, but take legible notes. I guarantee that no one can remember every single word that a professor speaks in a lecture.

It is also important to have a consistent method of taking notes. Using bullet points is probably the most common way, but whatever is most comfortable and efficient should work.  

Find a comfortable place to study

Finally, it is important to have a peaceful study environment. This looks different for a variety of people.  Maybe it looks like a peaceful room with the only sound coming from a record player. 

Maybe it looks like the hustle and bustle of a restaurant or cafe, listening to the clinking of dishes and cups. 

Whatever is needed to get into the proper mindset for a healthy study session. Personally, the hardest part of studying was having the will to open the book. After that step, it was smooth sailing.

Proper study techniques are essential to a successful collegiate career. The prior tips are merely a broad overview of what can be done to help improve those techniques. 

However, what constitutes a “proper study technique” completely comes down to the individual. If highlighting isn’t effective, then forgo highlight text. Part of being in college is discovering what workflow enables the best results.  

Carter Cousino, staff writer/intern

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