When I came to USC my freshman year, I was really worried about the transition to college level classes. Classes in college can definitely be a challenge because you need to be self motivated to ensure you study the right amount. After 4 years of college, I think I have learned a lot about studying habits that I’d like to share with you!
Study in Groups
Studying for classes can get pretty boring after an hour or two of it. To get around this slump, I started studying in groups with classmates! Often we will couple study sessions with hangouts to get boba or coffee. This makes studying really fun and motivates me to be productive. You can also try just switching up the locations you study to keep things interesting. I’ve noticed that if I study in my room every day, I fall into bad habits because I am so comfortable at home. However, if I go to a library or coffee shop to study, I must stay on task because that is the only option while I’m there!
Go to Review Sessions
Review sessions can be a great way to stay on track in a class, and all you need to do is show up! If your class has Supplemental Instruction, you should definitely go to the weekly review sessions. Not only did they help me review material in small chunks, but I also met lots of study buddies!
Talk to Your Professors
At first professors can seem somewhat scary; however, all USC professors in my experience are very motivated to help you succeed. Even if you don’t have any questions, just going to office hours and listening to other students’ questions can be super beneficial! Sometimes I will just work on homework for the class during the office hours so I can ask questions and get help trouble shooting as I work!
Maintain a Calendar / To Do List
For me personally, I like to write out all tasks necessary for my classes in long to do lists with the due dates on the side. This helps me prioritize what I need to work on, and also gives me a great sense of accomplishment when I can cross a big assignment off the list. Whatever your method is, organizing all your to do items can reduce stress and help you manage your schedule so you have more time to do fun things like hanging out with friends.
