How I LEARNED To Love To Study by KIM

How I LEARNED To Love To Study by KIM - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

I entered college in the summer of 2009. I'm now graduating with two Associate's Degrees this year. When I started in '09, I had to first earn my GED. My current overall GPA is 3.97. When I first started, I had not been in school for a while. I am now so happy to say that I am an expert on studying.
I have specific strategies for studying and they are as follows:

1. Take good notes. Always reference page numbers from your textbook on the left column of your note-page. This way you can easily cross reference with your textbook and not redundantly keeping looking up the same pages.

2. Digitally record lectures! Re-listen to your lecture (the sooner the better), compare to your original notes taken; see what you missed; I guarantee you'll find things you did not catch or hear the first time! Recording lectures also makes you retain so much more! My anatomy/physiology professor recommended this. This was a five-credit class that lasted a whole semester! Very few made A’s. I took her advice and I got an A! I was humbled that I got that A in her class; I almost couldn’t believe it. I know it was because I had her lectures recorded. I have recorded classes ever since! You can also reference tape ‘times’ on your notes so that you can go back at any given moment on your recording and go back right to any specific spot. This was a golden piece of advice for me in school. In retrospect, I am very grateful and have passed this advice to many classmates.

3. Keep your academic materials organized! If all of your classes are just piled into one binder, you will never retain or learn. You will be disheveled and always looking for something. Keep each class separate! Keep chapters separate! Date your notes! You can use post-its or index dividers to separate chapters or categories in your binders.

4. Always write-out terms on index cards and use as flash-cards! This is a great way to learn terminology! You can also reference textbook page numbers on these too!

5. Anytime you can use the library, utilize it and its study areas! Studying in the cubicles at the library was a place where I was never interrupted or distracted in any way. Using the online databases/resources at home were also very helpful when studying or working on projects for classes!

6. Group study or finding a buddy to study with is another sure-fire way to learn! Talking out material is an awesome way to help one retain coursework; you learn so much more! Sometimes, the way one certain person might explain something might be the way you finally understand it! Different perspectives on difficult material is a great key to learning that material. For 2 degrees, every time I studied with a group or a person on a difficult subject or with challenging material, I always got an A!

7. Print your Power Points (PPT's) 2 per page. Remove the frame; this will help with ink economy!! Use pure B&W for printing. Taking notes for PPT's is awesome when you print like this as you have plenty of room for your own note-taking to supplement the actual PPT. Also use this material to reference textbook page numbers as you study!

8. Ask questions! Since I have been in school, I have noticed the majority do not ask or do not like asking questions! Ask away BEFORE you study! Your teacher is your greatest resource before you sit down to study. It is up to the student to make full-use of the educators!

9. Create practice tests for yourself. Write out material! Most every teacher I have had tells you what’s coming on tests! Ask your instructor if there are any practice tests! If you are preparing for a standardized text, you might be able to purchase or find sample tests online to help with your studying.

10. Always use textbook resources to help you learn a subject. i.e. online resources available for your textbook/CD's attached to your textbook/study guides that are available to use with your textbooks (just Google "study guide for" and your textbook name)

11. My last and final advice for studying is only commitment! You must be committed to what you're doing! You must study every day. You must be consistent. If you really want to earn the degree(s) you seek and keep your grades up all the while, set your goals and stick with them!

I have collected all of the aforementioned tips and tricks over the last four years as I have worked towards earning my degrees. I never dreamed I would possibly graduate this year with a 3.97 overall GPA! I have this GPA because of my firm commitment to studying. Good luck in your future studies!!