Loner No More by Lauren

Loner No More by Lauren - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Studying can be one of the most difficult parts of the college experience. It’s easy to study when professors give you an outline or a study guide, or when the subject is easy or interesting. Studying is not as fun or as easy when the subject is not interesting or when you don’t have those tools. It has taken me until my junior year of college to learn how I study best. For a long time I thought that I was a solo studier, but I've found that studying alone is not nearly as effective as studying with others can be, particularly in difficult subjects.

Studying with others offers many benefits. The first is that if the material is hard, others might understand it better than you and be able to explain it. This was particularly helpful to me in an ethics class where the reading was very dry and difficult. Secondly, it may be the case that you thought you understood the material, but you were slightly off. Classmates can correct you, and they are less intimidating than going to a professor’s office hours. Your classmates may have material in their notes that you do not have. This allows you to study more in-depth.

Even if the material is easy, studying with others can still be beneficial. You can go through flashcards or make a game out of studying. These are devices that are easier to utilize with others than alone. There is also a sense of accomplishment that comes from being able to say “We know this!” when the material is easy, or having someone to encourage you by saying “YOU know this!”

Studying with responsible students who stay on-task can be very beneficial, particularly if you are not good at focusing. I find that when studying with others, I work harder because I don’t want to disappoint them, and I want to pull my own weight in the study group. This encourages me to work harder and more efficiently.

The speaking aspect of studying with others is incredibly beneficial. It is so helpful to speak out loud and explain a concept to someone because it ingrains the material in your own mind. Language classes are often best to study for with others. I am studying Arabic, and it’s much easier to practice speaking with others and have them critique my speaking than to try to go it alone.

Studying with others has actually helped me to build relationships with my classmates and turn them into friendships. Who doesn't love to study with their friends? This can be a great motivator to study. (It is to be noted, though, that I only study with friends who are responsible and can stay on-task and on-track.)

The most beneficial part of studying with others, for me, has been learning about myself. For a while, I had difficulty asking for help. I wanted to do everything on my own. I didn't realize how much it helps to go through things with others. Now, I know that there is no shame in asking for help if I need it. Last semester, I studied very hard for one class in particular. I was changing my study habits to try to do well on the exams, but I was not doing well in the class despite my efforts. My professor suggested I try studying with others, which I did not want to do because I was too prideful and independent. However, once I found the right students to work with, I did much better in the class. I learned how to get help from and learn from others. Learning about myself has made studying with others my most effective tool for classroom and personal success.