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In school, you were always told to study, but did anybody actually teach you how to study? From elementary school to high school you were on your own. The only thing you knew about studying was that there would be consequences (failure, poor grades) if you did not study. If you know how to read and want to take the time to improve your grades, read on. You will have an advantage over the other students when you know HOW TO STUDY.

The Need to Study

We are all taught early on that there is a need to study. Once you reach college, the need to study increases as the material becomes harder. There are very few people who can memorize the course material and spill it back on an exam. You need information in the form of a textbook, handout, or study guide. Prepare yourself to study, get the necessary reading and writing materials and prepare for success.

Studying does not mean that you are less than intelligent. Not studying is the real symbol of ignorance. A college education is very important, and more than likely you have had to struggle to get where you are. When the test comes back with a failing grade, you will feel very frustrated, maybe to the point of giving up.

Prepare to Study

You should have an “action plan” for studying. You wouldn’t go on a date or to a party without a “plan”, so preparation is necessary. It is not that much fun, but the extra effort will pay off. Make sure you are in a comfortable place where you can focus. If there is a lot of noise or music, or somebody vying for your attention, you will lose your concentration. You can buy the extra reference material from a book store, but trying to use it with the television on will not be effective. Make sure the television is off, the music is off, the phone is disengaged. Keep your mind on the subject you are studying and try to avoid distractions.

Break Time

Do not wait until the last minute to review your study guide. Take the time to look over the information, you may find things that are not familiar, or different from what you thought at first. Have a set time for your study sessions, pace yourself over a reasonable period of time so you are not overwhelmed by information. Take frequent breaks to allow the information to register in your mind. Rest your eyes to avoid a headache, and eat healthy snacks. It is a good idea to stay away from caffeine, sugar and those ever-so-popular “energy drinks”.

Take Note!

Rewriting the information is a good way to retain the material. You can re-write your classroom notes. This is a “rehearsal” for the mind, and re-introduces the information to your mind. You may find something you missed or misunderstood. Also translating margin notes and hastily scribbled notes will provide mental exercise for your study habits.

Take good notes in the classroom, if you cannot keep up you may wish to record the lecture and replay it when you are able to write the information down. The better and more detailed notes you take in the classroom will help you when you are studying.

Join or Start a Study Group

What you want out of a study group are students who take the material and the course seriously. You are not there to discuss the latest reality shows or focus on mindless gossip. You can all pitch in to purchase and share the reference materials. Most college students could use a financial break. If a group of people focus on the class material, you could pick up information you missed or provide missing information. Also, hearing another person’s take on the class materials may give you a better understanding of the class.

MYTH #1: Language majors can benefit from the study abroad programs:

Irrespective of what you major in, students generally don’t find it difficult to fit a study abroad program to their academic requirements. Limiting one’s choice of destinations to countries like USA, UK and Australia can do away with language barrier as a problem. Even countries where English may not be the native language, have universities where teaching is done in English.

MYTH #2: Study abroad is only for the rich:

It is not necessary that study abroad would be costlier than the programs at home. The tuition fees in sponsor universities can frequently remain at par for the study abroad programs as well as home institutions. What’s more, often federal and state financial aid can be applied to a semester abroad too. Then there are a number of scholarships for students who wish to avail international opportunities in academics.

MYTH #3: It takes more time to graduate in study abroad:

Care in planning can ensure that when you study abroad, you are able to finish your program in duration of four years. Both winter and summer interim have study abroad opportunities for all students with majors often having the option of study abroad for a whole year and at the same time, graduate well on time.

MYTH #4: Courses taken abroad are not useful back home:

The payoffs from study abroad are most pronounced in the promotions by American schools, helping students adjust credits from abroad universities to their own courses. Be well informed before applying to study abroad. Find out about the syllabus of every class, seek the advice of your advisor on the kind of credit that can be earned and ensure that you have it in writing. You need to be assured of getting credit for all your efforts abroad.

MYTH #5: It is unsafe to study abroad:

Caution is certainly advised for travels abroad but merely associating the term overseas with certain danger is absurd. Students are notified by study abroad offices on matters of safety and health well before departure along with stringent guidelines and course of action for the safety of the students.

MYTH #6: Studying abroad is beneficial just for juniors:

Universities are making efforts to ensure study abroad programs suit a widely diverse student population, both graduate students and freshmen, with many of the programs scheduled for the winter or summer interim.

MYTH #7: Study abroad is for further studies after graduation:

Having started life in the real world, professional financial and personal obligations make study abroad a remote possibility. Study abroad is unique for living out a culture, which as a tourist is very unlikely.

Many people search and search for the University they will attend upon graduation from high school. Eager students look forward to their time at university while parents wring their hands hoping that their children choose to attend a university that is not only close to home but also within their budget limitations.

Another worry that parents have when their children decide to attend college is whether or not that university they attend will have the specialized and individualized services that their children were accustomed to receiving in high school.

Face it; larger universities tend to be rather impersonal when it comes to the education of their students.

One answer to all those worries and more is to transition your students from high school to a two-year college rather than throwing them to the university wolves so to speak. Many people find that two-year colleges can in fact provide superior educations to four-year universities for those first two years or foundation college level courses.

You will not get the specialized or specific instruction in a two year college that is available to upper level students on a university level but most students find the first two years of their college educations focused on getting the requirement and pre-requisite courses rather than the specialized courses in their intended field of study.

Many people also find that those first two years at a community college-transitioning from a small pond to a larger lake-are much easier to handle than going straight from high school to a university-out of the pond and into the ocean.

Universities often have lower level classes as auditorium classes. These classes offer little individual instruction and are often sink or swim sorts of classes. Those students who have special learning needs are often lost in the shuffle when entering a university. Community colleges offer smaller classes and ample opportunities for tutoring as well as classes on how to learn to study.

Two-year colleges are also much easier on the budget than most universities. Most people find that community college does not place nearly the financial burdens on families that universities place.

Add to that the fact that most community colleges offer very flexible class scheduling and even some courses online and you will find that there are many reasons to consider community college that go well beyond mere budgeting requirements.

Another benefit to students who wish to enter the work force sooner rather than later is that you can actually get a degree or certification in certain programs from a two-year college.

This means that you can actually graduate and begin earning much sooner than if you were to attend a four-year college in search of a degree. If you aren’t sure you want to invest the next four or five years of your life in pursuit of a degree or you simply aren’t ready to commit yourself to one line of work for the rest of your life it is a good idea to spend two years in a community college rather than making the leap straight into a university setting.

If you are considering whether or not a community college or two year education is the best course of action for your specific needs, I really recommend creating a list of pros and cons of each and balancing your budget to see where your needs are most likely to be fully met.

Remember you can always transfer to a university once you’ve completed your two-year college education or at any time during that education as long as you meet the universities admission requirements. Good luck and remember that your college education is one of the largest indicators of your future earning potential so take it seriously.