My name is April Coan and I am an Academic Success Coach and the Assistant Director at the Office of Undergraduate Student Success. Throughout the fall semester, I will be offering tips and suggestions in The Current which will focus on topics like success in college and taking advantage of the unique opportunities available at NSU.
After graduating from high school in Texas, I joined the United States Marine Corps. I spent five years in the military, where I learned a lot about leadership and management and had some amazing experiences. I also found the time to earn a graduate degree from Boston University. Eventually, I left the military and took up roots in South Florida. I now work in the field of higher education and would like to share with you some valuable information that I’ve learned along the way.
Studying is a lot like driving. Everyone has a unique way of doing it, and everyone thinks they’re good at it, even when they’re not. With that said, some study types are far more effective than others. Generally speaking, there are four types of studiers: planners, crammers, social butterflies and procrastinators. Most of us fit into more than one category, but, hopefully, we all aspire to be planners. Read the study-type descriptions below, and discover how you can improve your study habits for your next exam.
The Planner
You’re a study Jedi and are the most disciplined of all the study types. You view studying as a marathon, not a sprint to the finish line. Instead of studying at the last minute, you study several hours a week in order to retain information and maintain your study routine. You’re extremely organized and write down all important test dates and deadlines in your planner as soon as you receive your syllabus. Also, whenever you have difficulty understanding class material, you make time in your busy schedule to attend study groups, tutoring sessions and professors’ office hours.
The Crammer
You’re a confident thrill-seeker and the Evel Knievel of all study types. You’re smart and typically rely on your natural abilities to do well in class. You also plan all your heavy-duty studying for late-night cramming sessions before a big test because you love the adrenaline rush and feel that pressure keeps you focused. Needless to say, your favorite beverage is anything with caffeine. Unfortunately, cramming may not always help you retain long-term information or earn the awesome grades you want. If you’re a crammer, you may want to adjust your study habits to a more gradual approach by studying a little every week instead of leaving all your studying to the last minute.
The Social Butterfly
You’re friendly and chatty. People love you, and you have lots of friends. However, your social life typically gets in the way of other important things in your life, like homework, reading and studying. Instead of studying effectively, you often find yourself distracted by Facebook, phone calls or text messages. Your penchant for socializing also bleeds into your study groups. Unfortunately, you have the bad habit of turning an effective study group into an otherwise ineffective gossip session. If you’re a social butterfly (and you know who you are), stay focused on the study, topic and avoid study group conversations that can lead you down the slippery slope of chatting. Also, free yourself of distractions by turning off your phone.
The Procrastinator
“I’ll do it later” is your modus operandi. Your habits are very similar to the crammer but often less disciplined. You have the habit of seeking short-term fun over long-term rewards and usually tell yourself you’ll study tomorrow. The problem is tomorrow never comes. Since you’ve developed a habit of pushing things aside, you’ve also developed a pattern of forgetting important dates, deadlines and assignments. If you fit this description, discipline is the key to your success. Build positive study habits by keeping a student planner and jotting down important test dates and deadlines. Also, create a weekly study routine, and reward yourself every time you stick to your weekly study schedule.
To master the art of studying, improve your study habits a little each week. Regardless of what type of studier you are, with a little bit of effort, it’s always possible to change your habits to study more effectively and achieve your academic goals.
Photo Credit: Printed with permission by April Coan.
