How do you study?

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

You don't even write that down? I never used to write anything down either, but people gave me the impression that that was somehow treasonous so I started just writing what the professor writes. But I know many people who constantly write while the professor is talking.

No, I rarely write many notes, may be I'll write a few problems we go over down so I can look at them as examples. It used to kill me on a few tests for general education credits when teachers would purposely test on random facts they had given during lecture. In my major, you need to "learn stuff", so it's a bit easier to get by as long as I pay attention to what material I need to go over. It's an admittedly horrible habit to be in. I should also note I learn by reading, not listening. In fact, when I get in the habit of learning the material before lectures, I find teachers are often not able to articulate the concepts very well and confuse the already stupid students.

 

[robin]

Study = adderall. Writing papers = alchohol.

 

[JonHecht]

I don't study and don't pay attention to my professors, but I always get 4.0. It helps that I'm finishing up my degree in philosophy, and everything that we cover, I have already read. I read a lot of philosophy.

 

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

Am I the only person who only writes down what the professor writes on the whiteboard?

yup, that was what I did too. Got through the vast majority of my degree without buying a single book.

 

[Piobaire]

Show up to class, take the notes the prof gives, do your readings, if a class requiring equations, do your problem sets until the formula are second nature. All I ever needed to do, excluding the dreaded "group work" any MBA requires.

 

[AR_Six]

I take the readings and my class notes, and condense them into note packages like so.

 

[inq89]

Blackboard is your friend. I print the notes before class and annotate during lecture. Many professors post old exams. I've saved time and money by studying off of these two resources. Now that I'm in professional school, I'm pretty sure I can still get away with not buying most of the textbooks, though I'll probably study more than I did in undergrad.

 

[Jumbie]

I study poorly. Take too many breaks and those breaks end up taking an hour instead of 10-15 minutes like I planned.

Can't study in the library cause I'm fairly sure I have undiagnosed/untreated ADD (not ADHD). I am very, very easily distracted by things around me such as pages turning in other people's books. As such, don't usually partake in group study although I have found that explaining things to people is what makes it stick the most. It shows up where I have shortcomings and gaps that I thought I knew from simply reading. Having to go back and and check those things for a specific purpose tends to make it stay in my long-term memory the most. Repetition is key as well.

For my board exams, I read and did a shitload of practice questions. I'm trying to prep for my Step III exam right now (two days - 8 hours each) and got started before residency. Currently at around 1400 questions and counting. It sucks.

 

[jerryhoyo]

I usually just study with my friends. I feel the best way to study is when others ask you questions. That way you can really test yourself if you know everything and you'll also be helping your friends out. Kill 2 birds with 1 stone =D

 

[LuxeStyles]

Originally Posted by JD_May

I take the readings and my class notes, and condense them into note packages like so.

That seems nice.

 

[ZackyBoy]

I am a predominantly math student so it's just a lot of repetition. I print off the old exams and do them all over and over and over. I barely ever crack my text books, although I certainly should.

 

[Arcanaville]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

Osmosis by sleeping on the textbook.

i swear this works. i had to memorize part of the raven and when i went to bed i didn't know it, then when i woke up i knew every single word. ******* creepy.

 

[hamish5178]

Originally Posted by Arcanaville

i swear this works. i had to memorize part of the raven and when i went to bed i didn't know it, then when i woke up i knew every single word. ******* creepy.

It's an old trick to practice memorization right before falling asleep, it works very very well. That's how I got through Romeo and Juliet as Friar Lawrence.

 

[LuxeStyles]

 

[JonHecht]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm a genius.