The best study method (not just for tests)

[bvalenta599]

Hey everyone, Im a freshman in college, just graduated hs this year and Im looking for a little advice.
I'm taking 17 credit hours this semester, which is a pretty good amount, and I'm also enrolled in a Pharmacy tech certification program that is 7 hours a week. I also volunteer at local hospitals about 15-20 hours a week.
My question is, with this schedule (very full as it is), whats the best way to balance Clep tests and normal school work? I'm having no issues with my classes, I have a 4.0, but I'm also studying about 2-3 hours a day JUST for classes. I was just wondering if it's a better method to do a little bit of clep studying every day like its a normal class and test out of it in 3-4 weeks, or do 1-2 weeks of hard studying?
Thanks for all the advice in advance!

[ryoder]

I like to focus on one thing at a time. Thats why I enjoy studying for CLEP tests. I study for about two weeks for each test on average and that includes studying a minimum of 15 hours per week.
I don't know how you will find time to also study for CLEPs but I would start by telling your friends, girlfriend, and family that you won't be able to go out on Friday nights, watch football on Sunday or Monday and just set the expectation that you are not available in general.
This way they won't call you and distract you from what you need to get done.

[bvalenta599]

Thanks for the reply. That's also why I like clep tests, you can go at your own pace and usually its a pretty fast one. I had a lot of time in the summer to do independent studies so thats when I got my first clep out of the way with biology.
That's really good advice though! thanks!

[ryoder]

If bio was your first CLEP you are on a downhill slope my friend. Good luck and remember to overstudy. The goal is knowledge, completion of credits is secondary.

[GoodtoGo]

That's when I have taken most of my exams. I take my classes during the tradional school year and CLEP & Dantes tests during the summer or during breaks. I'm not a full time student like you, but it just seems to work out best for me with my work schedule & other commitments. I'm also not the greatest multi-tasker, so I usually need to focus on only one or two subjects at a time in order to learn anything. Good luck to you! Keep up that 4.0 (jealous

[Kaz]

The best method is "know thyself", then do what fits that best. Some people need structure, others spontaneity. Some people need a complete plan before they even start, others like to just get started and figure it out as they go along. And on, and on, and on... So the best thing you can do is take a long, hard look at yourself and be honest with yourself about what you discover.

For instance, I had to really develop an intuition towards whether I was studying or not because I was feeling lazy and "avoidy" about it or because I just felt like I needed to spend my energies elsewhere, like fixing up something in the house. It took me years before I could tell how in one instance running an errand was something I was doing in order to avoid studying and in another instance the exact same need to run the errand was definitely something I just plain needed to do. Almost everything about both situations was identical, but eventually I could just plain "feel" that I was shooting myself in the foot on purpose in one instance but not the other. Know thyself!

A more common one I found was I am definitely one of those people who is better off getting a great night's sleep versus cramming all night. There is usually a perfect balance between studying and sleeping that is somewhere in the middle, but through trial and error I found that I definitely hinder performance as I steal time away from my full 8 hours in order to go over something one more time (and as I'm getting older it's becoming even more pronounced, more like 9 hours now for a great test performance).

[bvalenta599]

thanks everyone, I'll try to keep up that GPA and I'll keep everyone posted once I get some of these tests out of the way. I know what youre talking about with the whole "avoiding studying" thing haha. Great advice though. Thanks a lot!

[mrs.b]

The best method is "know thyself", then do what fits that best. Some people need structure, others spontaneity. Some people need a complete plan before they even start, others like to just get started and figure it out as they go along. And on, and on, and on... So the best thing you can do is take a long, hard look at yourself and be honest with yourself about what you discover.

This is definitely the best advice, in my opinion. Some people flourish by focusing on only one thing at a time, and I envy that ability to focus so intently. Others of us get bored far too easily and need the variation of subject material to progress at a steady rate.

I fall in the latter group; I am a notorious procrastinator, so if I only have one course, my "go to" alternative is non-school things. If I keep my plate loaded with many courses, I know I do not have the luxury of watching five movies back to back, so I "procrastinate" in one subject by working on another (usually while those five movies play back-to-back for more distraction). They all get done, but I skip around in about half-hour increments during my study time. Through this method, I completed 18 credits last term (4.0 term GPA), and am on schedule to complete another 18 this term, while working full-time (plus overtime recently), and a husband and son I must make sure I do not neglect in the process.

You'll need to use some trial and error to find what works best for you, because you're the only one that will be able to identify your ideal study method.

[nleamons]

I agree that one should 'know thyself.' I try to schedule everything on google calendar and I also use two kinds of to-do list's. I prefer to study for long periods of time about 3-4 hrs before I take a break. I try not to study in the evenings. I too have an excellent GPA 3.9 out of about 8 classes. Sometimes, I find myself procrastinating like Mrs.b from time-to-time; if I do not have a full course load. My method for class tests are: rereading all the chapters assigned. Trying to abreviate the text into pages rather than chapters of information. This is my final review.