How many of you study?

[OmegaPsi]

I dont study, it makes my brain all mixed up and I cant get the information out right. You guys?

[Tsuru]

Well, all through initial schooling I don't think I ever studied once. Or took notes for that matter. Just listening to the lectures and doing the homework during other classes was enough to get the A's. D:

When I've done college stuff, it's pretty much been the same thing. Just listening to the lecture, (sometimes) taking a few notes, and reading the assignments once (if they were important, not just supplementary stuff that you can skip), and I got the A/B without much outside work.

Coincidentally, school is boring and I hate it. :(

I think being INTJ helps a lot with that since we naturally grasp the underlying structure of more theoretical type stuff (which makes new details easier to pick up), so we probably don't have to have things repeated as much as some other types would.

[Zilal]

I study, but I noticed the other day that I hardly ever study my notes. I wear my hand out writing them... the binder for two of my classes from this past semester is an inch and a half thick... and then I never bother to read them. I tend to assume that the taking of them is what helps fix them in my memory. This is amusing to me because the couple of times I did go back and look at my notes, they were immensely helpful. Yet I still don't bother to look at them most of the time. We really aren't as logical as we often think we are.

[AgentofGaming]

I sometimes *try* to study. It doesn't work too well so I end up playing computer games pre-exam.

Looking back at old notes is a hassle. Also I tend to avoid doing something twice including seeing the same material twice. So I take all those notes and also never look at them.

[Tokey41]

In grade school I hardly studied, I never saw the point as most learning at that stage is simply memorizing facts which came naturally.

Now that i'm in my post secondary education and feel like the grades are worth something I put quite a bit of effort into studying and my work, although sometimes it still feels like it wasn't necessary.

[rocksteady]

In grade school I hardly studied, I never saw the point as most learning at that stage is simply memorizing facts which came naturally.

Now that i'm in my post secondary education and feel like the grades are worth something I put quite a bit of effort into studying and my work, although sometimes it still feels like it wasn't necessary.

same here, i could probably get solid B's without studying, but I am really trying to excel, and learning good study habits is a great way to start. It's taking me a little while to get up to speed on how to study, considering i've never had to do it before!

[gallihand]

same here, i could probably get solid B's without studying, but I am really trying to excel, and learning good study habits is a great way to start. It's taking me a little while to get up to speed on how to study, considering i've never had to do it before!

Any tips on how to get started (and keep going)? I rarely do (and it rarely helps then), but I know I should sometimes.

[INTJgal]

I study, but I noticed the other day that I hardly ever study my notes. I wear my hand out writing them... the binder for two of my classes from this past semester is an inch and a half thick... and then I never bother to read them. I tend to assume that the taking of them is what helps fix them in my memory. This is amusing to me because the couple of times I did go back and look at my notes, they were immensely helpful. Yet I still don't bother to look at them most of the time. We really aren't as logical as we often think we are.

OMG me too. Seriously I learned this last semester in a difficult 3rd level chem course, and raised what should've been a C that required a lot of work for, to a B+ on the final (which was very high for that class).

Why are we so stupid sometimes?





INTJgal added to this post, 4 minutes and 26 seconds later...

Any tips on how to get started (and keep going)? I rarely do (and it rarely helps then), but I know I should sometimes.

It's been proven in studies that 16 hours of studying for an exam over the weekend (8 hours Sat, 8 hours Sunday) is not nearly as beneficial as studying 16 hours in hour-long chunks throughout the term.
(Which translates to saying, if you keep up with your class, you can put in a lot less time for the same mark.)

Also, my prof who went to Harvard gave a good tip--he said he used to get teased b/c he spent so much time daily prepping for class--he regularly read his notes through. (Every day he started at the beginning and went over Day 1 notes, then Day 1 and Day 2 notes, then Day 1 and Day 2 and Day 3 notes... etc. Then, come finals, he never opened his book minus a ten minute page flipping b/c he had it all solidly understood. And he aced his classes at Harvard.
He also pointed out it doesn't take as long as it sounds like it would once the term gets going; if you really solidly grasp a page you can finish it in 30 seconds of review. You're just allowing your brain to compare/contrast that info you know with the new stuff you've learned.

The trick is the self-discipline to do that. He said the best part was going out to shoot pool and get a few drinks the night before while everyone was cramming--the looks from livid classmates were enough reward but apparently the great marks were nice too!

[Hdier]

I didn't study through Middle School, except when my parents made me. I am now a Freshman in High School, and on the rare occasion that I do need to study, usually it would be for Spanish, I study for ten or twenty minutes before I get bored. However, whenever I have a test I quickly review the material right beforehand, though I don't count that as studying, per say.

[AgentofGaming]

It's been proven in studies that 16 hours of studying for an exam over the weekend (8 hours Sat, 8 hours Sunday) is not nearly as beneficial as studying 16 hours in hour-long chunks throughout the term.
(Which translates to saying, if you keep up with your class, you can put in a lot less time for the same mark.)


Wait... where did he get the time to do his problem sets, labs, and projects?
I'd have to not sleep to do all those, so obviously I never get to review.

[bubbles]

Back in high school, the only class I seriously studied for was math (precalculus and calculus) and for those darned AP Exams. Now, I study regularly for most of my classes during the regular term, though I notice that I study less during finals. I study around 25-30 hours a week on average (that includes homework, projects, and everything else except going to class).

[Pinkie]

I prefer to cram things. I think the deadline pressure helps my brain pick up the information, and I don't always retain it, but then, I thought I'd forgotten everything I'd learnt last year and yet, come this year in Phonological Theory, I suddenly knew all of this stuff that I thought was waaaaaaaaay hard last year! I'm hoping the same is going to happen with Syntactic Theory this year >__>

[Learning]

I dont study, it makes my brain all mixed up and I cant get the information out right. You guys?

Not sure I know exactly what you mean...about getting the information out right? But I do hate studying. I really like to learn new stuff, and am excited to learn about things I'm interested in. I just hate the stuff I "have" to do :uneasy:.

[Quite Robert]

I study all the time, often random topics for fun. It never lasts for very long though, instead I tend to jump from subject to subject as my attention span wains. Because of this jumping around i find that I have an easier time digesting books that are broken into topical chapters or random articles. i just dont have it in me to sit down and read a book from cover to cover.

[AgentofGaming]

...
I really like to learn new stuff, and am excited to learn about things I'm interested in. I just hate the stuff I "have" to do :uneasy:.

...

Yeah, learning something can be fun (if you're interested). Mastering something and practising is never is fun (unless you like repetitive tasks)

[OmegaPsi]

Not sure I know exactly what you mean...about getting the information out right? But I do hate studying. I really like to learn new stuff, and am excited to learn about things I'm interested in. I just hate the stuff I "have" to do :uneasy:.



No I absolutely love to learn. Its just when I study, and then I take an exam, all the previous knowledge that was nice and organised in my head, gets mixed up and it difficult to set it straight again.

[Drayakir]

I found that studying doesn't work for me, but writing a... review sheet does. If you write stuff down, it settles in the head better.

And of course there's memorizing, but I only do that for tables and stuff.

[INTJgal]

Wait... where did he get the time to do his problem sets, labs, and projects?
I'd have to not sleep to do all those, so obviously I never get to review.

insane, hey? AND he played on teh hockey team for harvard!! Talk about time-management! (And i'm sure many many nights with 2 or 3 hours sleep. He still does that now, he works as a full time prof AND a full time research scientist)

[RoqueBear]

If theres a difference between just reading the material and actually re-reading to study.... I might agree with you and say I don't study *much*.

However, I'd think your lying if you said you did well in Differential Equations or Materials and Energy balances without studying. It depends on the material and how detailed the information is you need to recall.

[AgentofGaming]

insane, hey? AND he played on teh hockey team for harvard!! Talk about time-management! (And i'm sure many many nights with 2 or 3 hours sleep. He still does that now, he works as a full time prof AND a full time research scientist)

Well I guess procrastination is bad. Exercise is useful.
I don't think I could go about the day with less than 9 hours sleep.
Also what does one do when they reach a question they can't solve?

[Learning]

No I absolutely love to learn. Its just when I study, and then I take an exam, all the previous knowledge that was nice and organised in my head, gets mixed up and it difficult to set it straight again.


So what do you do instead?

[Sleeper]

Exams are just annoying, I love to learn but I just hate being tested on it.

At college, I can't say I really studied, I just practiced questions to deepen my understanding, reading never really helps though I remember a good part of what I read occasionally.

However, at university, I really don't have a choice but read huge amounts of text just to get by.

The ironic thing about being an INTJ is that although we learn learning, learning to justify an end doesn't seem worthwhile since we rather go to any respective job and learn the trade immediately.

All in all so much more efficient and interesting

[lenne02]

I get bored to fast to study. If I am enjoying to work on a subject there is no hold. I just got another masters 2 years ago and have most of my books still in original shipping boxes. Prior start of the class I asked what grade is good to get, never went to an english speaking school before learned english by speaking it, and was told 3.7 would be a good grade. Guess what I got... 3.7.

[Jgib5328]

Of course I study, I really don't see how you could survive in college without studying. Some of the things that you guys are saying are pretty much studying, "practice the problems". That is a form of studying. Studying doesn't mean reading your notes, it means learning the material and making sure it sticks into your long-term memory. I mean I don't really know what kind of courses you are taking, but I'm taking high level econ and math courses at a really difficult college, it doesn't make sense not to study. Nobody is smart enough to get away with it here.

[lordrrr]

I study very hard I always zone out during classes and may miss an important part of a formula or something. When I study "right" it usually helps me.

[IFearAManOf1Book]

All of my friends are pained by the fact that I never study, and still manage almost straight A's. They ignore the fact that it takes me three times as long to do what they do in homework, essays, projects, etc...

[coffeeloverfreak]

Agree with the rest of you. Unless you're Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, you have to / had to study at some point. It's supposed to be hard.

But everyone studies in different ways. I think people who get jealous of people who "never study" don't see all the work they really do. Just because they aren't cramming the night before an exam trying to re-read all their notes doesn't mean they don't study.

[OmegaPsi]

So what do you do instead?

Bah I know, old thread, but It felt wrong to not answer a question that was directed at me. I just don't do anything to prepare for a test. Usually after the first time I've done it, (esp. Definitions) it's perfectly intune and can recall it on a dime.

[Jgib5328]

Bah I know, old thread, but It felt wrong to not answer a question that was directed at me. I just don't do anything to prepare for a test. Usually after the first time I've done it, (esp. Definitions) it's perfectly intune and can recall it on a dime.

What level are you in school? I doubt you can get by in college with doing that.

[Zirka]

I study, but I often slack off... In high school for many of my exams I'd just cursorily review the information and go from there, thanks to my good memory and the relative difficulty of the subjects. But now in university stuff is much harder than before, so I'm trying to actually study.... unfortunately its not working that well. (unless you call posting here studying)

[ElstonGunn]

Bah I know, old thread, but It felt wrong to not answer a question that was directed at me. I just don't do anything to prepare for a test. Usually after the first time I've done it, (esp. Definitions) it's perfectly intune and can recall it on a dime.
What level are you in school? I doubt you can get by in college with doing that.

I got by just fine by using that method. If "studying" means "reviewing class material outside of class, for a purpose other than completing a specific assignment," then I almost never studied. In high school, my final GPA was a 91 (even with a bad case of senioritis), and in college, I ended up with a 3.65. I just went to class every day, paid attention, and did the homework.

[starztimehalo]

Going to class does correlate with achieving better marks on exams (usually). I usually try to go to class regularly, take notes, and read the text (if needed or if it is interesting). Before exams, I review the material again. Several of my classes this semester actually don't have exams though, just papers due. For those it is important for me to have read the text. I problably don't put in enough hours studying as I should... procrastination is an issue, especially if the topic is dull or uninspiring.

[Jgib5328]

I got by just fine by using that method. If "studying" means "reviewing class material outside of class, for a purpose other than completing a specific assignment," then I almost never studied. In high school, my final GPA was a 91 (even with a bad case of senioritis), and in college, I ended up with a 3.65. I just went to class every day, paid attention, and did the homework.

Doing homework can be considered a form of studying. You are learning the material outside of class. If you are taking math or practical based courses, you don't normally focus on learning theory or reading the text book as much as other classes, you solve problems for the most part.

[ssfanatic]

I read over my notes the night before the test, thats it. Its all i need really. But i guess thats why i am horrible at foreign language.

[integratedvelocity]

It seems that I am in the minority here. In high school, I can't remember studying other than the normal cramming the night beforea test. As a college student, I feel the constant need to study. I don't always do so, but it is necessary in order to get good grades. The curves are brutal, especially for math, one of my weaker areas. I usually try to go over the material before I have class on it.

[Sylvanus]

I skim the materials enough to learn what I need to BS my assignments. Currently, my college has final projects, not tests, so studying for tests isn't necessary. When I did have to take tests, I would go over my assignments to see what was probably on the tests, skim the materials again, then get A's or B's on the test. Doing projects now, I am doing extremely well. I put them off all term (even though it is suggested to work on it the whole time), then do the work the day before it is due. I've gotten 100% more often than not this method (with a high B or low A in the class, mostly due to late assignments).

[n00b]

I studied much in elementary school. Now, in high school (17 yrs.), I don't study. I don't read books and skim pages, since I don't want to spend hours on reading uninteresting things. My learning sessions take max. 15 minutes, of quick reading. Later I get extremely bored and I nod off. Really.


I get mostly 3 and 4. It's not bad at all...

[Sylvanus]

I studied much in elementary school. Now, in high school (17 yrs.), I don't study. I don't read books and skim pages, since I don't want to spend hours on reading uninteresting things. My learning sessions take max. 15 minutes, of quick reading. Later I get extremely bored and I nod off. Really.


I get mostly 3 and 4. It's not bad at all...

3 and 4? What the hell is that? Is that the same as B's and A's?

[n00b]

1<2<3<4<5<6
f<e<d<c<b<a

2 - 40-60%
3 - 61-75%
4 - 76-85%
5 - 90-100%

6 is the best grade, but you can get it only for special projects.
1 means that you didn't pass.

[Sylvanus]

Oh, the standard I'm used to is A>B>C>D>F, there is no E for some reason. Then for GPA A=4, B=3 ...F=0.

[Caramel]

I study by doing.

Reviewing class material for the sake of reviewing isn't for me. In stead, throw some difficult problems my way that require insight and knowledge of the material to solve them and you get me going.

Sylvanus, I think N00b is attending school in Germany. They have the 1-6 system there. Belgium has a percentage system, Denmark has minus 3 up to plus 12.. Every country seems to have their own grading system and that makes it very confusing.

[Jgib5328]

1<2<3<4<5<6
f<e<d<c<b<a

2 - 40-60%
3 - 61-75%
4 - 76-85%
5 - 90-100%

6 is the best grade, but you can get it only for special projects.
1 means that you didn't pass.

Apparently you need to study, getting a 3 is a bad grade. How do you intend on going to college?

[n00b]

Apparently you need to study, getting a 3 is a bad grade. How do you intend on going to college?
LOL, grades doesn't count in admission decisions. We have to take big exams in the last year of school, and scores from these exams will decide about admittance. In Poland even the biggest morons can become students and graduates. It's easy, so I don't learn now. It was also easy to get to the 13th best school in the country. :rolleyes:
there is no E for some reason
Strange, how do you count the arithmetic mean of grades? ;]

[Jgib5328]

Oh, the standard I'm used to is A>B>C>D>F, there is no E for some reason. Then for GPA A=4, B=3 ...F=0.

My college has an E instead of an F, they mean the same thing though.





Jgib5328 added to this post, 6 minutes and 28 seconds later...

LOL, grades doesn't count in admission decisions. We have to take big exams in the last year of school, and scores from these exams will decide about admittance. In Poland even the biggest morons can become students and graduates. It's easy, so I don't learn now. It was also easy to get to the 13th best school in the country. :rolleyes:


Your system is inherently flawed. You obviously have no motivation to learn material, because you can probably get away with cramming right before the big exam. The whole point of school is to learn so that you can become a useful adult. They shouldn't base everything on exams either, you could be having a crappy day and mess up on the test or have some other factor that leads you to under-performance. Plus tests usually don't reflect how much a person knows, people just pick some questions, which don't cover all of the material. I advise you to send a letter to your ministry of education, or whatever it is called in Poland.

[n00b]

You're right, but the last biggest exam isn't a test. It's a kind of writing tasks. Oral part of polish language exam include answering questions about essay, which you can write or buy (illegaly). Stupid.

I advise you to send a letter to your ministry of education, or whatever it is called in Poland.
Maybe when I complete my education.


There is a problem with our system. We have too much university graduates and a small group of young people with vocational school education. People can't get a job, because there is a little workplaces for well educated people, and too much for people without high academic background. That's why our college graduates immigrate to the UK. Populace of youth have a tendency get as much education (often unnecessary) as possible, and then they wash dishes in the british restaurant. That's all.

[fuzein]

I have always been the type to study the topic so I would be familiar with the terms and concepts. Then, after studying, I think about and analyze what I learned and how it applies to other things.

[schwartzie]

As an undergrad, it didn't feel like "studying" because I pretty much loved it--philosophy, math, sociology, history, sciences, etc. All fun stuff. It helps to inhale while studying. In grad school, tho, the stakes went up and I had to figure it out. It really helps to find someone who can take you by the hand and teach you how to prep effectively for the tests. So you don't hate it. For me, I have to make my own outline by hand. It was interesting that my best friend and I made such different outlines--his brain was so different from mine. By the end of my doctorate, however, I couldn't even read a bloody newspaper, I was so burnt on reading. A few YEARS later, a girlfriend lent me a audio book on tape (Clan of the CaveBear), and it got me started reading again....

[Brutananadilewski]

I'm in a Canadian medical school, and I don't look at anything until the night before (or the morning of an exam if it's in the afternoon). All it takes is a once-over to remember everything, and being an intuitive, it's so very easy to integrate the concepts you just breezed over at the time of the exam, rather than doing so beforehand. Everyone's got their own method, but for me, I can't bring myself to go to class, let alone to study on a daily basis. If I didn't have such a good memory I'd be hooped, but as it is, why not get away with it if you can?

[Metamorphosis]

I study as little as humanly possible to achieve an acceptable grade.

Mostly, I am incapable of studying for any significant length of time. I find studying/discussion with other people works far better for me.

[Rowan]

When a subject interests me I study methodically and obsessively – taking down and reading and rereading notes, employing various memory tricks, rereading a complicated theory until I’m confident I understand it, talking about the subject to whoever will listen, missing the occasional meal and a few hours of sleep, etc. However, if I am studying for purely pragmatic reasons I can easily get bogged down, occasionally procrastinate and usually do poorly – I have never gained from deadline pressure in these circumstances. Generally I find external motivations are a lot less effective than simple obsessive interest. I don’t think any of this is unusual.

Of course I study, I really don't see how you could survive in college without studying. Some of the things that you guys are saying are pretty much studying, "practice the problems". That is a form of studying. Studying doesn't mean reading your notes, it means learning the material and making sure it sticks into your long-term memory. I mean I don't really know what kind of courses you are taking, but I'm taking high level econ and math courses at a really difficult college, it doesn't make sense not to study. Nobody is smart enough to get away with it here.

Well said.

[Cuivienen]

@Rowan, I agree and know just how you feel

Back in school, I hardly ever studied and got by very well with it (except for literature - I loved that subject and it never seemed like studying).

But now that I`m studying law I study most days for at least two hours. It is A LOT more interesting than school ever was and it is a wonderful feeling to have found out s.th. new about a topic you are really interested in - better than any alcohol-induced high I ever had.
And it is almost impossible to stop once you´ve started, and every once in a while I`ll find a subject I`m so fascinated by that I forget to eat, drink and sleep - until my body shuts down my energy reserves and makes me stop.

But even apart from that, it would be stupid to jeopardize my future by not studying, I made up my mind to graduate well and I will NOT belong to the 70% of students who drop out within the first four semesters of studying law at my university.

I was not at all used to studying when I got there and I don`t know how much it helped, since I don`t have any exam results yet, but I`ll do my very best to do well enough to have as many options as possible once I graduate in 7 years.

[Kaethus]

Ack! I hate studying. I seriously need context. If I can't apply the information, or make a story out of it, I have no place to put it and so it doesn't stick. But during the few times I've made myself study, I have to do it in broad daylight (i will fall asleep otherwise) and not in my bed (same reason), or near a tv or computer (duh), and preferably with privacy (other people can be around, but they must be minding their own business).

[NicoMT]

Yes, I must study. I hate feeling even the slightest bit unprepared.

[Lagawrd]

I agree with NicoMT. I cannot go to a test feeling unprepared, I get really grumpy if I did. I would always be worried, stressed, and not easy going at all, especially if it was a memorizing based test. So yes I study, not as much as I would want to, but yes, I always make room for enough time to study. I cannot rely on staying up all night studying. I must have over 8 1/2 + hours of sleep.

[sriv]

I do not study unless I feel that I have to study for a good grade.

[jilongie]

I study, but I often slack off... In high school for many of my exams I'd just cursorily review the information and go from there, thanks to my good memory and the relative difficulty of the subjects. But now in university stuff is much harder than before, so I'm trying to actually study.... unfortunately its not working that well. (unless you call posting here studying)

god i have exactly same problem.. =( someone help me =(

[Antares]

I study while procrastinating and still ace tests. Go figure. But on the other hand though, I'm a bit of a slack on homework; the fact that I'd only do the bare minimum has its effects. But seriously. The teacher is asking me to do redundant things without spelling it out for me (I use my Se's eye for detail and clarity to give my incompetent teachers a hard time).

What is most important to Elie at the beginning of the book?

Studying the cabbala. Enough said. But NOOOO. I have to write *more*. ARGH.

[Hdier]

Yes, I must study. I hate feeling even the slightest bit unprepared.

I usually just go in to a test, realize I don't know enough, then ace it by using what I do know and logicing out the rest.

[Aronnax]

I don't study in the sense of reading a textbook or notes and attempting to memorize the information, it's never been an effective method for me. If there's something I absolutely have to memorize I'll write it by hand until I fill a page or so; if I'm alone I'll speak it as I'm writing.

What I've found to be the most effective is to just solve lots of problems. I'll open the text and work the samples blind, check my work then move on to the numbered problems. I'll repeat this until I can quickly solve the problems and have a good grasp of the concept. However, I'm an engineering student, nearly every subject I study is basically a series of problems so this may not work as well for other majors.

Edit~ I want to comment on the posts that went up between the time I started this post and clicked "submit". I also got A's without studying in high school but lets be honestly, it's fairly trivial stuff.

If your college major is challenging and interesting it's going to require more than what you can reason through on the exam. There's simply not enough time to determine a reference frame and derive everything within the alloted time. If you don't find your major challenging and interesting you probably should change your major.

[OddFactor]

I'm studying right now. Can you tell?

[KarmicKaos]

same here, i could probably get solid B's without studying, but I am really trying to excel, and learning good study habits is a great way to start. It's taking me a little while to get up to speed on how to study, considering i've never had to do it before!

I didn't study through Middle School, except when my parents made me. I am now a Freshman in High School, and on the rare occasion that I do need to study, usually it would be for Spanish, I study for ten or twenty minutes before I get bored. However, whenever I have a test I quickly review the material right beforehand, though I don't count that as studying, per say.

In middle school I obviously never studied and still had a 3.9. I also never studied in high school. I did running start Junior and Senior year so I graduated high school with my AA and never studied. My GPA was only 2.9 though. In my last year and a half of undergrad I finally started to study but usually only for an hour or so. Sometimes using flash cards to remember vocab words. Anyway, just with a little bit of studying I got Straight A's those last 5 quarters. I also take lots of notes and never go over them.

How come we INTJ's have to *learn* to study? For the longest time it was like I didn't even know where to start. Guess I was just used to grasping concepts quickly.

[IgnoranceIsKind]

How come we INTJ's have to *learn* to study? For the longest time it was like I didn't even know where to start. Guess I was just used to grasping concepts quickly.

Grasping concepts is one thing, remembering them when needed is another. In recent times, I realise the only sure way of making your material stick inside your head is to make sure you do constant revision. This is merely theoratical though. For as long as I know, I've always relied on sheer gamble during my exams and so far it has been okay. But my conviction now is that I've made up my mind to do remarkably well, and having that said, gambling with the odds wouldn't be nearly as assuring as solid hard work I guess.

Its strange, but sometimes when I study I really enjoy it. Not for passing the tests or getting good grades, but the awareness that for every analysis and evaluation I make I'm getting smarter. I've heard this quote once, something about the fact that once our minds are stretched it would never return to its original dimensions. That has been really encouring, and I do want to keep furthering and stretch however much intelligence I have right now. The satisfaction.. its nonparalleled. :thumbsup:

[Mozzes]

If you plan on going into science or engineering in University do yourself a favor and learn to study properly in high school. Otherwise you'll definitely be in for a rude awakening once you hit upper division courses.

[iMiki]

During school, I have the tendency to drift off to space. At the end of class, I'm like "What just happened?". Hence, I study at home to get good grades. Sometimes I listen to my teacher if the topic discussed in class captures my interest. Sometimes I don't study, it just sticks to my head.

In elementary, I hardly study but it's ironic that I'm still one of the top students in my class. I knew most of my grades were bad. Or maybe I just thought it was bad because the other students did better than me? I don't know. I'm confused.

[Reanne]

I don't study in the sense of reading a textbook or notes and attempting to memorize the information, it's never been an effective method for me. If there's something I absolutely have to memorize I'll write it by hand until I fill a page or so; if I'm alone I'll speak it as I'm writing.

What I've found to be the most effective is to just solve lots of problems. I'll open the text and work the samples blind, check my work then move on to the numbered problems. I'll repeat this until I can quickly solve the problems and have a good grasp of the concept. However, I'm an engineering student, nearly every subject I study is basically a series of problems so this may not work as well for other majors.

Edit~ I want to comment on the posts that went up between the time I started this post and clicked "submit". I also got A's without studying in high school but lets be honestly, it's fairly trivial stuff.

If your college major is challenging and interesting it's going to require more than what you can reason through on the exam. There's simply not enough time to determine a reference frame and derive everything within the alloted time. If you don't find your major challenging and interesting you probably should change your major.

I study almost the exact same way! only i have really have to manage my time very well, Medicine is quite challenging to pursue

[Vivid]

I study a lot. About 20-30 hours a week, I would say.

[darkkodiak]

I study for every subject even if I don't like it. I study the way everyone says you should study which is an hour or few hours a day instead of cramming and I find it most effective for me.

[JasonM]

I'm just like most regular people, I need to study. I usually can't pay attention to lectures and I don't have a particularly good long-term memory. I don't study periodically throughout the semester, only right before the test. I remember having about two nights to learn half a semester of statistics, and then go over the stuff I hadn't covered in a while, and I succeeded and did well on the test. I just memorized all the formulas and figured out the key wording to applying them. Normally, I do pretty well studying at the last minute, but I can remember one time when it back-fired. For one class, I got a hold of some old final exams, a large set of them. I noticed that there was a lot of repetition in the types of questions on those tests. Needless to say, nothing I studied was on my final exam. My mark went from an "A" to a "C+."

I like it when they give you a set of course notes, rely mainly on the textbook, or post the lecture slides online. That way, I don't have to show up to class.

[True Rune]

Not until college did I study, because I hate homework and did fine without it. I do not study as much as I should, but I do ok with the amount I get done. I crammed really only once for my history final last semester, but I ended up really enjoying it because it was history and I just got totally interested in it, so I don't know if it was actually cramming.

[cypher72]

I'll glance over notes about 5 minutes before a test if it's something that's just rote memorization, but other than that, i have never studied, and have never received a grade lower than a B on a test. I realize this is a bad habit, and that it's going to catch up with me eventually.

[Jgib5328]

I'll glance over notes about 5 minutes before a test if it's something that's just rote memorization, but other than that, i have never studied, and have never received a grade lower than a B on a test. I realize this is a bad habit, and that it's going to catch up with me eventually.

You won't get away with that in college..

[Monte314]

I've been teaching university mathematics for the last 30 years, and I have observed some interesting things about the *timing* of effective learning.

Before creative mastery of any subject can be attained, a foundation of FACTS must be laid. This is why early education is mostly rote memorization: alphabets, colors, vocabulary, spelling.... Fortunately, the very young mind is quite adept at the assimilation of bulk material, so the timing is right. During the first 3 years of life, the child will assimilate as much bulk information about the world as she will during the remainder of her life. What students often don't realize is that THE ABILITY TO ASSIMILATE BULK MATERIAL DECREASES RAPIDLY WITH AGE. For example, by the time you are 18, you will have lost most of your ability to master another language. Important fundamentals that learners fail to master when young will either never be thoroughly mastered, or will have to be tackled later, when the mind is less adept, often with difficulty. I can't tell you how many students I've had sitting in a calculus class who couldn't make progress because they never mastered algebra... or couldn't master algebra because they blew off fractions. This effect can snowball, with terrible effect. It's a sad thing to see the shine die in the eyes of a bright, talented young person who realizes they will never be that engineer, or architect, or doctor, or pilot, or ANYTHING ELSE THAT REQUIRES SYSTEMATIC THNKING, because they devoted more energy to American Idol than they did to arithmetic. As 20 year-olds, their dream is done. It's "what life will I have to settle for" time. This has surely got to be about the dumbest trade a person can make.

Once a foundation of FACTS is established, a superstructure of METHODS can be systematically erected upon it. That's what education is supposed to be about (though the social engineers of the last century would have us believe otherwise). Education in mathematics is a perfect example of this sequence: we first learn addition and multiplication facts, THEN long division. FACTS precede (and are essential to) METHODS. If the FACTS aren't mastered, the METHODS become inaccessible. You might as well fill your gas tank with water... the price is right, but you ain't goin' anywhere!

The true goal of mental training is the preparation of the mind for CREATIVE COMMAND of the subject. This is what graduate school is all about. FACTS and METHODS are the raw material for productive CREATIVITY (which is why you need a BS to pursue an MS). Oh, I've seen moms gush about how "creative" little Johnny is when he draws a picture of a purple horse. But that isn't creative thinking... it's anomalous thinking. The errant color is the outworking of ignorance, not creativity. Goofing off in college AT THE EXPENSE OF preparing the mind blunts your creative potential... perhaps irremediably. Failing to master your own mind because "fooling around is more interesting" will consign you to a life of making mental mud-pies. Don't expect a high-end salary for that!

CREATIVE COMMAND allows a mind solidly grounded in a substantial corpus of FACTS to deftly use METHODS well-mastered to bring ideas together in new ways to produce things useful and beautiful. It's a rich ride, and one anyone can CHOOSE TO EXPERIENCE... but, as with any journey, you have to pay the fare up front.

[cypher72]

You won't get away with that in college..

do you have any suggestions on getting rid of these habits? I recognize the future need, but right now i'm just a freshman in highschool and i have never had a class that actually has challenged me. i just don't see much a point in spending my time studying when I know that i will do well. I think like I could study effectively, but I don't know as right now I see no real changes between something i have studied for and something which i haven't.

[Jgib5328]

do you have any suggestions on getting rid of these habits? I recognize the future need, but right now i'm just a freshman in highschool and i have never had a class that actually has challenged me. i just don't see much a point in spending my time studying when I know that i will do well. I think like I could study effectively, but I don't know as right now I see no real changes between something i have studied for and something which i haven't.

Read and study this book, To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
and practice what it teaches. You need to develop a strong foundation of study skills. You are only a freshman in high school, you don't even know how simple the work is for you now. Once you get to college, it begins to get hard, that's why the people who did well w/o much studying in high school start to get poor grades, because they didn't focus on developing their study skills. Who cares if you think your class is going to be easy, just make sure you study, just to get better at studying. Practice and develop these skills, because they will be some of the most important in your life. You will NEVER get by in school with just looking at your notes 5 minutes before a test. Maybe you could get away with that in middle school, because you are tested on the definitions of words, or algebra.

Read what monte said, and think about it deeply.

[Monte314]

Cipher72--

Not all habits are bad. If you are mastering and retaining the material for which you are academically responsible, there is probably no good reason to drag yourself through it over and over. In fact, this can breed contempt for study as surely as too much "healthy" food can breed contempt for vegetables.

But you have a real opportunity here: you are a bright young person who doesn't want to lose interest in the world of thought, right? Then why not run beyond what they are expecting of you? Why not find ways to challenge yourself? If you are as bright as you sound, you are probably capable of doing some of this on your own.

What would you REALLY like to know? I taught myself Calculus when I was a Sophomore in high school because I really wanted to understand it... I learned New Testament Greek the same way as an adult, because I wanted to read the NT in the original language. With the hard and soft copy materials that are available today, there is nothing you can't dig into.

You don't have to wait for school to become interesting and challenging. That might not happen until you get to graduate school. Start surveying the world of knowledge that's out there, and find something that challenges you and excites your passion for knowledge. You can do it! And, why wouldn't you?

[cypher72]

I will definitely look into that book. I think that next year will help me as I am taking several difficult classes, which I know I will not be able to do very well in without studying. Thank you for the advice.

[Jaycen]

Never studied in high school or college. I can only think of a couple of subjects where I actually cracked the text book.

Beyond being INTJ, I'm an aural learner, so as long as the instructor covers the material in his lecture, I have a very high retention rate.

I've smoked pot since I was 13. When I got into college, I was afraid I'd have to quit in order to perform. The fact was, I did better when I would take a final or mid-term with a small buzz. The buzz would push the constant cacaphony to the edge of my mind and allow me to pull only what I needed for each problem/question to the fore as I took the test.

So, I never read text books, never looked at notes after I took them (though I filled several notebooks with illegible scribbles) and refused to study 3 days preceding any test. That's how I got through most of my education.

[foroneonly]

I've always studied. I don't pay attention class so I don't go unless I have to and read slides of the material covered in class. Lower level courses allowed my to cram a few days before but now with upper level biology/stats/math I can no longer do that. I study best in a group where I can discuss the material with other people.

[inactiveoffense]

I also study at the last minute, but I know as a result I'm really cheating myself because after the test I forget everything. I think it is in part because I am burned out from being in school for so long and taking classes I'm not interested in just to complete my general education requirements. I'm glad I'm taking a break after my associates degree (which I'm getting this semester YAY!) Then, I can hone my interests into what I really want to do once I transfer. I originally wanted to be a psychologist but that is too many years in school for me. I am just going to take a break and figure things out. It may take me a while, but I could use the break. I know I will go back once I figure it out, I always have a desire to learn.

[ChrisnOrbit]

I honestly believe that I have never studied a day of my life.

[ssrprotege]

Depends on the subjects. But I study just once or twice, and that's all.

I just do some review questions for physics and chemistry (and even in math if necessary), and I have aced on most tests. I only study when the content looks too difficult.

Like Aronnax, I find doing problems the best way. When it comes to (almost) purely theoretical matters, I tend to just read textbooks. I don't believe in memorizing. I once tried to memorize while studying biochemistry and the result was a C+.

I find languages easy to study. Whenever there is a test, I usually skim the vocabulary list once or twice; then I ace tests, because I "just" understand grammar by studying independently or reading textbooks by myself whenever I get bored. It sounds tad arrogant, but it takes some time to find out how I understood them.

In most cases, I don't do homework. I do homework only when I am absolutely sure that the teacher will somehow check my homework. I think I depend on my Ni to just "feel" whether my teacher will check my homework.

[zief]

I only study at the last minute otherwise i will forget what the correct answer is. After cramming i remember a lot better.

[Mozzes]

Never studied in high school or college. I can only think of a couple of subjects where I actually cracked the text book.

Beyond being INTJ, I'm an aural learner, so as long as the instructor covers the material in his lecture, I have a very high retention rate.

I've smoked pot since I was 13. When I got into college, I was afraid I'd have to quit in order to perform. The fact was, I did better when I would take a final or mid-term with a small buzz. The buzz would push the constant cacaphony to the edge of my mind and allow me to pull only what I needed for each problem/question to the fore as I took the test.

So, I never read text books, never looked at notes after I took them (though I filled several notebooks with illegible scribbles) and refused to study 3 days preceding any test. That's how I got through most of my education.

What was your major? I'm just wondering because I'm a molecular biology major and in my upper division bio and chem courses only about 75% of the course material is covered in lectures. It'd be nearly impossible for me to pass if I didn't crack a book.

[PRBori]

studying is a never ending story for most of us in the IT field.... although I have never attended college, I do read a lot of books related to my field and I'm always trying to learn something new... after all I'm not a shame of saying that I'm a bookworm... but a bookworm for books related to my field or that would allow me to succeed on my personal and career goals.


That said, within the next few years I have lot's of studying to do. At my current job, I have to take 2 certifications before the end of the year and I'm also developing an application which requires complex VB scripts... so I'm trying to learn VB scripts in order to get it up and running...

So it depends on the person... but I love to study mainly items related to my field or career for I have a goal and in order to reach that goal I MUST study.....