Top 10 Study Tips from Harvard Students

Don’t Cram! Plan Ahead—and Stick To It! Use the Buddy System Ask for Help Find Your Learning Style Take Breaks Cultivate a Productive Space Review, Review, Review Reward Yourself Set Specific Goals

1. Don’t Cram!

Although it may be alluring to put off your study until the very last minute for that important exam, evidence indicates that cramming does not enhance long-term learning. An article from the American Psychological Association claims that even if students may score well on a test they have studied for, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they have actually understood the content. Studies have indicated that studying with the intention of long-term retention is preferable for learning in general as opposed to cramming.

2. Plan Ahead—and Stick To It!

A study schedule with clear objectives might make you feel more prepared and provide you with a direction. Procrastination, according to Schwab, is a common error that students make when adjusting to a course load at the university level. Don’t cram is one of my biggest bits of advise, according to Schwab, who notes that students are frequently acclimated to less demanding workloads in high school. “Prepare a study timetable for yourself and follow it.”

3. Ask for Help

You don’t have to struggle alone with challenging material. While in high school, many students are not accustomed to asking for assistance; nevertheless, in college, this is a typical practise. “Be proactive in identifying places where you need support and seek out that aid right away,” advises our guide to pursuing a biology major. The more time you take, the more challenging it is to catch up. You can get assistance from a variety of sources, including your teachers, tutors, and classmates. For students to stay on track, Harvard’s Academic Resource Center offers academic coaching, workshops, peer tutoring, and accountability hours

4. Use the Buddy System

Most likely, you and your fellow students are experiencing the same difficulties. Reach out to peers and organise a study group to go over material together, brainstorm, and to support one other through problems. When you study with others, you may quiz and explain the content to one another as well as develop a network that will be useful for the duration of the semester and beyond.

5. Find Your Learning Style

Finding the study techniques that are most effective for you may take some time (and trial and error!). Beyond just going over your notes or flashcards, there are many different ways to test your knowledge. Schwab advises experimenting with various tactics using the metacognition process. Knowing what study techniques work best for you entails thinking about your own cognitive processes, or metacognition.