Moving into college as a freshman comes with a lot of life changes.
The biggest change, and the biggest reason for coming to college, is the process of getting your degree in whatever you end up studying.
That means taking a lot of difficult classes and managing your time as best you can.
Sometimes that means sacrificing study time to focus on another subject or trying a different way to take notes.
But how exactly should you study well and really engage with the material, especially if it’s not in a subject you prefer?
Taking Notes for Better Recall and Understanding
One of the things that has always helped me is taking handwritten notes.
I know this is the age of technology, and many people take notes on their computers or iPads.
However, studies show that people who take handwritten notes do much better at learning the information and comprehending it.
Writing your notes by hand causes you to slow down and actually think about what you’re writing. You’re forced to rephrase things and put them into your own words.
When you’re able to put something into your own words, that’s a good way of showing you actually understand it.
It is not about info dumping the night before the exam; it’s about taking your time to really learn the information and apply it to your life however you can.
As an English major, I have taken a lot of literature classes that involve close reading and critical analysis of really old texts.
Something that always helped me was annotating my books, underlining phrases that stood out to me, or writing notes in the margins.
Then, when it came time for the assignments, I could look back at my notes and better remember what the text was about.
It takes a bit more time to annotate and take notes than simply breezing through reading material, but it better prepares you for all of your class work.
Prioritizing Your Time When College Gets Busy
Prioritizing your time is one of the hardest things to do when you get to college.
There are so many new things to experience and new people to meet.
You have all of those unfamiliar faces in your general education classes, and the only person you know is the one you chose to sit next to on the very first day.
It can be easy to get swept away by syllabus day and then go back to your dorm to stress about the final exam or that final paper you’ll be spending the whole semester writing that are both due on December 12.
You think to yourself, How am I ever going to get all of this done and pass all of my classes and still make friends?
Don’t worry, I’ve been there.
My first point of advice is, do not worry about the syllabus.
Don’t stress about all of the assignments that are coming up at the end of the semester.
Take it one day at a time.
That scary, cumulative exam in your biology class is not what you need to be focusing on right now.
Yes, the time will come when you’ll have to start preparing for it, but not in August or January.
Every time you go to class, read the material, and do the assignments, you are working toward the goal of that final.
You are paving the way for yourself to be ready when it is time to take it, and you want to serve your future self by prioritizing what matters.
Maybe you’ll find that it works for you to work ahead.
Maybe you have time to do that.
Or maybe you just need to take it one assignment at a time.
You look at your calendar and prioritize that next assignment, the one that’s due tomorrow instead of the one due in a week.
This could also mean sacrificing some study time for one class in order to use that time for another.
You could have one really challenging class that simply demands more of your attention.
I’m telling you as a senior that it’s ok to put more effort into certain things.
It’s impossible to put everything you’ve got into every single assignment you have.
Yes, you should be working as hard as you can in every area, but that can look different depending on the class.
Your humanities class may not need as much of your time as your mechanical engineering class, and that’s ok!
Whenever you feel stretched thin, stop, pray, and then choose one thing to do.
There will be days when you just don’t have the time to make a paper perfect because you made sure to prioritize the bigger assignment.
When in doubt, think about your heart posture.
Are you being lazy and procrastinating? Or are you spending every minute working heartily and glorifying the Lord?
Extra Study Tips for Engaging With Class Material
Sometimes being a student means doing things you don’t really want to do.
That can look like skipping pickleball night with friends to study or attending those exam review sessions when all you want to do is stay in your dorm.
Review sessions have always really helped me. I attended almost all of the review sessions for my biology class because I knew how beneficial they were. They were led by another student, and he helped us apply the information we had learned in classes that week.
Mix up your studying habits, too!
Take different kinds of notes, make a Kahoot with friends, create a study guide, find new places to study, create a great playlist, or book tutoring appointments through The Cove.
All of these things will help you engage with the material you’re learning.
Well, maybe the playlist is just a personal suggestion. I’ve learned it always helps. 🙂
Be Gracious With Yourself as You Learn
It’s easy to get really stressed or frustrated with yourself when you don’t understand what you’re learning.
It’s in those moments when you need to slow down and focus on what you can control: studying hard, prioritizing your time, and trying new ways to learn the information.
Before you know it, you’ll be leaving the classroom after that final exam, so take every moment you can to learn, even if the subject doesn’t feel important.
God never wastes our experiences, and He promises to be with us through everything.
You can do this.
Graduating Class: 2027
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Major: English
Favorite Book of the Bible: Psalms
Go-to Coffee Shop Drink: Lavender mint tea with honey
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere with mountains and pine trees
Favorite Thing About Being a Cedarville Student: I love the ability to go the chapel every day, especially when we sing the doxology at the end with just the students’ voices.
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