University of Florida
School of Music

College Study Skills

Research has shown...
that students who use a study plan consistently earn higher grades.

Three keys to a good study plan:

1. Self-knowledge
   1.  personal goals
   2.  likes/dislikes
   3.  strengths/weaknesses
   4.  sense of responsibility
   5.  maturity - the ability to say "no"
   

2. Knowledge of key elements of a good study plan
   1.  plan to study
   2. focusing attention
   3.  getting the most from lectures
   4.  anticipating what is ahead
   5.  anticipating what is on the tests
   6.  bringing everything together - notes from lectures, notes from reading, outside sources, etc. - recite and review
   

3. Managing your time
   1.  knowing your reading rate - test ten pages and see how long it takes - reading rate is different for every class
   2.  plan by the day
   3.  plan by the week
   4.  plan by the month
   5.  plan by the semester
   6.  evaluate yourself mentally every day

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Reading with a Purpose

The most common complaint is not remembering what is read.

1.  everyone experiences it
2.  not a deficiency
3.  can be fixed

1. Environment
   1.  reasonable quiet
   2.  good light
   3.  desk and chair are very important - bed is for sleeping, relaxation, and other activities - not reading textbooks and studying - you need to be comfortable but you also need to have some body tension in order for you to stay awake.
   4.  reading rate increases if the book is held upright, instead of leaning over the book
   5.  no tv or radio, visual and auditory distraction makes concentration impossible.
   

2. Plan
   1.  do a survey/prep/prior knowledge of the material just like you would do for a movie or jogging (you want to know what movie you are going to see and you stretch before you are going to run)
       - look at the number of pages
       - look at the pictures, diagrams, graphs, charts, etc.
       - look at the bold face items, subsections, italics, summaries
       - look at definitions, chapter question, problems
   2.  know your reading rate for each class, every class is different and your reading rate is different for each class.  I may read math faster and more efficiently than I read chemistry, which means that I may be able to finish a chapter in math much faster than in chemistry.
   3.  plan time realistically
   4.  set realistic goals, do not overdo it
   5.  practice until it comes naturally
   

3. Focus methods - Mentally
   1.  plan to focus
   2.  surveying increases anticipation
   3.  use bold face and headings to form questions which will direct your attention
   4.  where there is no bold face type or heading, use the first sentence to make your question
   5.  repeat answers to yourself
   6.  what, why, and how questions are the best
   

4. Focus methods - Physical
   1.  keep key words, questions for clarification, definitions in the margins (use pencil)
   2.  keep separate notebook for each class
   3.  take notes on the reading so you never have to go back to the textbook unless you have a question
   4.  put the notes in your own words
   5.  date your notes in class, as well as the reading notes so that everything can match up later on
   

5. Reading is NOT studying!
   1.  read for information - not to commit to memory, studying is for reviewing and putting material into your memory
   2.  you are unrealistic with yourself if you expect to memorize everything you read and look at
   3.  be fair to yourself