Finals are quickly approaching, so let’s leave the procrastination behind and find effective study methods that actually work. Many of us, including me, cruised through high school without really studying, but that doesn’t work as well in college. Learning how to study isn’t just about memorizing; it’s a key piece of doing well and keeping your stress levels down. 

Scheduling and Sticking to Your Schedule   

One of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success is to block out your study time in advance. College is super busy and intentionally putting that time on a calendar is a great way to make sure studying doesn’t get pushed aside. 

It might sound kind of boring, but seriously, grab a calendar or a planner (whatever you like: physical or digital) and write everything down. Your student Outlook email has an awesome calendar, but if you love writing things out, a physical planner can be super helpful. I honestly use both! 

Peer Mentor Tip: If you need a planner, stop by the CAST office in Meyer Library 116 for a free 2025-2026 academic planner! 

A great way to structure your day looks like this: 

• 9:00 am – 10:15 am: Class 

• 10:30 am – 11:45 am: Class 

• 11:45 am – 12:30 pm: Lunch 

• 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Focused Study (insert class Exam Review) 

This schedule is only helpful if you stick to it. One of the biggest challenges when trying to stick to a schedule: motivation. 

Motivation  

Motivation is one of the toughest things about studying. There are a couple of good ways I have found that work well when I am low on motivation. 

Change Your Location: Our bedrooms are amazing comfort zones, and that’s exactly why it’s so easy to lose our motivation to work there. Sometimes, just leaving your personal space is enough. I often struggle even in my apartment’s common areas, so I exit the building completely. I like to go to the library, an academic building, or a quiet spot outside when the weather is nice. Everyone is different, so it may take some trial and error to find your perfect spot. 

Implement a Reward System: Another way to stay motivated is to treat yourself after a productive study session. This doesn’t have to be anything huge or pricey; it just needs to be something you’re genuinely excited about. It could be your favorite snack or drink, finally watching that movie, or just spending time relaxing with friends. Think of it as a positive reward cycle that makes studying feel less like a chore. 

Limit Distractions  

In order to have a good, focused study session, you have to cut down on interruptions. My biggest distractions? My phone and my friends. If I grab my phone or someone starts chatting with me, I lose my focus quickly and struggle to get it back. 

Because I know this about myself, I take proactive steps: I try to separate myself from my friends when studying and I toss my phone in my backpack. 

My laptop and phone are linked, so notifications sometimes pop up on my computer which temps me to check texts and emails. My solution? I put both my laptop and my phone on “Do Not Disturb” when starting a study session. Finding out what your biggest distractions are and doing your best to limit or remove them is key to successful, productive study time. 

Finding a Method that Works for You 

There are literally hundreds of study methods out there. The trickiest part is finding one that fits your brain and the course material. It took me a while to find a way that ‘clicked’ and gave me the results I wanted. 

Here are a few proven methods. If none of these resonate with you, a quick search will offer many more tailored options! 

• The Feynman Technique (Teaching Others): This method seems simple, but it significantly boosts memory. If you know the knowledge well enough that you can verbally and clearly express it to someone else, that’s a powerful sign that you truly understand the topic—you haven’t just memorized the words. 

• Flashcards: These are fantastic for information that has one correct answer, like definitions, vocabulary, or formulas. While there are lots of great online flashcard apps, I like to physically write them out. That motor act of writing information can help solidify it in your memory in a way that typing sometimes can’t. 

• Mind Mapping: This is all about organizing information visually around a central concept. Start with the main topic in the center of the page, then branch out with key sub-topics, and finally, add supporting facts and details to those branches. This method is great for seeing how complex ideas connect. 

• Spaced Repetition: This technique takes advantage of how your brain naturally forgets things. Instead of cramming, you review the material at increasing intervals (like 1 day later, 3 days later, 7 days later). This forces your memory to work harder right before you forget, which leads to much stronger long-term retention. 

Takeaways 

Studying can be daunting, and it does take some trial and error, but there are ways to help make it easier : 

• Limit Distractions
• Create a schedule
• Find a method that works best for you

– Eternity Lawson  

(Bio: I am a second year Agriculture Communications Students here at MSU. Fun Fact about me is that I love watching movies, especially musicals.) 

 

Welcome back bears! I hope the first weeks back at school have treated you well and that you’re starting to find a rhythm in your classes. As a university, we are at a point in the academic schedule where test materials, essay drafts, and project assignments are starting to be assigned for the weeks ahead. We have several blog posts from previous semesters that cover these topics (Finals / Test Taking and Study Tips) but I wanted to write about strategies for engaging in the college classroom before the midterm point. Engagement is achieved through both active listening and learning in the classroom so the terms have been used interchangeably in this post. 

What are Practical Ways I Can Start Actively Listening?

I wanted to break down three practical steps you can apply to your learning this week:

1. Participate in class discussions. If you find that your instructor relies heavily on discussions and breakout groups then you can start prepping before class with the provided materials if you were assigned a reading the week before to analyze it and create discussion questions to share with your group or to carry the conversation with an instructor. 
2.  Ask your instructor questions. Arriving early to class, staying after, or utilizing office hours shouldn’t feel like an intrusion because they are there for you to succeed. If something isn’t making sense, you want to seek clarification on an assignment or a grade. If you have school/career-related questions, take advantage of the opportunity to ask an expert—your instructor!
3.  Follow along at the pace of the course. Attending each class and following along with lecture notes and assignments will keep you on track making it easier to listen. If you fall behind or skip a class period you’ll be playing catch up as opposed to coming in prepared to learn new material. 

How Engaging In The Classroom Will Impact You Outside The Classroom

Each of the actions I listed will push you as a student to become more academically driven as you grow more comfortable in these practices. Connecting with classmates and instructors is a networking technique that will advance your career opportunities. In addition, practicing now will set you up for success in the post-grad world where collaborating with others and participating in discussion is the expectation. Lastly, active listening is a key component in relationships of all kinds.

Takeaways

Active learning is not something that will come easily especially if it’s not already a common practice for you but starting somewhere is important. I challenge you to try one of the tips I listed to listen in the classroom and see if you note any differences. I hope that this blog post served as a motivation to put your best foot forward and take charge of your education. If you want more advice on what success in the classroom looks like, the Center for Academic Success and Transition Success Coaches and Peer Mentors would be a great resource to contact. 

 

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, and I am a senior studying special needs education. Fun fact: I’ve read over 15 books this year!)