How do you study?

[Pekka]

Inspired by Vesayen's graduation thread (again, congrats!) I'd like to know your studying methods. Most of you are studying in colleges and unis, so let's hear them!

Also please tell what you are studying, so we can see if there are any differencies between subjects and strategies.


I'm starting studies at comp sci and software engineering and mathematics.

My style of studying is (in terms of working through course) to first read the first page of the book and see what the book is really about, if the book is essential in the course. Naturally won't work in programming the best way though...

I check out the subject of the day, and a day or two before that I quickly go through the text in the book, and maybe check out the subject from the internet too. I won't try to memorize it all, just read it quickly and try to understand what it is about, and then figure out what is important and essential, and what is not so important. I try to see the big picture.

Now I can effectively follow the class and be pleased to my efforts and I don't have to work so hard to keep up with the important things. Now is my time to ask, if there were any questions that I had the day before and still wasn't cleared out. I have maybe even wrote up few questions I need to get clarified. Naturally I make notes if the teacher or professor had some useful stuff.
If not before, now I should be able to see the bigger picture.

Then I get back from the class, and start underlining the most important things if I hadn't done it already. I might even skip the underlining part. Now I go through quickly the stuff that was in the class relaxed and I don't have to stress out too much. Assuming I understood it.
If the subject is hard for me, I like to write things down that I think is important. It takes time and effort, but then I can utilize both writing, reading and seeing methods. After this I only go through the papers I just wrote, and not the book. If the subject is not that tough, I won't go through this, but hit the internet and check out some more info. And that's about it.

Then when the exams are close, I don't need to make such a big effort anymore, and can effectively start thinking about the next course about the same subject.
Well what the heck, they're all about programming .

What's your style?

Also I find it good not to force it. If it doesn't fit my head, I just go outside and do something, or see some buddies. I don't have rigorous program that I follow too closely.

[Pekka]

Usually I don't bother with the details. I just want to get the big picture right and how stuff works. To me, everything else is secondary.. Sometimes it backfires a little, but I don't blame myself. But at least I know how things work and what the big picture is.

Sometimes, especially in programming, I just try to draw things if I don't get them.. I just draw objects, lay them in front of me and it helps most of the times.

Also when I study new things, I try to think how they fit into the even bigger picture with the stuff I already know. Does it change something I have learned before? How they effect each other? I find this method very helpful and this way I remember lots of things easier.

Before bigger exam I usually just write down few words to paper that I find essential, and then try to think everything that the word is about and what it really means. If I don't handle some of those words well, I just go back to my writings and check it out and try again. Again and again. It doesn't take too much time IF I have followed the earlier methods. And this is where I know how I'm going to do, I know if I have mastered it, or if I need more work. The most important thing is, that I can now know how much I really know, and how much I still need to read and study, and hopefully after few times I know I have mastered it.

[Dis]

I never studied in high school hardly. I'd do all my homework and then go over the material before the test. Usually a quick once over was all I needed.

It was a little bit different in nuclear power school. That required massive amounts of memorization- which has always been my weak point. The math was easy- that's not something I have to study for. A lot of it was memorizing different names for things and memorizing a lot of theoretical stuff which you can't get any hands on experience on- so that requires more effort to remember.

Basically I just crammed. and it worked, I had very high scores.

[Asher]

First thing I do is look up previous/sample exams, then I make notes of the things I don't remember.

Then I look at my old quizes/midterms, and make notes of the things I don't remember.

Then I compile a study guide of those things I don't remember, looking them up and/or practicing them.

Then, if time permits, I look through my notes and write down things I don't remember that might be important.

The few hours before the test, I'd review my notes.

In High School, I winged it all.

[Pekka]

Diss, nuclear power school? Are you like real life Homer Simpson?

[Dis]

yes

[Pekka]

Asher, oh yeah I forgot to mention that. Looking at old tests is a really good way to prepare. Also gives some kind of feeling what kind of questions there will be, as there's usually some kind of rule you can figure out if you have like 3 earlier tests..

[Pekka]

Asher, do you guys use lap tops at classes? Is it popular there?

[GePap]

I never actually ever did what most people call studying, which I interpret as going over work or notes or homeworks, above and beyond simply doing your assignments. At most, I would look at the textbook in the minutes before an exam, specially in something like bio. Otherwise, my philosophy was that if I did not know it already from doing the homeworks, the readings, or the assignments, then "studying" wan;t going to make a difference.

[Shi Huangdi]

As has been suggested, go over any sample tests or old exams. If the professor gave you a study guide, review that. Then, go over your lecture notes. If available, go over the chapter summaries at the end of the chapters in your book.

By this point, you should have a good idea which concepts you are clear on and which concepts you are not. Read over the parts in the book for concepts you are unclear on. If you still fail to grasp the concept, see a fellow TA or prof for help(VERY important, don't neglect. Perhaps the best way to ensure a good grade)

Finally, if you believe it to be relevant to the test, skim thourgh your book and look up key vocabulary words. You can often infer the right answer to question by knowing what a key word means.

Of course, studying is only as important as being a good test taker, but that is another matter entirely..

[Pekka]

GePap, yes, but this thread wasn't exclusively how you prepare yourself for the big one. More generally..

[GePap]

I meant more generally. i did the work that was required of me, and that was that/ Never read for extra credit, enevr read somehting not on the list for class, hardly ever went to any extra review sections (noly if I really still didn't know).

I found that my method is learning was good notetaking in class, near perfect attendance, and doing the readings. Nothing beyond that.

[Traianvs]

I don't really need to take tests during the schoolyear, so basically I do nothing at all (except going to class now and then in order to catch up), but when exams are imminent () I go hardcore (there's only 2 weeks between the end of the semester and the exams, so not that much time).

I don't do anything mathematical so I don't really have to work much during the year... archaeology is about jamming all that knowledge into your head, understanding it isn't all that difficult . Of course, if I weren't so lazy and worked a bit better, I'd have much better results.

[Paul Hanson]

I read for several hours every day.

[Ecthy]

studying is for pussies. I got my 94% graduation without ever studying. there's a man.