College means study time. The question is: What does that mean? To some people (myself included) this was a foreign concept. In high school, I spent a few minutes over a book before a major test, maybe an hour or so before a final and that would be that. Then I got to college and things changed. A lot.

I got to college, and yes, I bought my books and my extra study guides and (most importantly) my solutions manual. I went to class and I took my notes and, several weeks later, I took my first test. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Unless, of course, you count the fact that I nearly failed the test. What could have gone wrong? I did exactly what I did in high school, and yet I failed like I never have before. The answer? I didn't study. I refused to believe it when they told me that I would be expected to study at least two hours out of class per credit hour. Since there was material not covered on the lecture on my test, it was sage advice.

After the fiasco of the first test, I set a schedule. I study on my off days from morning until evening and then work, and work on my class days from afternoon until evening and also some on Saturday; a good 20 hours or so a week, give or take. It's not a perfect 2:1 ratio but it's enough. I don't dare tone it down any because after my first round of tests, I can't skip a beat from here until the end of the semester. Let's just say I'm on a first-name basis with the librarians at this point.

In short, believe what they tell you about studying in college. Read your textbook. Buy a highlighter. Buy several in fact; you'll need them. Get to know the library, work in a group if that's what you like, but no matter what you do, expect to bleed and sweat and cry for every point you make.

College is fun, but it's no cakewalk.

Article provided by iHigh.com

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