Study Techniques for Adult Students

by Barbara Bellesi

In the midst of all the excitement about going back to college for your degree, you might have forgotten about one thing -- you'll actually have to start studying. If you're eager about being a student again, that might make it easier to want to hit the books, but being that you've been out of practice for a while, it might be difficult to figure out what to do when you actually sit down to study or do homework.

The real trick when it comes to successful study habits is to find what works for you. Some need complete silence, others can study to music, while others do their best work on the train or bus. Here are some ideas to get you on your way:

1. Get organized -- and stay that way. In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Study Skills, authors Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. and Katharine Hansen, Ph.D. suggest making a "to-do list on steroids." Instead of simply writing out a list of school-related tasks, figure out how much time you'll need to do each, as well as when you can spare the time to do it. Write down as much as you need to keep you on track-it's OK if your list begins to look a little scary and messy. The best part about to-do lists? Crossing things off when they're done. The most important thing to remember is that a system of organization needs to work for you-planning is not one-size-fits-all.

2. Establish a regular study schedule and location, but be open to change. Sure, you might have found your favorite little nook in the campus library, but that won't help much when you're stuck at home in a snowstorm. Or what if you like to study first thing in the morning, but are scheduled for your child's carpool this week? No worries. It's best to come into your school week with a plan for when/how long to study, but make sure you are flexible enough to roll with the punches. Think of it this way: your favorite show might be on Wednesdays at 8, but the show is still as good if you watch it off of TiVo the next day. Translate that to your studying-as long as you get it done, it doesn't matter if it's a little off schedule.

3. Flash cards (and other study tricks) are your friends. Make sure you spend quality time with them. Flash cards have long been a study staple, but not all students know how to use them correctly. Whether you use them to memorize foreign language vocabulary, math formulas, or important dates in history, be sure to create your stacks early, like when you first read the chapter.
Many students make the mistake of writing out flash cards the night before a test. Sure, it might have helped them to write out definitions and such, but the point of flash cards is to flip through them to quiz yourself. They also fit nicely in pockets, purses, and even diaper bags so that at any given moment, you can squeeze in a few minutes of study-while waiting in line, during commercials, at the playground with your kids, etc, which adds up to some pretty productive time spent in the end.

Of course, students cannot live on flash cards alone. Study groups, outlines, and even reading your textbook out loud are all good ways of helping you to stay focused and get the job done.

4. Get extra help before you need it! All colleges have some sort of tutoring/academic support system in place. However, the night before a big test or the day before a big paper is due is not the time to figure out how to sign up to use those resources. Even if you've never needed a tutor before, find out which building on campus you need to visit in order to sign up for academic support. Also, on the first day of class, write your professor's contact information in an easy-to-find spot in your notebook -- better yet, enter it in your cell phone, iPhone, Blackberry, etc. You can save a lot of time later if you don't have to search for important emails and phone numbers.

5. Plan regular breaks and enjoy every minute of them. Take breaks from studying and homework assignments. And by breaks, I don't mean folding laundry, going food shopping, or changing diapers. Yes, those things need to get done, but there is also much to be said for taking a quick catnap or hanging out with your family in between chapters. When you take a break, do something to refresh yourself, even if it is something simple like drinking a glass of water or walking around the room, and you'll be able to hit the books with renewed energy.

Like your pumped-up to-do list, you'll find a bunch of other things to add to your bag of study tricks. Use one or a combination of a few to get each and every semester off to a great start.