Study Skill Secrets

Study Skill Secrets that you know, think you know and need to know!

Nov 7, 2006 Marie Rossiter

Studying is nothing new. Many students who crack a book think they are doing the right thing. However, there's a few things they should know before they hit the books!

"You need to study to get good grades!"

How many times have you heard that suggestion from parents and teachers? This has to be one of the worst kept secrets in education. Everyone studies, even the smartest kid in the class.

If everyone knows this "secret", then why are so many students, including those who claim to study on a regular basis, still struggling with their schoolwork? Oftentimes, the difference between successful students and those who are struggling is how they study. THIS is the study secret that the majority of students don't know, but need to in order to do well in their classes.

Fortunately, these study secrets are not buried in some ancient tomb or under tight security in a secret teacher museum in an undisclosed location. They are easily available for any student willing to learn. But, before we start talking about study skills in detail, let's get a few general study myths out of the way, ok?

• Good study skills are not measured by how long you study. Ever pull an "all-nighter" to get ready for a test or paper? Sometimes, you get lucky and it works, but usually what happens is that you wind up cranky, tired and do poorly on the test anyway.
• Good study skills are not about a quick fix to today's or tomorrow's problems. This sort of ties into the first myth, but it's more than that. Establishing good study skills is something that will take some time and effort. It can't be rushed.
• Not all study skills are equal. It may sound horribly unfair in our politically correct society, but in this case, inequality is not a bad thing. Some study strategies work great for some students, while they do little for others. It will take a lot of trial and error to find the tips that work best for you and your classes.

In the next article, you are going to start to explore what kind of student you are. You need to take a long look at yourself and know a few things about what makes you tick before you can even try to improve your study habits.

You're not only going to learn about what makes a "good student", you'll also get to know yourself a lot better. You can't reach your potential when you have no idea what that is or the best way to get there. You wouldn't go on a vacation to a strange place without directions or a map, right?

The journey towards better study skills--and grades--starts now!

The copyright of the article Study Skill Secrets in Campus Life is owned by Marie Rossiter. Permission to republish Study Skill Secrets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.