According to a comprehensive report from WorldWay: The quality of education in the United States is globally recognized, with many world-renowned universities located there, which is why the demand for studying in the U.S. remains constant. Learning is a wonderful endeavor, but there are some things you should avoid trying. To this end, WorldWay immigration experts present 12 tips for studying in the United States.12 tips.
Do not waste time looking for the perfect environment
Many students believe that once they find the perfect study environment, learning will become effortless, so they spend a great deal of time searching for and trying different places: dormitories, cafes, libraries, lawns... Even worse, you may feel that you cannot study at all unless you find the ideal location. The truth is that once you immerse yourself in your studies, you will find that your surroundings are just fine.
Do not mistake preparation for studying
Some students are often "getting ready to study" but never actually start. Do not mistake cleaning your desk, organizing computer files, and "getting ready to study" for actual studying. Even if you are at your study spot, if you are just hanging out on Facebook and posting status updates saying you are studying, that is not real studying.
Do not start with the easiest assignments
Some people think that starting with the easiest or most familiar assignments makes it easier to get into the flow. The problem is that after finishing these, you have to spend more energy overcoming difficult problems, but by then you are already tired. The expert advice is to start with the most difficult and challenging work, and do the easy tasks last.
Do not multitask
Believe it or not, some students study 5 different courses at the same time, spending 15 minutes on one, then 15 minutes on another, then 15 minutes on yet another; I am sure you get the idea. It is much better to study only one subject at a time. This way, you can gain a deeper understanding of the study materials, improve your learning efficiency, and the more you engage, the easier the subject will become.
Do not ignore hints
Many professors include post-reading questions in the reading materials or list course highlights in class and on the syllabus. Before you start studying, be sure to carefully consider these very important suggestions, as they will save you a lot of time. If there are math problems or proofs, be sure to solve them before the end of the course or chapter. Usually, homework is a variation and extension of the knowledge points.
Do not get too bogged down in details
Some students think the best way to study is at an ultra-slow pace: reading word by word, writing papers word by word. But learning is a long-term process; you should improve your level by increasing learning efficiency. If you only focus on individual factors, you lose the big picture, and studying becomes a waste of life.
Do not rote memorize
It is useless to memorize things you do not understand. If you truly understand what you are learning, you can explain the main points of the course to a layman in your own words (try it with your roommate or friend). Spend some time thinking about and digesting what you have learned, rather than just preparing to parrot it back on an exam.
Do not be intermittent
You can read a 140-character status update or many videos in 20 seconds, but learning is different from being on Twitter or YouTube. You need to focus your attention to understand reading materials or solve problems. Based on experience, it is best to study for 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break.
Do not forget to take notes
Take careful notes on all reading materials to facilitate review for midterms and finals. Although everyone has their own way of taking notes (use the method you find most effective), we find that taking notes on a laptop or tablet (so you can review them) is much better than summarizing in a word or two in the margins of a book or highlighting every word in the book with 6 different colored pens.
Do not take two consecutive days off
Although no one will require you to do so, you should study every workday. Assuming you need to prepare for 2 hours for each course, and you are taking a total of 15 credits, you will have 30 hours of preparation time per week. It will be difficult to fit these 30 hours into 3 days.
Do not be too hard on yourself
Many students carefully develop daily schedules, and once things do not go as planned—perhaps some work takes longer than expected, or perhaps you need to read additional materials to complete assignments—they become frustrated. Do not be discouraged because you did not follow the plan perfectly. Remember, learning consists of many parts, and homework is much more important than other parts, so you can stay optimistic.
Do not go it alone
If you find that despite your best efforts, you still spend a lot of time preparing for a course or are falling far behind other students, go see your professor or teaching assistant. They have a wealth of experience in this area and can provide you with actionable advice to get you back on track. If you still have difficulties with your studies after reading our guide, seek out your professors and teaching assistants; they will be your true saviors.
WorldWay Editor
