Illustration by Estefania B. Alonso
Time management and the right study location are important.
By Daniel Carde
dcarde@student.alamo.edu
Being organized and keeping a schedule makes time management easier, but a planner can help, said Kim-Briana Lorine, former Phi Theta Kappa president.
“Time management is important,” Lorine said.
Color-coding events, such as tests, due dates and work schedule, will help, Lorine said.
Student development Professor Jim Lucchelli said, “You should plan to study two hours out of class for every hour in class if you want to be successful in college.”
A full-time student enrolled in 12 hours should study 24 hours a week for a total of 36 hours. That equals a full-time job, he said.
Along with ample study time, location can play a role.
“You need to find a good place to study,” Lucchelli said.
Not all students study well in the same environment, he said. Some students need a quiet place; some study better with soft, non-distracting music.
Finding the correct time to study is key, Lucchelli said.
He encourages students to find the time that works for them. Some students find studying when they wake up to be the most effective, and for others, studying before bed works best.
Find a study place with good lighting that is comfortable, but not too comfortable, he said.
“I don’t think studying on a bed or something that is too soft is a good thing,” he said.
Shorter, more frequent sessions enforce better learning than one long study session, Lucchelli said.
He recommends students learn about professors before signing up for a class.
He said a few ways to learn if a professor is hands-on, visual or book-heavy, are websites, word of mouth from students and meeting with the professor.
“If they will spend time with me prior to being their student, that’s a good indication they are going to spend time with me when I become their student,” Lucchelli said.
Having a positive attitude is important, he said. Don’t go to class with self-defeating behaviors.
“If your grades aren’t what you want them to be, maybe what you are doing (isn’t) working. You need to regroup,” Lucchelli said, who also recommended University of Southern California’s YouTube video “Top 10 Study Tips.”
For more information, call Lucchelli at (210) 486-0152.