Share
As finals season approaches, there’s never been a better time to improve your studying. Loyola’s Tutoring Center offers free academic support for all students, with services including success coaching, supplemental instruction, peer tutoring, and more.
Gus Winters, associate director of the Tutoring Center, says the center is built to meet students “wherever they are in their classes.” If a recent quiz, exam, or assignment grade doesn’t go as expected, they encourage students to come ask questions about concepts that you need support in during drop-in Peer Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction. For students who didn’t need to study as much in high school, Winters recommends “finding a method that works for you and adding study time into your schedule like a doctor’s appointment.”
Here, student leaders from the Tutoring Center share their tips and strategies to help Ramblers improve their study habits.
Do: review concepts before they come up in class
“Although teaching yourself the material beforehand may seem unnecessary, becoming familiar with the concepts ahead of time makes lectures easier to follow, improves retention, and allows you to use class time to clarify anything you didn’t fully understand.” – Adrian Rutkowski, 2027, Nursing, Peer Tutor for MCN 273
Do: study with intention
“Study with intention, not just for long hours: set aside specific study times, break larger assignments into manageable tasks, and use the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused studying followed by a 5-minute break).” – Funny T Nkhoma, Graduate Student, 2028, Social Justice, Academic Success Coach.
Do: revisit topics after you’ve studied them
“My best study tip is spaced repetition (revisiting topics after you’ve studied them). It is a great way to see how well you can recall material over time and answer difficult questions on a future test.” – Emily Sarmiento, 2027, Psychology, Neuroscience Peer Tutor.
Don’t: wait for motivation to strike
“I see students waiting until they feel motivated or until deadlines are approaching to begin studying. Consistency, planning ahead, and making use of available academic resources can make a significant difference in academic success.” – Funny T Nkhoma, Graduate Student, 2028, Social Justice, Academic Success Coach.
Do: think like your professor
“My best study tip is to act like you’re a professor creating an exam review slideshow to help students really nail the material. Think about what you would need to visually include in your slideshow for someone to fully understand the material. Do they need background knowledge first? Would something 3D on the slide be helpful for a more kinesthetic learner? Could you use a table or a Venn diagram to compare and contrast different ideas?” – Ryan Henson, 2028, Nursing, SI Leader.
Don’t: forget to ask “why?”
“While memorization may be helpful for a test, understanding the mechanisms behind a concept will help you answer more application-based questions. If you can teach something to someone else in a way that makes sense, chances are you understand it yourself!” – Ryan Henson, 2028, Nursing, SI Leader.
Do: practice problems and understand your answers
“For CHEM 180, doing lots of practice problems and reading the textbook to understand the concepts profoundly.” – Andrew Chang, 2028, Biochemistry, Chem 180 SI Leader.
“Practice problems consistently and focus on understanding why an answer is correct rather than just memorizing formulas.” – Areeb Yousuf, 2027, Accounting & Analysis, Quinlan School of Business Core Group Tutor.
Do: test yourself from memory
“One of my favorite study methods is to try to recall as much information as you can and check your work after. Often times I see a lot of students blindly copying down notes without really understanding what they’re writing.” – Andrew Ashorian, 2028, Biology, Biology Supplemental Instructor.
Additionally, the Tutoring Center has a compilation of resources available to help students identify how they can learn more effectively, including a note taking guide and tips to support focus and motivation.
Access the session schedule and Schedule a Success Coaching meeting.
