8 Studying Mistakes You Need to Avoid!

There are a lot of things that we do in school that we know are bad habits, and we know they're things we should probably not do. But we do them anyway. On the other hand, I think there are a lot of mistakes that we make that we don't realize are going to hurt us in the long run. And I've been there. I've made choices that, when I made them, seemed like great ideas that would help my studying. Now, looking back, I realize how horrible those choices were. I took a few minutes to think about the top studying mistakes that I've made in my school career. I will now hang my head in shame as you read about my dastardly studying mishaps.

Thinking that studying isn't important. Your GPA will either make you or break you. I know it seems like studying isn't always important, especially when you're studying a topic you know pretty well. But you never know when you'll come across something you didn't know. And the more you study, the more solid your understanding of the material will be.

Bringing your laptop to class. Some professors don't have a problem with students using their laptops to take notes. And if that's your preference, by all means - go for it! There are some advantages, but you risk exposing yourself (and the others around you) to a host of distractions.

Hookup buddy = study buddy. Been there. Done that! It may seem convenient, but it's a really bad idea. When you do try to study, you'll be distracted. And if things go awry, you won't have a dependable study buddy. And you'll still be distracted by things ending. Instead of making a study buddy out of your hookup buddy, try getting a group of friends or classmates together to study.

Studying exclusively in your dorm room. Switching up your location will seriously do wonders.

Treating your textbook like a coloring book. Highlighting can be helpful, but be sure not to overdo it. Don't focus on the color scheme more than the text itself. And be sure to check your school's policy on highlighting and writing in textbooks!

Skimming and not really reading. Guilty! I am so guilty of this. Especially when I just want to get something read because I have a mound of other work to do. You can make it look good - make it look like you're really reading - but you won't be able to tell anyone what you just read. And that's a problem (especially if you have quizzes based on the reading). A good way to avoid this is to break up the readings into smaller chunks. You'll be more inclined to pay attention to the material because you're more willing to read ten sections of five pages each than a whole 50-page textbook chapter.

Waiting until the night before. It can be done. And it can be done successfully. Trust me - some of my best 10-page essays have come from an all-nighter the day before they were due. However, they aren't going to be your best work. It's better to start planning and writing weeks in advance that way you have time to edit and revise.

Skipping class. It's tempting. Very, very tempting. Again, I know. I am horribly guilty of skipping classes just because I didn't feel like going. I tried to justify it by saying that I could use that extra 50 minutes to catch up on other work, but the truth is I started to fall farther behind. Going to class means you're participating in class discussions, and many teachers/professors grade your participation. Believe it or not, that can really boost your final grade! But more than that, when you attend class, you get the additional information and viewpoints from your teacher/professor and classmates that you can't make up any other way.

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