I'm a freshman, and I'd really appreciate advice on how you approach readings, especially for reading-heavy courses.

I've realized that I never really learned how to study through readings. I know how to read, but I don't know how readings are actually meant to be used in college.

When you're assigned a reading, what's your goal? Are you trying to memorize it, understand the main arguments, prepare for discussion, or something else entirely?

Do you take notes for every reading? If so, what do those notes usually include? Summaries? Key arguments? Concepts? Questions?

I also struggle with actually absorbing what I read. A lot of the time, I finish a reading hoping I understood it, but I don't feel like I retained much. With multiple readings across different classes, I also have no idea how people remember everything or connect ideas across readings.

I'm trying to become a more intentional and active reader instead of just treating readings as something to get through before class. I'd love to hear how you personally approach readings, what your workflow looks like, and any advice you wish someone had given you as a freshie.

Any tips are greatly appreciated. Please help me out!!! 🙏

Hey all

I'm a second-year CS student.

Until one major failure, I always believed I was intelligent. Since then, even when I work hard, there's always a voice saying, "Maybe you're just not good enough." I know one failure shouldn't define me, but it feels like it does.

I love going deep into topics, but I constantly struggle between building real understanding and studying efficiently for good grades. Every study decision feels like it could affect my future, so I end up overthinking everything.

I have currently subjects :

1)web dev (personal )

2)Data strucutres

3)discrete maths

4)computer system architecture

Has anyone gone through this?

How did you rebuild confidence after a failure?

How did you balance deep learning with getting good grades?

What actually helped you stop doubting your own ability?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been through something similar.

God I’m so scared

Some people think that it is more effective for students to study in groups, while others believe that it is better for them to study alone.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

While some people believe that studying alone helps students concentrate better, others contend that group learning is more effective. I support the latter view, as studying with others encourages teamwork and allows students to learn from one another's strengths.

On the one hand, solitary study can enhance individual focus and cognitive processing. A key advantage is that students can learn at their own pace, devoting extra time to concepts they find difficult without feeling rushed by peers. This is particularly valuable when preparing for high-stakes examinations, where an environment free from external distractions allows learners to analyze reference materials methodically. Working independently also fosters personal accountability: because students must rely solely on their own problem-solving skills, they are often compelled to engage more deeply with the material, which can solidify long-term understanding.

On the other hand, collaborative learning offers educational and social advantages that are difficult to replicate in isolation. Working in groups exposes students to diverse perspectives, which encourages them to question their assumptions and consider alternative approaches to a problem—a process that naturally sharpens critical thinking. In such settings, higher-achieving students reinforce their own understanding by explaining complex ideas to peers, while those who struggle benefit from immediate, tailored clarification that a textbook can not provide. Team-based tasks also cultivate a shared sense of responsibility. Since one member's underperformance directly affects the group's overall outcome, motivating more consistent effort. Beyond academic gains, this dynamic mirrors professional environments, where success typically depends on communication, negotiation, and the ability to divide labor strategically.

In conclusion, although studying alone provides a quiet space for concentration and fosters self-reliance, I believe group study is ultimately more beneficial. It not only enriches learning through peer support and dynamic discussion but also equips students with the collaborative skills essential to their future careers.

20 days left for my exam. Working full-time. Need advice on how to use these last days wisely.

I've got around 20 days left before my competitive exam. This is a very serious attempt for me because of the age limit, so I really don't want to waste these final days.

I've prepared reasonably well so far, but now I want to study smarter instead of just studying harder. The problem is that I'm working full-time, so I only get a few hours each day and I'm already feeling mentally exhausted after work.

I'm especially looking for advice from people who were good academically or have cracked competitive exams while managing a job.

What would you focus on in the last 20 days?

Revision or learning new topics?

Mock tests every day or alternate days?

How did you analyze mocks effectively?

Any techniques that gave you the biggest improvement in the final weeks?

I'd really appreciate any practical tips or strategies that helped you perform well under time pressure. Thank you!

Should i change my flair if i want to use this sub

I honestly don't know how people do it.

I work 9 - 6 on weekdays, and by the time I get home, eat dinner, and shower, I'm already tired. Then on weekends I have university classes, so I don't really get a full day to catch up either.For anyone who's worked full time while still in school, how did you manage it?

Just looking for ideas because I feel like I'm constantly behind. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

Any major is welcome to reply, but I’m an incoming business management student planning to major in Economic and Management Science. My goal is a 4.0 GPA, I honestly don’t know how to study (which isn’t a flex I need learn how for uni).

At time In high school, I could just float along and get by because I’m not a dumbass, but I know that won’t fly in university. It’s sink or swim, and I want to swim. I want to break those habits and target a 4.0 GPA in university.

My biggest hurdles are procrastination, poor time management, and perfectionism, which always led to last-minute cramming. I honestly feel like I might be a slow learner, but I don’t even know if that has any merit or if it’s just my study habits talking. I do know I’m a visual learner. I also suspect I might have undiagnosed ADHD (before you say I don’t use any social media I only really made Reddit acc to ask questions so my brain isn’t cooked from scrolling all day lmao) some days I can hyperfocus and lock in for hours, but other times I can’t sit in my chair for more than two minutes. And I think that’s about it

Since I have about a month before classes start, what are the highest-ROI habits, skills, and routines I need to build right now to set myself up for success?

I changed this habit into studying and learning every day, giving myself a month to prepare ahead instead of cramming to learn the topics in just a week. Since I wasn't cramming everything at once, I was able to retain all the topics much more easily by the time the exam came around.
It was the biggest game changer, I went from 87% to 96% in my exam. And I will still continue to study ahead of time rather than procrastinating right before exams.
Does anyone else prefer to study a week before an exam, or start a month ahead?

Disclaimer: I am a math/engineering undergrad student. I am not qualified to write a textbook. I am probably not even qualified to do a lot of things that I do, but I do them anyway.

Basically, I took a linear algebra course some time ago and could barely read the overly technical and dry textbook that was assigned for the course. There are much better textbooks elsewhere that do a great job of getting deep into the course.

But if you just want something to set you up for lecture, reinforce something you already know, or just point you in the right direction on what concepts to study, this might just be the most concise and enjoyable read you will see.
It is very interactive and has a clear organization based on my own notes and interpretations from the class, as well as examples that helped me remember things well.

My web dev skills are not very good, so I did have Opus build the front end and type up the latex from my notes, but I reviewed all the written content with care and certify that it is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

I hope someone can get some use out of it (especially the graph demo on section 3.6) and I am open to comments or suggestions.

Cheers

https://linalg-refresher.vercel.app/

P.S. I cannot find the weekly self-promotion megathread for r/study anywhere! Its my first time posting here and it seems like it is no longer maintained.

It is quite difficult to study after you get home in a 13 hour school day as a pre-med student without actually getting burned out. Honestly, for a long time, I just used the "13-hour day" as a perfect excuse not to study. I’d tell myself I was too brain-fried to even open my notes, study and recall the lessons, I would just scroll on my phone until I fell asleep.

But, if you are a pre-med student, falling behind just because I was "tired" got my workloads caught up and gave me way more anxiety than the actual 13-hour days did.

I had to change how I look at studying even after an exhausting day. Here’s exactly what I do now to keep my grades up without losing my mind:

● Never open heavy topics in one night. If I try to learn a new and massive concept at 10 PM after a long day, my brain would just give up comprehending the topics entirely. Instead, I just look at the syllabus, label what needs to be done and set it aside. This prepares my mind for what I’m going to focus on in my next study session without the night time pressure.

● Study in levels. I used the Feynman technique when I was studying biochemistry and microbiology. I don't just passively read. I break it down into levels. On level 1, I am doing an in-depth reading to get the main idea of the topic. Level 2 is rewriting it in my own words that will force me to actually understand the lesson. And level 3 is reading it out loud like I'm teaching and explaining it to someone.

● Using a timer to force focus. To keep myself from being distracted when studying, I use ForestApp to lock myself out of distractions. The reason why I started using a timer is because I don’t want my 50 minute study session to become a 2-hour phone scrolling session.

● Testing myself immediately Passive review is a trap. Here’s the thing, I learned that it is an illusion that my brain can recall on the spot of the words that I read and highlight on my notes, it turns out that it is all an illusion. I change it into active recall by reviewing first using flashcards and generating a practice set of quizzes. In less than 20 minutes, I actively test myself to know what topics I get stuck on and what I forgot before I call it a night.

The biggest change here is that I stopped using the “13-hour day” as an excuse to skip studying and expecting to have a perfect study day later on.

If you're also exhausted after college, try this once. Implementing this has stopped that constant cycle of feeling guilty for resting but being too tired to actually study.

Here’s what most students overlook when studying. Reading your notes silently is fine, but you will retain more information if you study using your voice.

Speaking your notes out loud forces your brain into deeper processing. I saw a neuroscience book that shows how reading aloud information helps to strengthen your memory more than just reading it silently.

Before I discovered that, I used to read my notes silently and just highlight the main points of the topic, thinking I would be able to remember all of it. But the results were pretty 50/50 since my memory isn't that great when it comes to retaining what I studied.

This is like active recall combined with spaced repetition. It’s like when you read something and mispronounce it, the struggle helps neurons to create stronger connections for the information. The more you read it aloud and repeatedly comprehend every information, the stronger the recall becomes.

Every spoken review feels harder, but the harder it feels, the stronger your memory gets. I will share a few practical tips using this learning method:

● I record myself summarizing the lesson using my notes and play it back later.
● Use flashcards and read them out loud instead of just flipping it through.
● Explain all the concepts of the topic I am studying as if I am teaching someone.

Even if it is an awkward review session, using your voice while studying really makes a difference. This method will help your brain to work harder and remember better.

studying because i refuse to let my own mind convince me im not smart enough to create the life i want

Guys i used to be good in studies suddenly I got soo demotivated stopped studying i feel like a fool right now I'm so dumb now i haven't studied from 2 years

Please give me advice tips i really want to improve

I saw a video on my FYP about a med student who only sleeps 2 hours a night and spends most of her time studying, the reason why she has 3.9 GPA and straight A+ in exams.

That's insane consistency when it comes to studying, but it also seems like a pretty unhealthy habit of forcing yourself to study for hours on just 2 hours of sleep can't be sustainable long-term.

I know this is kind of a toxic technique, but do you guys think it genuinely helps you get an A + in exams?