Tips for Studying While in Graduate School

Info.GradSchools.com »» While in Graduate School »» Wondering what to do now?

Studying in Grad School

Studying in grad school is very different from what you probably got used to in college. This doesn't mean that you'll have to re-learn everything you thought you already knew, however-simply that you'll make the most of your time as a graduate student, and gain the most academically and intellectually, if you're willing to make a few changes. And while change, especially when it comes to matters of time and study-habits, tends to be a bit intimidating, a willingness to do so will not only make your grad-school experience richer and more fulfilling, but it will also help you when you make the transition from the scholastic world to the professional one.

There are any number of changes you can potentially make, and listing and discussing all of them will not only be impossible, but the effort would likely prove terribly boring. Therefore, we've decided to focus on three specific ways in which you can make the most of the time you spend studying as a grad student. These are not the only strategies, mind you, but they are certainly time-tested and likely to help you in your quest to make the most of your years in school.

Brain Strain
It may, at first, seem counterintuitive to make the claim, but one of the most important things you can do to make the most of your time in graduate school when it comes to studying is this: Don't study too hard.

Say what?

Actually, yes-to repeat: Do not make yourself crazy by over-studying. For though we all know that the brain does not work like a drinking glass-there is not a finite amount of information that the human brain can hold before it starts to spill out-there comes a point of diminishing returns on the time invested in studying. Because the unfortunate truth is that you will never have enough time to do all the studying and paper-writing you'd like to do. In fact, once you accept this, you'll probably have a much easier time surviving grad school.

This does not mean, of course, that you should avoid studying altogether. Quite the contrary, in fact: If you refuse to study at all, then you won't get nearly everything out of your classes that you would have with a bit of work. But no one is capable of working all the time, and even if you possess some sort of superhuman ability to work more than everyone else, you have to ask yourself what you're getting out of it. Anyone can stare at a book open before them, but it takes a very different kind of effort to actually internalize and contextualize all that information.

In the same way in which long-distance runners hit "the wall" and can no longer continue running, students, believe it or not, experience the same thing. Call it mental fatigue. Call it brain-born exhaustion. Call it whatever you like: Just accept it, work with it, and move on.

In general, the best way to avoid this brain strain is to get to know your own limits when it comes to studying, do not work past them, and make the time you do spend studying of the highest quality possible.

Too Many Cooks and A Pot of Soup
For those of you who are more culinarily inclined, you'll absolutely understand the wonderful accuracy of this old, reliable aphorism: Because the truth is that too many cooks do spoil the soup. But you'll also probably realize that a few cooks is often better than a lone chef manning the stove. This is key.

Because grad students have to eat.

Okay, bad joke. What it really means for us is that many students find themselves involved in study groups. These may consist of people from your classes, or other grad students who you happen to know, or whoeverÉthe point is that, more often than not, graduate students find themselves studying class material with others. And while this can certainly prove to be uniquely beneficial, there are risks associated with it that should be addressed before you make any decisions.

First, the good news: Studying with others is a great way to gain perspective, or to understand a new twist, on what you're studying. And often, it's someone else's way of phrasing something-an idea, a concept-that truly makes it stick. The bad news is that study groups often become friendly-if the members of them weren't already-and as a result, they can rather easily devolve into something rather different from what they were originally supposed to be.

So if you find yourself in a study group, make sure it is actually benefiting you. They can certainly be of tremendous help, but the last thing you want is to spend study-time socializing. That won't help anyone.

Like The Seattle Scene
Nirvana. Pearl Jam. All those other flannel-shirt wearing bands with the stringy hair and the angst-ridden lyrics. What do they have in common? Classification as artists of "alternative" music. And much like the ways in which they influenced an entire generation of people around the world, you, too, should take a page from their book.

Embrace the alternative study-style.

Sure, there are people out there who are able to read a book, remember all the pertinent information, contextualize it with everything else they've been working on, and move on to other projects. But not everyone works that way, and rather than trying to force yourself to study like that because that's how you've always been taught to, try thinking-and studying-outside the box.

Record your classes (if you're allowed) and listen to them when you're at the gym or going for a run or doing your food shopping. Create mnemonics to help you remember information more clearly and accurately. Take notes the way that makes the most sense to you, as opposed to how other people have told you to do so over the years. Whatever you do, don't be hemmed in by what other people do in terms of studying. And once you find a way that works, stick with it, make the most of the time you spend working on it, and get ready for a brilliant career as a grad-school student and beyond.

It's all up to you. Take control of your studying and get ahead. It's just that simple.

IM This Article

Return to Article Library