Study Skills
What is Study?
Time Management
Avoiding Procrastination
Improving Concentration
Note-taking Skills
Exam Preparation
What is Study?
St. Thomas states “Properly speaking, study denotes a keen application of the mind to something” (ST 2a2ae, 166.1). Thomas’ definition is both succinct and precise; indeed, it is a keen application of the mind!
More than his words, though, his life was a model of what study is: a lifelong process, not an event. An event of study occurs and ends, whereas a process of study consists of a series of events over time, resulting in learning.
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Time Management
Time management is essential to the process of study. There are only 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, and about 2,520 hours in a semester. You have only a limited amount of time and how you spend it must be planned wisely. Take care to formulate a plan and keep to it.
Here are some proven strategies for Time Management at Notre Dame Seminary:
1. Familiarize yourself with the weekly seminary horarium.
2. Make yourself aware of the formation calendar provided to you at the beginning of each semester.
3. Make a habit of checking events posted on the bulletin boards.
4. Listen to the daily announcements.
5. Look at your academic schedule and see how class time shapes your week.
6. Make a Weekly Schedule (including all regular elements of the horarium): Mass and Prayer, meals, class meetings, formation events, study, private prayer, and time for exercise and recreation. Your Weekly Schedule should be in accord with your Rule of Life. Prioritize your activities. Don’t forget to schedule time for sleep.
7. Schedule no more than two hours of study per subject at one time.
8. Write a “to-do” list daily and cross out the tasks you accomplish.
9. Check your syllabi and rubricate all due dates for papers, exams, and other projects. Make sure to include them in your calendar.
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Avoiding Procrastination
The Psalmist says it well: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Procrastination, also know as “protracted periods of conceptualization,” is the foe of almost every student. It comes from two Latin root words, pro and cras, basically meaning “put it for tomorrow.”
Procrastination results from many causes and takes many forms. What is important is identifying that it is present and taking action to eliminate it. Here are some strategies to overcome this bane:
1. Recognize procrastination when it appears.
2. Reflect on what is causing it. (This could be the topic, people, or extra pursuits.)
3. Set boundaries and figure out how to avoid wasting time.
4. Consult your calendar and Weekly Schedule.
5. Practice the virtue of occasionally saying “no” to extra commitments.
6. Break your tasks into smaller, more easily achievable goals.
7. Take advantage of appointments with formation advisors, spiritual directors, and professors. They will help you stay on track.
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Improving Concentration
With characteristic rhetorical flair, St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to “take every thought captive in obedience to Christ” (2 Cor 10,5). This serves us in our community as a reminder not to let our thoughts wander. Concentration on tasks at hand can be exhausting, but there are ways to counteract it and to practice “mental custody of the eyes.”
Here are some strategies for staying focused:
1. Remind yourself why you here. You wish to be a priest of Jesus Christ.
2. Remind yourself that the People of God are funding your education.
3. Say a prayer.
4. Study in a place that is free from distraction.
5. Remove all common distractors, such as cell phones and social websites.
6. Plan your breaks rather than working till you break.
7. Study actively by previewing the material, organizing your reading, and aggressively anticipating ideas.
8. Engage in occasional recitation of notes and readings.
9. Separate large tasks into smaller ones. Execute them one at a time.
10. Remind yourself that improved concentration will lessen stress.
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Note-taking Skills
“See with what large letters I am writing to you in my own hand!” (Gal 6,11). Again, looking to the Apostle can inspire! Note taking is an ancient practice, one that has served the Church well throughout her history. And, while students take notes and St. Paul makes notes, the fundamentals are the same: Notes are written recollections and interpretations of ideas.
Keep in mind that long after your formal studies are completed, all that will remain is your memory of class lectures and the notes you took of them. Both memory and ink fade in time, but good notes will last your entire life. Students should never underestimate the value of note taking skills.
Here are a few strategies for taking good notes:
1. Read the assignments prior to class.
2. Review notes taken in previous classes to refresh the mind.
3. Listen attentively and concentrate on the lecture.
4. If taking notes on a laptop, resist the temptation to surf the web. This is disrespectful to the professor and can land you in a heap of trouble.
5. Pick out the main ideas. Record them with details and examples to aid in recall.
6. Examine and keep any handouts given by the professor.
7. When taking notes, develop and use a consistent format.
8. Leave ample room for later annotation and editing.
9. Revise your notes within a day. There is a drastic drop of information retention within 24 hours.
10. When possible, compare notes with capable students.
11. Regularly review your notes to avoid cramming.
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Exam Preparation
Exams. Often viewed with antipathy and anxiety, exams are actually useful tools for assessment and motivation. With them, professors are able to gauge your progress in the disciplines you are studying. They are an important part of the educational process and they should not discourage you.
Doing well on exams, though, requires focus and constant attentiveness. The didactic sayings of the Book of Proverbs remind us of this: “He who cultivates his land will have plenty of food, but from idle pursuits a man has his fill of poverty” (29, 19).
Here are some helpful strategies for exam preparation:
1. Preparation occurs throughout the semester. Time management and note taking are essential to successful preparation.
2. Do not wait until study days. Begin studying well in advance and take the opportunity to locate any missing information.
3. Plan out an exam study schedule. Work in chunks of time.
4. If the professor is willing, have him share information on the test format (i.e., the kinds of questions on the test).
5. Summarize notes taken in class and from assigned readings. Make connections among ideas.
6. Recite your notes. This is helpful for retention.
7. Quizzes will often give you clues about exam content. Look over them.
8. Mnemonic devices are also helpful for memory retention. Create as many as you can to aid in recall during the exam.
9. Find a study partner or establish a study group.
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