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Bruce Wayne
Professor Aguilar
College Prep I
23 October 2015
Study Skills and the Rigor of College
Christen and Bowles, authors of What Color is My Parachute, report that an estimated
25% of college freshmen drop out during the first year of college because “they do not have the
skills needed to be successful in their courses” (14). This is a very staggering statistic because
the nation cannot afford to have students drop out of college simply because they do not possess
the necessary skills to survive college. After all, today’s youth will be tomorrow’s doctors,
nurses and teachers. The country needs well prepared individuals, and this starts with the
students knowing their own strengths and weaknesses in order to address these deficits. Time
Management, Anxiety, and Concentration are just three of several problems college students
experience during year one; however, there are a myriad of powerful strategies that can help with
these problems.
One problem that affects many college students is testing anxiety. Testing anxiety is a
nervous condition that prevents students from preparing for tests and performing at their best
during examinations. According to Betancourt, professor at Harvard University, one strategy to
prevent students from giving in to anxiety is called the three-step test prep. This strategy
involves, preparing three different study materials prior to studying for an exam (12). For
example, a student may rewrite lecture notes before reviewing them, meet with a peer to
compare notes, and make flashcards or graphic organizers of key terms that are of particular
difficulty. Having three strategies could indeed triple a student’s chances of feeling better
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prepared for test and, in turn, decrease test anxiety while taking an exam. It is impossible to
really focus and concentrate if one’s mind is cluttered with irrational fears of failure. What is
worse, this worry could affect the student’s overall mental health.
Another way students can relieve stressful test anxiety is by following a consistent
relaxation routine (Betancourt 18). For example, during available time, a student may practice
yoga thirty minutes a day simply by following a Youtube video or a health app such as Calorie
Counter or Workout Buddy. Technology has made knowledge more accessible, and using
existing technological resources for self-improvement is not only a commodity but a necessity.
Too many college students spend time exercising their fingers as they scroll through the pages of
Facebook and Snapchat. Why not use these gadgets in order to better prepare the mind and
body? Indeed, having a consistent exercise routine is critical to stress and anxiety reduction.
A second problem that many college students struggle with is the ability to stay focused
and concentrated during a task. Lack of focus happens when the student cannot focus on a
certain task because there may be too many mental factors or distractors impeding concentration.
One powerful strategy to prevent this kind of problem is for the student to create a prescriptive
schedule, where the student strictly follows and respects the time allotted to every individual task
(Sterling 7). For instance, a student can commit him/herself to working on a science project on a
Thursday night between 9 PM and 11PM. In order for this to work, however, the student would
have to respect and honor this time slot without fail. Sterling argues that failing to respect the
allotted time can create a domino effect that can lead tasks to pile up to the point where
managing these tasks becomes a burden. By the same token, the student can also set certain times
to enjoy tasks that would interfere with concentration, such as spending time on Facebook or
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Twitter. Respecting the time that has been given to every task is key in allowing the student’s
mind to remain calm and focused.
Another way that students can deal with concentration is for the student to avoid
acquaintances, friends and relationships that may be too distracting. The student should instead
form academic alliances or study groups with students who focus when it is necessary (Sterling
11). For instance, if a student is easily distracted by social cues such as gossip and consistent
talking, then the learner should choose to study with people that are quieter and more willing to
concentrate. Choosing to study with these types of quiet learners can allow the student not only
to focus better but stay calm when preparing for tests or assignments by feeding off the peaceful
energy of focused partners around him/her. Failure to work and plan with people that are not
focused can lead to college students having a difficult time in a class, lower the grade point
average and maybe even fail the course.
Probably the third and biggest problem that affects many students is Time Management.
Time management refers to being able to properly budget one’s time in order to complete tasks
efficiently and effectively. One of the most powerful strategies students can use in maintaining a
time budget, whereby students prioritize and then schedule in tasks and duties that need to get
done (Sanders 13). For example, a student who has a major test, a quinceañera, and a mini
science project coming up can create a list of these things. Once the list is created, the student
prioritizes these by giving each a number. Then, the student schedules in these events into his/her
available pockets of time. Finally, the student honors this list by completing this project during
the time it was scheduled without fail. Organizing time in this manner allows students to make
wise use of their time. Furthermore, simply writing things down on a piece of paper can allow
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the individual to release a lot of stress. Moving forward and actually assigning specific times for
each of these tasks can relieve even more accumulated stress.
Another way that students can handle time management is by pairing up with a time
management buddy. A time management buddy can be a great way to hold each other
accountable (Sanders 20). For example, a student who is having time management issues and
falling behind on classes may create a list of things that need to get done. Then, after each of
these tasks have been properly scheduled and completed, the student can touch base with the
accountability buddy and sign off for each other’s completions. This system of accountability
can be a powerful motivator for both students, since they understand that someone is holding
them accountable.
In conclusion, managing time effectively, proper concentration in academic tasks and
overcoming anxiety are just a few of the ways that students can be successful in college. By
eliminating these barriers to success, many students across the nation could experience better
success rate in their initial months in college. America needs better student preparation and
identifying and knowing the issues that are making college students unsuccessful is the first way
to solve the drop out problem. Indeed, having a utility belt of strategies to call upon when facing
difficulties in uncomfortable settings such as college is critical in order to thrive and succeed.
After all, we want to build a nation that thrives and flourishes.
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Works Cited
Betancourt, Lazzarus. “Managing Anxiety in the New Millenium.” Journal of Integrated
Pyschology. 25 (2011): 10-20. Print.
Christen, Carol, and Richard N. Bowles. What Color is My Parachute? For Teens. New York:
Penguin Publishing, 2004. Print.
Sanders, Geoffrey. “The Need for Time Management: A System that Works!” National Journal
of Educational Psychology. 136.3 (2009): 13-25. Print.
Sterling, Richard. “Making the Most out of Your Thinking Processes.” Journal of Academic
Investigations. 211 (2006): 6-12. Print.