3 answers
Callie
Student
Galesburg, Illinois
1
Question
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What are some good study habits or tips that'll help me in the transition from undergrad to graduate school?
I am currently a freshman in college, majoring in psychology. I'm going to grad school to specialize in either forensics or developmental psych. Even though I'm only a freshman, I'm so excited to get a start in my life and my career.
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3 answers
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
221
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Callie, great question. I cannot answer this without telling a bit about my own personal experience. First, I don't think graduate work is necessarily harder or more intensive than undergrad- though it might be depending on the program, school, and your own learning style. I worked while attending school on a quarterly basis; this allowed me to take two classes at a time instead of the typical three or four. This worked for me with everything else I had going on. It also felt like enough in terms of learning new information and having time to integrate it thoroughly. This brings up the notion of pacing yourself, when possible or willing. I also sought help at our student writing center as I had to learn APA; this was challenging for me as writing for psychology is very structured. I am a very intuitive and creative person, but not a fan of structure and rules. But with ongoing assistance and a personal determination, I got through it just fine. Some courses may feel and be easier than others and this is to be expected. This brings me to learning style and personal interests. I had to buckle down and figure out how I best learn. I am someone that needs a lot of time on my own to read, re-read, and utilize visual and auditory information. When studying for my licensure exam, I did a little bit of everything to prepare knowing how my brain works. It paid off and I passed. All this took me wanting to figure out how to support myself; I could not have done it alone. For you, the questions and answers may be different. I do think that having your own therapist is important, especially if you have not been in treatment before. It will give you the chance to see what it's like to be a client and have that perspective. It is also more support for you emotionally as you make your way through an experiential program. What I mean by experiential is that you will be digging up your own personal history and looking it at it and sharing it as a student. This is part of the process in addition to learning theory, diagnostics, research- all the academic stuff. This is what makes studying psychology (counseling, social work) special and unique to other degrees. Mainly, listen to yourself, know when you are overwhelmed, know when you need to hit pause or ask for help, and be willing to buckle down when the time comes to challenge yourself. Best of luck!
Mariem Limam
Solution Management Center Representative
12
Answers
Tunis, Tunisia
Updated
Mariem’s Answer
It's great to see how excited you areyour passion is really important! For me, the key was truly understanding the material instead of just memorizing for tests. I stayed organized and started reading research papers early, which made grad school much less intimidating. Try to connect with your professors and join psychology clubs or research projects if you can. And remember, always keep in mind why you love psychology. That will help you push through even on difficult days.
Khaled Salah
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Khaled’s Answer
It is awesome that you are already thinking ahead like this! That mindset will definitely help you through undergrad and into grad school. Since I was also a psych major, I wanted to share something that made a big difference for me.
When I took Introduction to Cognitive Psychology, it completely changed the way I approached studying. A lot of those classes are taught with a big focus on how people learn, remember, and focus, so you basically end up learning how to be a better student by understanding how your brain works. If you have not taken that course yet, I highly recommend signing up when you can!
A few good (psychology-backed) habits to start building now:
- Review material shortly after learning it (even a 10-minute review can lock it in better)
- Test yourself often rather than just rereading notes
- Study in different locations so your brain learns to retrieve information without depending on your environment
- Mix up subjects during study sessions so your brain stays active
- Teach the material to someone else, even if it is just explaining it out loud to yourself
The earlier you start using habits like these, the more natural it will feel when you get to harder, grad-level material. Good luck, you are clearly setting yourself up for success already!
When I took Introduction to Cognitive Psychology, it completely changed the way I approached studying. A lot of those classes are taught with a big focus on how people learn, remember, and focus, so you basically end up learning how to be a better student by understanding how your brain works. If you have not taken that course yet, I highly recommend signing up when you can!
A few good (psychology-backed) habits to start building now:
- Review material shortly after learning it (even a 10-minute review can lock it in better)
- Test yourself often rather than just rereading notes
- Study in different locations so your brain learns to retrieve information without depending on your environment
- Mix up subjects during study sessions so your brain stays active
- Teach the material to someone else, even if it is just explaining it out loud to yourself
The earlier you start using habits like these, the more natural it will feel when you get to harder, grad-level material. Good luck, you are clearly setting yourself up for success already!