2 answers
McKenna
Student
Spring Hill, Tennessee
1
Question
Updated
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How should I go about studying in college when I never really needed to in high school, also I know that grades are taken much more seriously than high school?
I will be enrolled in college this fall and don’t have any kind of study method. I also have ADHD and have a hard time even trying to study. I want to go to med school after and I will major in chemistry.
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2 answers
Malak Chabkoun
Training and Development
2
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Malak’s Answer
Hi McKenna! That's such a great question.
There are a couple of things you can do to figure out what helps you retain information and knowledge. As a learning and development professional who also is an adjunct professor, I have two pieces of advice for you to start. The first is attend classes and take notes to stay focused during class, and the second is to stay caught up on readings that are assigned to you.
Studying and focusing are like exercise and training for your brain. Some of the next steps below will help you exercise that studying muscle. Hope they help, and good luck with your freshman year. You got this!
Figure out your optimal study environment - do you focus better in silence or with some noise?
Organize your study space in a way that helps minimize distractions - have supplies and snacks organized in a way that makes it less likely for you to have to step away and be distracted if you need something.
Be strategic about note-taking - you want to find what's important, not capture everything being said. If you had to explain the material to someone else, how would you do that in a simple manner?
Use a timer - for example, set it to thirty minutes at first, and focus on studying for those thirty minutes. That'll help you stay focused because you are working towards a five minute break once your timer goes off.
Find a study buddy to help hold you accountable.
There are a couple of things you can do to figure out what helps you retain information and knowledge. As a learning and development professional who also is an adjunct professor, I have two pieces of advice for you to start. The first is attend classes and take notes to stay focused during class, and the second is to stay caught up on readings that are assigned to you.
Studying and focusing are like exercise and training for your brain. Some of the next steps below will help you exercise that studying muscle. Hope they help, and good luck with your freshman year. You got this!
Malak recommends the following next steps:
Adriana Herrera, MBA
Project Management and Leadership Coach
1
Answer
San José, Costa Rica
Updated
Adriana’s Answer
Hi McKenna,
It’s amazing that you already know your path—majoring in chemistry with the goal of med school. That clarity is a superpower. Since studying didn’t come up as a big need in high school, chances are you’ve got strong pattern recognition and fast information processing—both strengths often seen in ADHD minds.
Now, college will ask something different of you: transforming scattered information into connected, applied knowledge. That shift requires intention and a strategy, especially with ADHD in the mix. Here's how you can start building a study system that actually works with your brain, not against it:
1. Build a study ritual, not just a routine.
Instead of trying to force focus, ease into it. Use tools like box breathing (inhale 4s, hold 4s, exhale 4s, hold 4s) or a short mindfulness practice to calm the nervous system before studying. This helps your prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain you’ll rely on for problem-solving—come online.
2. Use time-based focus training.
Try the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes off. During study blocks, use binaural beats or instrumental music to reduce distractions. Start small: even 5–10 minutes of focused reading is progress. ADHD brains thrive on momentum—not perfection.
3. Externalize your learning.
One of the most powerful tools for retention? Teaching what you learn. Whether it’s explaining a concept to a friend, using a whiteboard, or talking it out loud to yourself—this turns passive studying into active engagement and strengthens memory networks.
4. Make it visual and tactile.
Mind maps, color-coded notes, flashcards—anything that gives your brain structure and stimulation helps. Chemistry is abstract, so whenever you can, draw it, build models, or connect it to real-world scenarios.
And finally, give yourself grace and time. You’re building a whole new muscle here. It won’t feel smooth at first, but consistency will make it easier. Grades matter, yes—but how you manage your energy and focus will matter even more in the long run.
You've got this—smart, driven, and already thinking ahead. That’s a winning combo.
It’s amazing that you already know your path—majoring in chemistry with the goal of med school. That clarity is a superpower. Since studying didn’t come up as a big need in high school, chances are you’ve got strong pattern recognition and fast information processing—both strengths often seen in ADHD minds.
Now, college will ask something different of you: transforming scattered information into connected, applied knowledge. That shift requires intention and a strategy, especially with ADHD in the mix. Here's how you can start building a study system that actually works with your brain, not against it:
1. Build a study ritual, not just a routine.
Instead of trying to force focus, ease into it. Use tools like box breathing (inhale 4s, hold 4s, exhale 4s, hold 4s) or a short mindfulness practice to calm the nervous system before studying. This helps your prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain you’ll rely on for problem-solving—come online.
2. Use time-based focus training.
Try the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes off. During study blocks, use binaural beats or instrumental music to reduce distractions. Start small: even 5–10 minutes of focused reading is progress. ADHD brains thrive on momentum—not perfection.
3. Externalize your learning.
One of the most powerful tools for retention? Teaching what you learn. Whether it’s explaining a concept to a friend, using a whiteboard, or talking it out loud to yourself—this turns passive studying into active engagement and strengthens memory networks.
4. Make it visual and tactile.
Mind maps, color-coded notes, flashcards—anything that gives your brain structure and stimulation helps. Chemistry is abstract, so whenever you can, draw it, build models, or connect it to real-world scenarios.
And finally, give yourself grace and time. You’re building a whole new muscle here. It won’t feel smooth at first, but consistency will make it easier. Grades matter, yes—but how you manage your energy and focus will matter even more in the long run.
You've got this—smart, driven, and already thinking ahead. That’s a winning combo.