8 answers
Chantel
Student
Fort Collins, Colorado
2
Questions
Updated
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What has been your most successful study tips?
What was your most successful study habits that helped you pass classes with good or great grades? Especially with nursing prerequisites!
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8 answers
Martin Schoen
APRN
387
Answers
Ocala, Florida
Updated
Martin’s Answer
Throughout my college years and while earning four master's degrees, I developed a study method that worked well for me. I would start by taking notes in class and highlighting important parts in my textbooks. Then, I’d combine these into a typed summary. This made my study material shorter and easier to review each night. If there were questions at the end of a chapter, I’d answer them and sometimes add them to my notes. Being a hands-on and visual learner, this approach of condensing and focusing on my typed pages really helped me study effectively.
Ifeoma Prisca
Online work
5
Answers
Anambra, AN
Updated
Ifeoma’s Answer
One of my most successful study habits was active learning — I didn’t just read or highlight; I constantly engaged with the material. After each lecture, I rewrote my notes in my own words, drew diagrams for anatomy and physiology, and created flashcards for terms and lab values. This helped me retain information long-term instead of cramming before exams.
I also built a consistent study schedule that treated studying like a job — I set aside specific hours every day for focused work. I used techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of study, 5-minute breaks) to stay sharp and avoid burnout. For challenging topics, I studied in small groups where we’d quiz each other or teach back concepts — because teaching a topic out loud really helped me master it.
Lastly, I prioritized self-care: good sleep, hydration, and prayer before exams. Nursing prerequisites can be intense, but staying organized, managing time well, and keeping a positive, disciplined mindset made all the difference.
I also built a consistent study schedule that treated studying like a job — I set aside specific hours every day for focused work. I used techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of study, 5-minute breaks) to stay sharp and avoid burnout. For challenging topics, I studied in small groups where we’d quiz each other or teach back concepts — because teaching a topic out loud really helped me master it.
Lastly, I prioritized self-care: good sleep, hydration, and prayer before exams. Nursing prerequisites can be intense, but staying organized, managing time well, and keeping a positive, disciplined mindset made all the difference.
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Chantel. One of my most successful study tips has been learning how to stay organized and plan ahead. I used a planner or calendar to write down every assignment, quiz, and exam date. Each week, I made a small checklist of what I needed to review. Instead of studying everything at once before an exam, I reviewed a little bit every day. This habit helped me remember more and feel confident when test day came.
Another helpful habit was active studying instead of just reading notes. I found that rewriting my notes in my own words, and teaching the material to someone else helped me understand it better.
I also learned how important it is to find the right study environment. I tried to study in quiet places with few distractions, like the library or a quiet corner at home. This helped me stay focused.
Another big part of my success was asking for help early. I joined study groups and watched online videos that explained hard topics. Talking with classmates helped me see different ways of understanding the same material.
Another helpful habit was active studying instead of just reading notes. I found that rewriting my notes in my own words, and teaching the material to someone else helped me understand it better.
I also learned how important it is to find the right study environment. I tried to study in quiet places with few distractions, like the library or a quiet corner at home. This helped me stay focused.
Another big part of my success was asking for help early. I joined study groups and watched online videos that explained hard topics. Talking with classmates helped me see different ways of understanding the same material.
Don Holland
Member Service Representative/Food Runner
244
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Chantel,
There are many different study/college tips that have helped me throughout school and i'm still trying to figure out more ways to improve in college. For me, I like creating a schedule, setting goals of what I want to achieve, create time to study/find the best ways to understand concepts, attending learning lab/office hours and much more that have helped me during college. You just need to find something that best works for your learning style, your lifestyle and creating balance within your life. Hope you find your best study/college tips that will help your progress while you are in school. Best of luck to you!
There are many different study/college tips that have helped me throughout school and i'm still trying to figure out more ways to improve in college. For me, I like creating a schedule, setting goals of what I want to achieve, create time to study/find the best ways to understand concepts, attending learning lab/office hours and much more that have helped me during college. You just need to find something that best works for your learning style, your lifestyle and creating balance within your life. Hope you find your best study/college tips that will help your progress while you are in school. Best of luck to you!
Althea Duke
Certified wound, ostomy, foot care specialist
9
Answers
Monterey, California
Updated
Althea’s Answer
Chantel, I love that you asked this important question!
During nursing school I played around with different techniques before I found the one/s that worked for me.
1. I found test banks that covered questions from the topics that we covered that semester and then I worked through them to get familiar with answering test questions.
2. I found that putting aside time after school ends each day to go over my notes and lookup anything that I didn’t fully understand.
3. I know the professors say this too… but I found reading the chapters even if I simply skimmed or read the summaries is also very helpful.
4. And lastly, when I knew it was coming onto exams week, a month or so before I’d start making Q-cards of all the highlighted points in my textbook and go over them throughout those weeks before exam week. And I usually paid extra attention to the details in the little text boxes and those important points to that are found in each chapter!
Hope this helps!!
Althea
During nursing school I played around with different techniques before I found the one/s that worked for me.
1. I found test banks that covered questions from the topics that we covered that semester and then I worked through them to get familiar with answering test questions.
2. I found that putting aside time after school ends each day to go over my notes and lookup anything that I didn’t fully understand.
3. I know the professors say this too… but I found reading the chapters even if I simply skimmed or read the summaries is also very helpful.
4. And lastly, when I knew it was coming onto exams week, a month or so before I’d start making Q-cards of all the highlighted points in my textbook and go over them throughout those weeks before exam week. And I usually paid extra attention to the details in the little text boxes and those important points to that are found in each chapter!
Hope this helps!!
Althea
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1186
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Chantel,
This is an excellent question that all nursing or pre-nursing students battle with. Developing study habits that work for you, not simply what others do, is very important because nursing prerequisites can be demanding.
There are a few ways that always stand out:
1. Active recall and spaced repetition: Test yourself often using flashcards, quiz programs like Anki or Quizlet, or even jotting down definitions from memory in place of going over your material again. Instead of cramming, reviewing tiny portions of the content often over time makes the information more memorable.
2. Teach it back: You've mastered a concept if you can describe it to a student (or even your wall) in your own words, such as how the heart pumps blood or the distinction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Teaching pushes your brain to do more than just retain information; it additionally demands that it organize and apply it.
3. Study by system, not by chapter: Organizing subjects in anatomy, physiology, and psychology according to bodily systems or functions makes it easier to understand how everything is connected. It greatly simplifies clinical applications in the future.
4. Build a consistent rhythm, not marathon sessions: It's not about running; it's about endurance in nursing school. It is significantly more productive to study for 60 to 90 minutes with brief breaks than to sit for 5 hours straight and zone out.
5. Stay kind to yourself: When stress and coffee aren't your only sources of energy, your mind remembers more information. Take real breaks, eat, sleep, and stay hydrated. It's part of studying more intelligently; therefore, it's not a waste of time.
Although each person's brain functions a bit differently, one thing is universal: discipline beats motivation. Set modest daily objectives, even if you don't "feel" like it. Strong students are created in this way.
You've got this, Chantel. Although nursing school is challenging, it produces individuals who are capable of handling difficult situations.
Best wishes!
This is an excellent question that all nursing or pre-nursing students battle with. Developing study habits that work for you, not simply what others do, is very important because nursing prerequisites can be demanding.
There are a few ways that always stand out:
1. Active recall and spaced repetition: Test yourself often using flashcards, quiz programs like Anki or Quizlet, or even jotting down definitions from memory in place of going over your material again. Instead of cramming, reviewing tiny portions of the content often over time makes the information more memorable.
2. Teach it back: You've mastered a concept if you can describe it to a student (or even your wall) in your own words, such as how the heart pumps blood or the distinction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Teaching pushes your brain to do more than just retain information; it additionally demands that it organize and apply it.
3. Study by system, not by chapter: Organizing subjects in anatomy, physiology, and psychology according to bodily systems or functions makes it easier to understand how everything is connected. It greatly simplifies clinical applications in the future.
4. Build a consistent rhythm, not marathon sessions: It's not about running; it's about endurance in nursing school. It is significantly more productive to study for 60 to 90 minutes with brief breaks than to sit for 5 hours straight and zone out.
5. Stay kind to yourself: When stress and coffee aren't your only sources of energy, your mind remembers more information. Take real breaks, eat, sleep, and stay hydrated. It's part of studying more intelligently; therefore, it's not a waste of time.
Although each person's brain functions a bit differently, one thing is universal: discipline beats motivation. Set modest daily objectives, even if you don't "feel" like it. Strong students are created in this way.
You've got this, Chantel. Although nursing school is challenging, it produces individuals who are capable of handling difficult situations.
Best wishes!
Ilan Marouani, Esq., LL.M.
Tax Attorney
14
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ilan’s Answer
Hi Chantel,
There are a million tips I could give you, but I think this one was the most impactful, and the one that I felt gave me so much of a boost in my grades and understanding of the class material. Everyday, after my classes of the day were over, I would go to the library for 1-3 hours, and just try to summarize that day class. Go over the reading material (skim through), review my class notes, make a short summary of my class notes, something that could fit into a short paragraph of 10 sentences max, and try to do an exercise or a problem that we either did in class, or we skipped in class but could help me recap most of the material we went over in class.
I know it might sound annoying to have to spend more time after class doing more class work, but I promise you that just going over it one more time, and having those short summaries, when midterms/ finals time come, instead of going back to all your notes, and trying to understand the material again, now you have short summaries of every class, a few problems you yourself went over, and everything, while not fresh in your mind, would come back to you way faster.
Good luck!!
There are a million tips I could give you, but I think this one was the most impactful, and the one that I felt gave me so much of a boost in my grades and understanding of the class material. Everyday, after my classes of the day were over, I would go to the library for 1-3 hours, and just try to summarize that day class. Go over the reading material (skim through), review my class notes, make a short summary of my class notes, something that could fit into a short paragraph of 10 sentences max, and try to do an exercise or a problem that we either did in class, or we skipped in class but could help me recap most of the material we went over in class.
I know it might sound annoying to have to spend more time after class doing more class work, but I promise you that just going over it one more time, and having those short summaries, when midterms/ finals time come, instead of going back to all your notes, and trying to understand the material again, now you have short summaries of every class, a few problems you yourself went over, and everything, while not fresh in your mind, would come back to you way faster.
Good luck!!
Tyler Hooper
Purchase
8
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Tyler’s Answer
The best tip I can share, which really helped me in school, is to make your own study guide. I would read the textbook chapters that would be on the test and write down important words and definitions. After finishing the study guide, I would review it and memorize the key details. This method might be similar to what you do, but using bullet points for main ideas and definitions makes it less overwhelming and easier to study.