What are the best study techniques for strenuous college classes?

Don't procrastinate. Read through all the materials you need to study once or twice up front. Focus additional time on the materials you don't know as well. Test yourself. Highlight or underline key points in the text book. Re-read and highlight key points in your notes. Associate key items you need to remember that are hard to remember with simple memory joggers...for example if you need to remember the answer to a question starts with the letter "L", remember weak arm is the answer (it's not but stay with me), then remember your "weak arm" is your left arm, then remember the answer starts with an L, then hopefully you will remember the answer that starts with an "L". Study in a quiet place, and I studied better when it was the same place (a certain chair in a certain room in the library). Take breaks. Don't drink or do drugs and study. Spend some time studying with a partner, they may point out important things to remember, tricks for how they remember, or help you understand something better. Re-write your notes, or make a list of the 20-30 most important things to remember from your book. Re-write it again. Get a tutor, especially if it's a topic that doesn't need to be memorized but rather needs to be understood so you can repeatedly get the answer right (like algebra). Hope that helps!

For me personally, making a plan and sticking to that timeline was very helpful. Being organized is the first step. It can be very overwhelming to look at the amount of material you need to review; this becomes intimidating and then people just give up. I would breakdown the material into smaller sections and then set a timeline to complete each section. Chapter 1 by Tuesday, Chapter 2 by Thursday, etc. This made the material seem much more manageable. I felt like I only needed to focus on just 1 small section at a time and once I completed that, I was able to check it off the list and move on. The feeling of accomplishing something and checking it off made it easier to move onto the next section. I really feel that getting organized and having a plan you will stick with is the key.

Hi Minh, I think all we have presented this challenge at some point in our lives, one of the strategies that I apply and that works for me is first make a list of all the classes you need to take in a period, once you have the list identify the classes that are going to be demanding for you and try to schedule those classes at the beginning of the week or at the time you know that you are more alert and with more energy, this is going to help you to put all your attention and energy to this class and you are going to have better results as if you schedule this class at the end of the week or for later, as sometimes we do with those things we don't like; this also apply when you need to study, you need to start with those topics that will require al your attention and energy and end with those that are easy for you.
I have found that if you do this and adding the techniques like the ones mentioned above the results are going to be the ones that you expect.
I hope my advice helps you!!

You will need to focus on stress and time management. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>

I agree with all the great tips that Scott has recommended. I would just add that many new college students also struggle with time management. When you only have two or three classes a day, it appears that you have a lot of free time, but this can be quite deceiving! It's important to use your down time to review the wealth of information that you just learned. Think of how many different subjects you learn in one day! It's a good idea to study, review, and read, to commit the information to long-term memory. This is as opposed to studying all night for a big test, maybe being able to get a decent grade because you reviewed so closely to the exam (the recency effect), but it might not be something you remember in the long-term.

Set a good schedule for yourself to study during the entire semester, on most days. If you have an hour or two between classes, it is a perfect time to find a quiet spot and study. This will save you from so much stress come exam time. Don't forget to schedule sleep too! Good luck!