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Don’t Study Harder – Study Better!

Photo Credit: TheAtlantic.com

It is no shock to anyone that grades are the most important piece of the admissions and athletic recruitment puzzle. The transcript is the first thing admissions officers will see - and many student-athletes may be surprised that college coaches also prioritize seeing a strong academic performance. When I meet with students who are struggling with schoolwork, one of the main takeaways is often to focus more on their grades. This is critical to whether students will be recruited for a particular rugby program or admitted to their top choice school. I’ll ask, “So, what do you plan to do to bring your grades up?” and the common answer is, “I’ll study harder.” As I push students to elaborate on what this means, it’s interesting to hear that most of the time, “studying harder” means “studying more,” as in “spending more time reading, re-reading, writing notes, highlighting, and so on. A month or so later, upon checking in, the students will share that even if they commit more time to “studying,” they still aren’t doing better in school, retaining the information, or learning more. This got me thinking – there MUST be a better way for students who feel caught in this cycle of wanting to do better, being unable to do so, and ultimately giving up.

Here are the Top 6 Tips for Effective Studying:

  1. Spaced practice – spread out short study sessions over time (No cramming!)

  2. Interleaving – don’t spend too much time on one topic for too long

  3. Elaboration – ask yourself why and how things work

  4. Concrete Examples – relate to real-life examples

  5. Dual Coding – combine your notes with visuals

  6. Retrieval Practice – recall what you know

Here is the video explaining each of these strategies:


Last, I urge students to find their voice and ask for help. If you fall behind or do not understand concepts, find time to speak with your teachers, ask your school counseling office if there are tutoring recommendations (many times, they have good insight into peer tutors), and talk to your parents, who will provide support. It is good practice to find methods of asking for help in college. Most college professors offer "office hours" for students to come get extra support, but it is incumbent on the student to seek help. You can do it!! Edited from: http://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/8/18-1


Did you know? The higher your test scores are, the more money you may be awarded and the more college options you will have! Contact our preferred provider, Arbor Bridge. Email Kate@Arborbridge.com to get set up for a free consultation, diagnostic test, or practice lesson today!


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