How to Study

Find Out Where You Shine
It is the rare individual who is superior, or even good, in every subject.
If you are, count your blessings. Most of us are a little better in one
subject or another. Some of us simply like one subject more than
another—and don’t think that doesn’t change your attitude toward it.
Others are naturally gifted in one area, average in others.
For example, skill with numbers and spatial relationships may come
easily to you, but you may have absolutely no ear for music or lan-
guages. Or you may find learning a language to be a piece of cake, 
but not have the faintest clue why Pythagoras came up with his
Theorem—or why you should care. Some students are good with
their hands. Others (I’m in this group) may find making the simplest
item torturous (and the results laughable).
The reasons for such unequal distribution of native-born talents rest
somewhere in the area between karma and God, depending on your
philosophy.
My advice is to be thankful for whatever native-born talents you 
possess and use the gift as a double-edged sword. Shift some study
time from those tasks easily achieved to those that you find more
difficult. The balance you will see in your development will be well
worth the effort.
And if you’ve never really thought about the subjects you like and 
dislike, use the chart at the end of this chapter to identify them. You’ll
also be asked to identify those in which you perform well or poorly.
(Your report card should confirm those!) Use this list to organize your
own schedule to take advantage of your natural talents and give
added time to the subject areas that need the most work.
And If You Have a Choice
All college students—and some high school students—are able to pick
and choose courses according to their own schedules, likes, dislikes,
goals, etc. The bliss of such freedom should be tempered with the
commonsense approach you’re trying to develop through reading this
book. Here are a few hints to help you along:
How to Study
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Whenever possible, consider each professor’s reputation as
you decide whether to select a particular course, especially 
if it is an overview or introductory course offered in two or
three sessions. Word soon gets around as to which professors’
lectures are stimulating and rewarding—an environment in
which learning is a joy, even if it isn’t a subject you like! 
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If there’s a course you think you’d like to take but suspect or
know you can’t fit it in this semester (or even this year), take
the time now to check out course requirements, assignments,
reading lists, etc., and go to the first class. This is generally 
an overview of the entire course and the time when most 
professors hand out syllabuses, longterm assignments, and
suggested reading lists. You may not be sure you want to take
the course before that class, but you’ll certainly have a better
idea afterwards. 
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Attempt to select classes that balance your schedule on a
weekly and even a daily basis, though this will not always be
possible or advisable. (Don’t change your major just to fit your
schedule!) Try to leave an open hour or half-hour between
classes— it’s ideal for review, postclass note taking, quick trips
to the library, etc. 
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Try to alternate challenging classes with those that come more
easily to you. Studying is a process of positive reinforcement.
You’ll need encouragement along the way.
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Avoid late evening or early morning classes, especially if such
scheduling provides you with large gaps of “downtime.” And 
if you’re not a “morning person,” don’t even think of taking a
class that meets daily at 8 a.m. I did it my freshman year of
college and managed to get there, oh, at least three times. 
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Set a personal study pace and follow it. Place yourself on a
study diet, the key rule of which is: Don’t overeat.
The landscape is littered with the shadows of unsuccessful students who
have failed in their pursuits—not because they lacked the talent or moti-
vation, but because they just overloaded on information and pressure.
You can be successful without killing yourself!
Chapter 2
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How to Organize Your Studying
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