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Whether you use a palm-pilot or Miami Memos, the key to developing a good schedule and managing your time, is to be realistic with your time. Know how much time you need to be a normal person (eat, sleep, personal care, work) and how much time you need to be a successful student (class, tutoring, supplemental instruction, independent studying). As mentioned previously, the rule-of-thumb is for students to study two hours for every one hour of class.
Considering that all courses are not the same, a personal approach may be more practical. Because some courses are more time consuming and challenging than others, by determining the difficulty level of each course and allotting appropriate time for the difficulty level, you can create a more realistic schedule for studying. For example, if you are taking a moderately easy course you may only need one hour of study time for every in-class hour; whereas, if you are taking a challenging course you may need three hours of study time for every in-class hour. (see chart below)
Study Time
The first rule for successful studying is to establish specific times to study within your schedule. Do not assume that you will simply study when not in class. Be thoughtful about when is the best time to study a specific subject and include it on your master schedule.
Many students prefer to study multiple subjects in large chunks of time. Often these study times are designated in the evenings after classes are completed for the day. Other students prefer studying continuously throughout the day and into the evening.
A useful and effective method for organizing study time is to use the time immediately before and immediately following each class to study. This method allows you to effectively use time between classes and to create large blocks of time to study a specific subject. This type of focused study increases comprehension and retention.
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Time Management Guidebook |