It is no surprise that college success depends on studying well. What may surprise you is that studying in college differs from other tasks in five ways.

First, you don’t get to pick all that you must study in college, but usually must take courses required for a major or degree. The lack of passion and less than full commitment to master the information is a distraction itself. For this reason, it’s so much easier for a friend or classmate to lure you away from a task you didn’t want to do in the first place.

To solve this problem, find aspects of the courses that tie in with your goals and about which you can develop interest.

Second, perhaps, like most students, you approach studying as preparation for a test. If, instead, you approach studying as a way to absorb information for the purpose of understanding it and being able to apply it, you will not only be prepared for tests, but enjoy long-lasting benefits of your study time.

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