As most parents of college prep students know, doing well in high school is critical if students wish to earn lots of scholarship money for college. It also entails a great deal of effort. While researching successful scholarship winners for my book, Free College, I discovered these students have a strategy for lightening the load. They use study groups and/or study buddies. In Chapter 8 of Free College, you can read the stories of several of these students.
While on Twitter, I
look for people who have expertise in the topics included in my book, so I
may share what they know with families of future college students. One such
person is Melodieann Whiteley, retired US navy cryptologist, network marketer
and author of Getting To Yes. She has
a great deal of experience in working with groups. Because of her knowledge and familiarity with teamwork, I asked her to share some of her insights in a
guest post for my blog, RoadToFreeCollege.com. Although what she has written is
aimed at college students, every word applies to high school students as well.
Do You Want to Succeed in College? Create a Study Group
According to those who
have been there before, the key to success in law or business school is getting
in with the right study group. These
partners not only give you buddies to study with, they keep you accountable and
on-task. If you let yourself down, you
let down the whole group.
I would actually take
that a bit further. I believe that a
study group is invaluable no matter your field of study. Finding accountability partners can be key to
a successful college experience. A good
study group can support your efforts, help you brainstorm problems, and keep
you on schedule. The right study group
can mean the difference between passing and failing.
How is this
possible? I was a college student once
upon a time. And though it has been
quite a few years, I remember what it was like.
I doubt that the mentality of the average college student has changed
drastically in that time. I remember…
I remember needing to
prepare for an upcoming exam. But there
was a party happening that night. Or
something interesting on television. Or
maybe I just got caught up chatting with friends in the lounge. And before you knew it, study time had come
and gone. And I was left pulling the
well-known “all-nighter” to ensure that I passed the exam. I may have had fun doing all these things,
but I paid for it with lack of sleep, increased stress and most likely a lower
grade than if I had been well-prepared.
But a study group can
help prevent procrastination. Because
most groups meet a specific time, there is a commitment in place. An appointment to meet. And if you are late, or skip the group
altogether, the other group members should hold you accountable. So while I may have wanted to really go to
that party, knowing I would have to face my fellow group members and explain
was enough to make me reconsider.
I remember my
Philosophy class. I was a science
major. Philosophy? Why did I need that? Because I was attending a Catholic college
that felt all students should take at least one philosophy class. And so there I was reading Kant, Plato and
Descartes and being thoroughly bored and confused.
Thankfully, one of the
members of my study group loved philosophy!
And he was more than willing to share with the rest. So instead of spending time reading and
rereading something that held no interest for me other than the fact that it
was required and I wanted to pass, I was able to learn quickly simply by having
my friend explain what I did not understand.
So a study group
helped me learn something faster and more thoroughly than if I had tried to
learn it on my own.
I would like to say
that it also instilled in me a love for – or at least an interest in –
philosophy…but I’d be lying.
Which brings me to the
next way a study group can be beneficial.
While I am still not
an avid reader of Aristotle or David Hume, the time spent in my study group did
help me see many things from a new point of view. While philosophy as a whole was not of
interest to me, many of the subjects that came up for discussion during class
were. And I had a very strong opinion on
them based on my small town experience.
But discussing these subjects with others with very different
backgrounds and experiences often made me see things from a new
perspective. As we would discuss the
material from class, all of these different viewpoints became part of the
discussion. And I was forced to think
about and sometimes defend my position.
When you are asked to give actual reasons, backed up with facts, for a
particular position, you tend to study the topic much more thoroughly.
And so a study group
can help you develop your critical thinking skills, increase your verbal
communication skills, and cause you to make a more in-depth study of the subject.
There are many more
reasons that study groups are beneficial.
You can learn new skills. Fill in
gaps in your learning. Hone your people
skills. That is if you find the right
group. Not all groups are created
equal. It’s important to make sure you
fill the group with the right people.
Here’s what to look
for in your own study group:
A variety of skills
and experiences: The best groups have
members with varied skills, backgrounds, and interest. That way they can all advise each other and
provide different perspectives on the same topics. If everyone has exactly the same backgrounds,
you may have a lot in common, but you won’t be able to brainstorm as
effectively.
Similar commitment
level. The most important element may
very well be a common level of commitment to your goals, whatever they may
be. If one member is a little lax and
the others are all gung ho, the mismatch will soon drive everyone crazy and may
cause bad feelings.
Regular meeting times.
Make a regular weekly or even daily appointment and keep it! Nothing will
submarine a group faster than no-shows or constantly changing meeting times.
Structured
meetings. No I don’t mean scripted down
to the last minute with an agenda. But
at least having a time limit on off-topic discussions or how long each member
can talk will ensure no one hogs the whole time – or never shares his or her
questions and ideas at all.
Resource sharing. One of the most valuable roles in a study
group is the sharing of recommendations and referrals. Are you especially close to the Congressman
back home who is looking for summer clerks?
Is your mom, the lawyer, interested having an intern? Your study group friends may be looking for
exactly that!
One final thing to
keep in mind is that study groups, like friendships, are created
differently. Some will last a semester
or two. Some may last only a few weeks
or months. I belong to a virtual
mastermind that is comprised of several friends from my old college study
groups. (Yes, even my philosophy-loving friend!) We kept in touch over the years and with the
advent of social media and technology, now meet via Zoom every week to discuss
our businesses! Be ready to let your
group go if it’s no longer meeting your needs.
It will be hard, but if it’s not helping you further your goals, it may
be time to study by yourself.
You are reading from the blog, RoadtoFreeCollege.com, where we empower families with knowledge to navigate the path to higher education without the burden of excessive loans.
For more information, you’ll want my book, Free College, CLICK HERE. It teaches families how to help their kids become more successful in school, college, and life.
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Photo Credit: Melodieann Whitely
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