Studying for Success

Our surveys show that students who immerse themselves in the academic experience enjoy school more and have higher grades. Advice from former students: go to class, don't cram for exams, ask questions when you don't understand, don't leave assignments until the last minute, take care of yourself, and get involved!

Planning to Study

In high school, students went to school all day and studied in the evening. In college students take courses
at various times of day and evening. Students should plan their study times to take advantage of time between classes. 1.5 - 2 hours of study time are better than long stretches of time. Here is what former students have to say about studying for academic success.

• Studying is vital to achieving your goals in any CBS major. Plan your schedule so that you have sufficient study time.
• Keep your job hours, socializing, and extracurricular activities to a minimum until you understand what it takes for you to succeed at UCD. Between living, classes, and studying you often have only 15-20 hours/week left for outside pursuits.
• If you must work 30 or more hours a week, you may wish to apply for part-time status (10 or fewer units). This usually does not affect the living expenses portion of your financial aid.
• You need to plan for a minimum of 15-20 hours per week of studying.
• Study between classes. Studying 1-2 hours several times during the day is better than long stretches of time.
• Find a study spot on campus as well as at home. Use it.
• Make sure you plan in some free time but be careful about going home on weekends. You usually need a significant portion of the weekend to study.

Polish Your Study Skills

The Learning Skills Center (LSC) in Dutton Hall offers workshops in time management, test-taking, note-taking as well as tutoring in some core courses. The staff also offer supplemental courses in calculus, general chemistry, and organic chemistry (known as "co-courses" or workshops).