Starting university is an exciting time full of new experiences, newfound independence, and exploring different academic interests. However, it also comes with increased academic demands compared to high school. Many students struggle to adjust to the heavier workload, longer assignments, and higher expectations for independent learning at the university level.
As a student myself at a Canadian university, I’ve had to develop effective study strategies through trial-and-error to keep up with the challenging curriculum. In this blog post, I’ll share my top study tips that have helped me achieve academic success to pass along to other current or incoming Canadian university students.
Let’s dive in!
1. Go to Class
This may seem obvious, but attending lectures and tutorials is crucial, even if recordings are provided. There’s an invaluable experience of learning concepts explained directly from the professor. It’s easy to zone out or get distracted when watching a recording at home. Whereas being physically present in class holds you accountable and forces you to stay engaged.
Don’t underestimate the impact of participation too. Contributing to discussions, asking questions, and seeking clarification shows you’re an invested learner and improves your grasp of the material. Introduce yourself to your professors and get to know them – it strengthens your commitment to their courses.
2. Master Effective Note-Taking
You’ll be receiving a ton of new information in university lectures that you’re expected to understand, analyze, and apply long-term. Learning to take clear, organized, and comprehensive notes is a make-or-break skill.
Find a note-taking system that works for your learning style, whether that’s:
• The classic pen and paper approach
• Typed notes on a laptop/tablet
• Or combining handwritten & typed components
Experiment with different techniques like the Cornell Method, mind mapping, or charting lectures into a structured outline. Review your lecture notes the same evening to solidify your understanding.
Pay attention to how your professors emphasize certain concepts – underline, highlight, or annotate your notes so you can easily identify key takeaways when reviewing later. Quality note-taking requires active listening and participation, not just mindless transcribing. It’s worth putting in the effort.
3. Use a Planner/Calendar
Between lectures, seminars, labs, part-time jobs, student clubs, and trying to have a social life – it’s easy for commitments to pile up uncontrollably as a university student. Using a planner or calendar is a simple yet incredibly effective way to stay organized and on top of your busy schedule.
I prefer scheduling everything into a digital calendar that syncs across my devices and can set notifications for upcoming events. But classic paper planners work great too if you prefer handwriting things down.
Whenever you receive a new assignment, deadline, or commitment, log it into your planner immediately before it slips your mind. Check your planner daily to prepare for what’s coming up and plan out your time accordingly.
Block off dedicated study hours spread throughout the week rather than waiting until the last minute. Having everything scheduled out visually helps you see your availability at a glance and ensure you’re able to balance all your commitments without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Find Your Optimal Study Environment
Every student has their own unique habits and preferences for where they can study most effectively. It might be a quiet carrel at the library, a cozy cafe, or the comunal lounge areas in your campus buildings. Wherever it is, choose a dedicated study spot outside of your dorm room or house to minimize distractions.
Creating the right ambient conditions is important too. Do you concentrate better with or without music? What lighting works best? Make sure you have all the supplies you need beforehand like pens, paper, chargers, etc.
Personally, I thrive in minimalistic, quiet spaces with plenty of natural light. But some students prefer background noise like libraries, coffee shops, or atmospheric music playing. Pay attention to when and where you feel most focused and productive.
5. Practice Active Recall and Application
Reading and re-reading notes or textbooks is a passive study method that likely won’t translate to long-term learning and retention. You need to put in the effort to actively engage with the material for it to stick in your memory. The most highly effective studying involves practicing active recall through:
• Quizzing yourself using flashcards or apps like Anki
• Revisiting and redoing practice problems from homework, past tests, and question banks
• Participating in group study sessions to explain concepts back-and-forth
• Creating your own mock tests or thinking of real-world examples to apply theories
Building frequent self-testing into your studies requires more effort than passively reviewing. But it gets you recalling and applying information from memory, which is how you’ll need to demonstrate understanding during exams.
6. Find a Study Group
Studying with a small group of peers from your classes offers many benefits beyond individual review. Collaborating with classmates creates a powerful support system to:
• Ensure your notes capture a full understanding of the material
• Explain concepts to one another to identify gaps in your comprehension
• Brainstorm effective examples and applications of the material
• Prepare for tests by challenging each other with potential exam questions
Your study group can also provide a social outlet and help keep you motivated to stay on track. Just be mindful of minimizing distractions and staying productive during sessions.
Groups of 3-5 students tend to work best in my experience. Reach out to classmates you know or are interested in working with, or ask your professor or TA if they can put you in touch with others looking to form a study group.
7. Take Care of Yourself (Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise)
It’s easy for personal wellness to become an afterthought when you’re juggling heavy academic demands as a busy student. However, neglecting basic needs for sleep, nutrition, and physical activity is a surefire path to crashing both mentally and physically.
Proper sleep is critical for optimal focus, learning, and academic performance. While pulling occasional all-nighters may seem inevitable, it should be an absolute last resort. Lack of quality sleep hinders your ability to concentrate and interferes with memory consolidation.
Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet provides your brain with the nutrients and steady energy required for peak mental stamina. Avoid falling into patterns of skipping meals or relying excessively on sugary, caffeinated beverages and processed foods. These offer only temporary energy boosts that result in subsequent crashes.
Regular exercise, even just walking or stretching routinely, increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain for sustained stamina. It also relieves stress, anxiety, and brain fog – all of which impair focus and cognition for students.
8. Set Achievable Goals and Celebrate Small Wins
Progressing through challenging university courses and heavy workloads can sometimes feel like a constant grind. To make it through successfully, you need to set realistic goals for yourself and celebrate small achievements along the way.
At the beginning of each semester, review your course outlines and mark all major assignment due dates, exam periods, etc. Break these larger milestone goals into smaller, manageable objectives each week. These act as stepping stones so you don’t become overwhelmed.
Whenever you complete one of these smaller goals like finishing an assigned reading or problem set, take a moment to acknowledge your hard work. Treat yourself to a snack, brief break, or simply check it off in a satisfying way.
Consistently checking off boxes keeps you motivated through the semesters and feeling accomplished. Too often students only look ahead to the next monumental task without appreciating progress made already. Enjoying the little wins makes the larger goals feel within reach.
9. Be Present and Establish Routines
Between digital distractions from group chats, social media, and addictive phone games – it’s alarmingly easy to lose focus for prolonged periods as a university student. Make a conscious effort to minimize these distractions and be present in the current moment when studying.
Start by putting your phone on silent or enabling website blockers to restrict social media access during dedicated study sessions. Establishing firm daytime routines is key too – maintain consistent wake times, meal schedules, class attendance, and when to start/stop working each day. Having set routines removes decision fatigue about when to be productive.
Be strategic with the most challenging tasks too. Tackle your most demanding projects or courses earlier in the day when you have peak energy and attention. The more familiar you become with your own rhythms and patterns of focus, the better you can optimize your study efforts.
10. Leverage On-Campus Resources
No student is expected to navigate the challenges of university completely alone. All Canadian institutions provide an array of free resources and services you’ve already paid for through tuition. Take advantage of everything available to set yourself up for success.
Your university’s academic support resources likely include:
• Free tutoring centers and peer mentors
• Writing/math assistance
• Accessible learning services for students with disabilities
• Academic advisors to help plan your schedule strategically
• Resume review centers and career counseling
• Mental health counseling and wellness programs
Beyond academics, most campuses provide outstanding recreational facilities, arts/culture programming, research opportunities, and social clubs to facilitate a balanced lifestyle. Joining a few of these organizations enhances your overall university experience.
Don’t wait until you’re struggling before seeking out resources either. Successful students get proactive about understanding and utilizing these services from day one.
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Start with Academic Success
Entering university is the start of one of life’s greatest growth experiences – both academically and personally. It opens the door for you to gain essential knowledge, hone critical thinking abilities, and prepare for your future career.
However, with the increased demands of university also comes increased responsibility around developing effective study skills and habits. Mastering the strategies outlined here – using a planner, managing your time, active recall, productive routines, etc. – will put you in prime position to handle the academic rigors confidently.
By front-loading the effort and exercising student success skills from the beginning, you ensure all your hard work pays off. Commit to these practices and you’ll thrive in maximizing your university education.