There are many advantages to being in study groups for your classes: you’ll stay motivated by having set times to study, you’ll be able to discuss the material (which should improve your understanding), and you’ll develop connections with people who have the same academic interests as you. However, to build a supportive study group, it’s important to have a plan rather than expecting to figure it out as you go along. Here are some strategies to consider.
1. Find the Right People
Talk to other students in your class to see who may be interested in joining your study group. Aim for the group to be between three and five members — this will be enough to keep the discussions active but not too large that some people won’t have the chance to speak. Choose students who you think will be committed to using the sessions for studying, such as those who always arrive early to class and sit in the front row.
2. Pick a Time That’s Convenient for Everyone
Another reason it’s important to keep your study group small is that it will be difficult to find a time that works for everyone if there are too many people. You’ll need to find a time when you’re able to meet each week for an hour or two when no one has classes, extracurriculars, or other commitments.
3. Decide Where to Meet
Choose a place where there’s enough space for everyone and where you’re able to study in peace. This could be on campus (such as in the library), at a nearby coffee shop, or at someone’s off-campus housing — especially if the housing has study rooms.
4. Create a Structure for Your First Meeting
To avoid feeling awkward, come up with a structure for the first meeting in advance. If you don’t know each other well, start with a few icebreakers, such as about why you each chose the class and what your career goals are. After this, you may like to use the time to discuss what you learned in the most recent lecture, read the chapter of the textbook together and talk about it, work through homework problems, or quiz each other for an upcoming test. Figure out what’s most helpful for you.
5. Ask Everyone to Come Prepared
Make sure everyone brings the appropriate materials to your study sessions. This will likely include textbooks, notes, study guides, flash cards, and practice problems.
6. Focus on Studying
Make sure you use your study session for studying — not for socializing. The students in your group may end up becoming your friends, but you need to support each other by only using the time you’ve set for activities related to the class.
7. Seek Extra Support When You Need It
You may find you run into problems occasionally, even with your study group helping you. Remember to seek support in other places — and encourage group members to do the same. You may need to use office hours with your professor, take advantage of academic services like the writing center, or find a tutor.
Key to forming a supportive study group is having somewhere to meet up each week that’s not too far from campus and where you won’t face distractions. You’ll find this right where you live if you move out of Georgian College residence and into Arcadian Students. In addition to your spacious suite, you’ll have access to study rooms that are ideal for working on assignments alone as well as in a group. Pay us a visit to check out all our great amenities.