Study Skills
and
College Success

Getting control of study habits and time management are two major concerns of college students. Learning to study effectively requires more than simply spending more time studying. To achieve academic success it is important to develop the right attitude toward study and learn ways to improve the quality of study efforts.

Web Resources

Dr. King's Exam Hints - Test taking tips from Dr. Kathleen King at Idaho State University.

Study Skills – Memory Principles

Study Tip of the Week - Effective studying tips from Ohio University's Academic Advancement Center

Study Strategies Home Page - A unique and innovative resource of study strategy tips maintained by the University of Minnesota - Duluth.

Library Books

The following books discuss test-taking strategies, reading for results, note-taking skills, time management, the development of study plans and other skills for success in college and beyond. All of the books touch on some aspect of improving those attitudes and behaviors necessary for taking personal control of your learning.

The Black Student's Guide to College Success. Edited by Ruby D. Higgins. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993. LC 2781 .B4656 1993

Burns, Tom.  Essential Study Skills. Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage, 2003. LB2395 .B87 2003.

Campbell, William E. The Power to Learn: Helping Yourself to College Success. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1997. LB 2343 .C323 1997

Chapman, E.N. The College Experience: Your First Thirty Days on Campus. Los Altos: Crisp Publications, 1990. LB 23343.3 .C483 1990

Diestler, Sherry. Becoming a Critical Thinker: A User Friendly Manual. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998. LB 2395.35 .D54 2001

Ellis, David. Becoming a Master Student. Rapid City, SD: College Survival, 1991.
LB 2343.3 .E44

Gardner, John N. Your College Experience: Strategies for Success. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1997. LB 2343.32 .Y68 1997

Gibbs, John. Dancing With Your Books: The Zen Way of Studying. New York: Plume, 1990. LB 2395 .G43 1990

Green, Gordon W. Getting Straight A's. Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart, Inc., 1985. LB 1049 .G729

Groccia, James E. The College Success Book: A Whole-Student Approach to Academic Excellence. Lakewood, CO: Glenbridge Publishing, 1992. LB 2395 .G75 1992

Hamachek, Alice.  Coping with College: a Guide for Academic Success.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.  LB2343.3 .H36 2002

Holkeboer, Robert. Right From the Start: Managing Your College Career. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1996. LB 2343.32 H65 1996

Lenier, Minnette. Keys to College: Reading and Study Improvement. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998. LB 2395 .L447 1998

Lengefeld, Uelaine. Study Skills Strategies: Your Guide to Critical Thinking. Los Altos, CA: Crisp Publications, 1987. LB 2395 .L46 1987

Lewis, Nora J. Student Time Manager. Oakville, ON: Trilobyte Press, 1992. LB 2395 .L49 1992.

Includes tips on developing study charts and weekly schedules, writing daily to-do-lists and preparing long-term time management skills.

McWhorter, Kathleen T. College Reading and Study Skills. New York: Longman, 1998. LB2395.3 .M386 1998

McWhorter, Kathleen T. Study and Critical Thinking Skills in College.  NY: Pearson/Longman, 2006.  LB2395 .M445

Mach, Mark.  How to Succeed in College.  Lanham, MD  ScarecrowEducation, 2004  LB2343.32 .M27

O'Day, Danton H. How to Succeed at College. Oakville, Ont: Trilobyte Press, 1991.
LB 2343.3 .O33 1991

Reynolds, Jean A. College Success: Study Strategies and Skills. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1996. LB 2343.3 R49 1996.

Rooney, Robert. Learn to be the Master Student. Silver Springs, MD: Maydale Publishing, 1992. LB 1049 .R66 1992

Helps students learn to develop confidence, establish goals, improve memory and practice proven study strategies and skills.

Smith, Laurence. The Mountain is High Unless You Take the Elevator: Success Strategies For Adults. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1992. LC 5225 .M47 S65 1992

Sotiriou, Peter E.  Integrating College Study Skills.  Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning, 2002.  LB2395 .S597 2002

Van Blerkom, Dianna L. College Study Skills: Becoming a Strategic Learner. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1997. LB 295 .V36 1997

Additional Sources

Ramsey Library continuously acquires new material in all subject areas. For the most recent titles on this topic, search the library catalog using one or more of the subject headings listed below.

Subject Searching:

College Student Orientation
Study, method of
Study skills
Students - time management

Keyword Searching:

You may also identify titles of interest by performing keyword searches. Simply type in several distinctive words describing your topic and the online catalog will retrieve and display titles in which all of these words appear in the catalog record for that title.

Keyword search examples:

learning strategies
note-taking

The University Library

Learning to use libraries is an important part of an overall plan for achieving academic success. Become familiar with the library and its resources early in your academic career. The library is a wonderful place for quiet study and access to research materials. You are always welcome there and should feel free to ask for assistance at any time.

Ramsey Library Services

Reference Service provides assistance in locating information and materials, instruction in the use of library resources or equipment, and guidance in choosing the material most appropriate for your needs.

ABC Express is a cooperative arrangement among the libraries at UNCA, Western Carolina University (WCU) and Appalachian State University (ASU) for the loan of library materials. If you need books or periodicals from ASU or WCU, you may request that those items be sent to you here at UNCA. Materials are delivered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Interlibrary Loan Service is available for library users who need access to material not held by those libraries participating in ABC Express.

Study Rooms - The library has individual study carrels, group study rooms, and private study rooms for major research projects.

Laptop Lending - Ramsey Library lends laptops to UNCA students for use in the library building. Laptops come with MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., and a network card for accessing the Internet and the library's online resources.

Campus Academic Support Services

Information Technology Services operates several computer laboratories, which are open to all students. Computers in these labs have productivity software that is suitable for the preparation of class assignments. Student Lab Assistants, who will provide help with basic computer applications are available in the main lab, located in Robinson 006.

The Mathematics Assistance Center invites all students to come by whenever they need help in math for any UNCA course. (323 Robinson Hall)

Advising and Learning Support Center  is an academic resource center where students can go to get questions answered and find assistance with tutoring. (107 Lipinsky Hall)

  The Writing Center provides assistance in composition for anyone in the University community. (136 Ramsey Library)

Study Techniques*

Once you have developed a positive study attitude and selected the study theory that you believe will be most effective for you, study techniques pay off. Here are some tips to consider. Keep in mind that you will eventually develop your own individual study style that helps you achieve your academic goals with the least expenditure of time.


STUDY WHERE THE ACTION ISN'T. Individual study is a lonely business. It takes a strong person to shut out the rest of the world and sweat it out alone. But you must do it to create an atmosphere that will permit you to concentrate.

SHIFT YOUR MIND QUICKLY INTO A STUDY GEAR. Sit down at your study station, get your notebook and pencil ready, open your textbook, and then say to yourself, "Whatever this author has to tell me in this chapter, I'm going to learn - and fast."

ONCE YOUR MIND IS IN GEAR, KEEP IT THERE. If you are not careful, you'll lose your forward motion. This can happen if you read so fast you miss the meaning of the words.

KNOW YOUR STUDY LIMITATIONS. You will reach a point of diminishing returns in any prolonged study period. .... Don't force yourself too far beyond your natural study limits.

REWARD YOURSELF. Most students can concentrate better and study harder if they have set up an immediate reward. Give yourself something pleasant to do after you have done some profitable studying -- not before.

*From The College Experience by E.N Chapman, page 20.

Comments to A. White-Carter
University of North Carolina -Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Last updated 6 February 2008

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