How much time should I spend studying?

[Sankaku]

Also if we take me as an example, I got an almost perfect long term memory.

If he had perfect memory, he wouldn't be here asking for advice. Your personal situation may not be applicable.

 

[Klockan3]

If he had perfect memory, he wouldn't be here asking for advice. Your personal situation may not be applicable.

I am always torn on these issues, I want to believe that people can do this like I do but I have noticed that in general it is much easier to help people under the assumption that they can't. But to me it seems derogatory to just assume that everyone is "dumber" till they prove otherwise so I usually start with the assumption that they can work like me and then I adjust from there.

But on the other hand when you put a standard like that then you implicitly say that those who don't live up to it are bad. But I love discussing questions concerning learning, didactics etc, much because I really can't stop believing that people can absorb material like I do if they just did things differently, or at least much better than they do today. I don't believe that it should take 40 hours a week for anyone just doing some undergrad classes.

But yeah, that is just an ideal dream. You won't solve todays problems thinking about how you want things to be tomorrow.

 

[Archi]

Wow fairly honest answers. I was expecting replies like "It only takes me 30min to read and understand every concept in every textbook I have ever read." ;) Yeah 2-3 hours study per week for every lecture hour is a great rule of thumb. That amount of time is a realistic goal, and enough to make it quite difficult to get behind.

 

[TeacupPig]

Personally, I find it impossible to study more than 8 hours a day over any period that is longer than a few weeks. When there are no lectures, I usually do about 6 hours (e.g. doing research [theoretical] or preparing for an exam). My habit is to go to university for about 8 or 9 hours a day and then use about 2-3 hours of that time to take some breaks.

Numbers in the region of 10hours+ sound really unhealthy to me, even if it is lab work. And I wouldn't believe any theoretician who claims doing more than 8 hours of productive desk work (should be comparable to regular studying). Anyway, most students I know do considerably less (even if they won't admit it)

Well, if you want to work more, I think the best way is to work e.g. 6 hours every day. 42 hours of good work (no distractions, no hang-over etc.) should be enough to get the most out of your potential.

 

[lisab]

Wow fairly honest answers. I was expecting replies like "It only takes me 30min to read and understand every concept in every textbook I have ever read." ;) Yeah 2-3 hours study per week for every lecture hour is a great rule of thumb. That amount of time is a realistic goal, and enough to make it quite difficult to get behind.

We do get that sort of thing from time to time. Sure, there are a few people out there who can do very despite minimal time spent studying. But most of us mere mortals really have to work for it .

 

[Learnphysics]

These answers are excellent guys. I see now that i can't just hope to "do everything the teacher says" and keep up, and that I'v got to undertake some independent study.

I think education is not so much based on intellect but based on the self-discipline to cultivate and maintain intellect.

I just wasn't putting enough time in.