"Two hours for every hour."

[nachtspiegel]

At orientation for my freshman year of college, I was told that you have to spend two hours outside of class for every hour in class studying each week. (That wasn't the first time I heard that.) For example, I'll be taking twelve credit hours (maybe fifteen,) so that would be 36 to 45 hours a week with study time and class time combined. I honestly can't do that. I'm not dropping below full time status, but I have to keep working.

How true have you found that rule to be for you?

[Gumleaf]

hmmm, that sounds like a guide to me. thats their suggested hours. at my school for year 10 they suggest that we should study 2 hours every night. in reality, it doesn't happen, but doesn't affect workload or exams in a huge way.

[AutumnDae]

My sister....did not spend 2 hours for every hour, and she's in college. I think, if you really don't understand something, then yes, you're going to have to spend more time studying that subject. But if it's pretty simple, maybe half an hour a night studying, maybe less.

And even though I'm not a freshman in college, I definitely do not spend 2 hours for every hour in my classes. That would mean almost....10 hours of studying a night.

[nachtspiegel]

This semester, I'm not taking anything that should be too hard. My sister was in the same spot two years ago and she primarily had a lot of reading to do. I know several people that have worked full time and gone to school full time, and even though they were on a thin wire all the time, they managed.

[INFERNO]

It depends on the subject. For me, for psychology, generally I don't spend that much simply because it "clicks" very fast. The same with anatomy and physiology courses. Genetics took more work. Chemistry (organic) and physics took even more.

So, that rule I wouldn't adhere to for all courses: prioritize over what courses you're better/worse at, amount of work, amount of non-academic things to do, etc... . You'll find though that for tests and especially exams, then it is over 2 hours for most people.

[Atonement]

Depends on the courses. I mean, if you have some lighter weight courses, you won't need to do all those, but planning/being prepared to sacrifice two hours for homework. I think they say that not to say how much homework you "will" have, but how much homework you "could" have. I mean, I had an algebra and trig class where I spent... maybe 10 minutes outside of school studying a week, and passed with a 94. Depending on your courses and the teacher, you should be able to manage it.

[Jean Poutine]

At orientation for my freshman year of college, I was told that you have to spend two hours outside of class for every hour in class studying each week. (That wasn't the first time I heard that.) For example, I'll be taking twelve credit hours (maybe fifteen,) so that would be 36 to 45 hours a week with study time and class time combined. I honestly can't do that. I'm not dropping below full time status, but I have to keep working.

How true have you found that rule to be for you?
Bullshit.

I don't even open my books at home and my average is an A in the lolmerican letter grade system.

Taking notes and reading them and doing homework has never done much for me. I hate paperwork.

Just listen in class - actively listen. I find that you retain much more than if you just cram your notes after every class day.