Why Join a Study Group?
Do you learn by teaching? Is it easier for you to stay on track in studying when there are peers by your side? Maybe you can’t make your professor’s office hours? Try a study group!
As a first-year student at UC Berkeley who practiced mostly solo studying before coming to college, forming study groups was a scary idea at first. The thought of somehow hand-picking the most productive strangers from my discussions or asking them for contact information upon the first meeting was… awkward. However, these awkward interactions that I pushed myself to have resulted in some of my most unexpected and beloved friendships. The weirdness fades, and turns into productive and reliable friendships that all began with a little awkwardness, guesswork, organization, and mindfulness.
Who Should Be in My Study Group?
My favorite piece of advice is to try meeting new people! While it might feel uncomfortable, get in the habit of exchanging contact information with anyone you get to know in class. Turn those icebreakers that we all hardly tolerate into a way to start building connections with classmates. The more people you meet, the more opportunities you have to find people you learn with and from (not to mention more chances of developing friendships!). Start group chats early, but be inclusive of your peers who use alternative messaging like WeChat and WhatsApp—it might be best to opt for something neutral like Discord where accounts are based on emails and not phone numbers.
Of course, there’s also the somewhat obvious route of enlisting people you’re already friends with—which is perfectly fine! However, I urge you to assess your and their study habits, and consider whether they work well together. Ask yourself questions like: Do I work best discussion-style or in silence? Can they offer me new perspectives and points of view? Will we get distracted?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who seem more knowledgeable than you in the subject you’re learning! By the end of our first few weeks of learning together, my physics labmates and I realized that one of us learned well by teaching (and happened to be quite knowledgeable on the subject already), and the other two not only recalled a lot of the information he taught us, but also found asking questions of him much more comfortable than asking our GSI. Our study and information-absorption habits and patterns meshed well, and definitely contributed to our learning in the course.
How to Organize Study Time
To stay consistent and on track, I found it helpful to have an unofficial schedule; my friends and I knew we were all free on weekends and met almost every single one of the semester. Keep in mind that conflicts will arise, but it’s easy to have a backup plan like Zoom or even sending questions from solo studying to a group chat or Discord channel (which is why I highly recommend making them early on!).
Keep in mind that as you progress in your academics, you will likely start meeting more and more people who commute to school or live off campus (this also applies to people who commute between school and home), which certainly might make organization tougher. My study group opted for Zoom for our physics study sessions because of the whiteboard feature. In a larger group, the hand raising option is fantastic in discussions and Q&A sessions. While online learning is always an option, make sure to consult with your group and see what works best for as many people as possible—some people don’t work well online!
In a larger group, I’ve also found it helpful to assign group “roles” for each study session. Someone to manage time and tasks, someone to lead discussions and to make sure everyone’s questions are answered, and so on. These roles can rotate between study sessions or remain static—whatever works best!
You will also likely want to study more when nearing exams or papers, so plan ahead and contact group members early. Note that not everyone will prefer group studying, so be mindful, respectful, and communicative of how much time you’re hoping or willing to spend.
Lastly, choosing a location is very important! You can request private study rooms in most libraries on campus if you’re planning to talk or discuss. Many residence halls also have communal lounges or study spaces that are open to all uses. Cafes are also a fun change of pace. If I know I’ll be doing a lot of solo studying and don’t want to get distracted, I’ll invite a couple friends to come with me for a fun drink and a bustling environment (which somehow keeps me focused). Some cafes around Berkeley allow you to use their spaces without making a purchase, but some do not! Additionally, many cafes don’t allow food/beverages from outside of their establishment—be respectful of this as well. Optimizing studying looks different for everyone, so don’t be afraid to find what and where looks best for you! Some of these hidden study spots might be fun to try.
A study room inside of Moffitt Library.
Be Mindful
Many students have jobs, clubs, functions, and lives outside of studying and it’s highly likely that not everyone will be able to make it every single time, and that’s okay! I’d like to emphasize that this is why I encourage exchanging information with as many people as possible. Additionally, many lower division courses have designated or student-made Discord channels, which are good for finding support from your peers. Having spaces like this makes it easy to communicate in little moments of free time as opposed to having to dedicate or commit large chunks of your day to studying.
Keeping notes for absent group members is an underrated courtesy! Most people already do it for themselves, and it only takes a few minutes to share a google doc or scan and send off paper notes.
Finally, be mindful of those studying around you. Study rooms in libraries are not completely sound proof, so keep your voices at an appropriate volume. Residence hall lounges and study spaces are open to everyone living there so be prepared to possibly share a space. And don’t sprawl out your belongings in public spaces, especially during busy times like midterm seasons and RRR week (the week before finals week).
Forging Friendships
All of my study groups at Cal so far have turned into some of my most treasured friendships. My history discussion group became a haven for our open-note, online exam questions, and now we plan to keep up with each other in our second year at Cal through occasional meals. My physics labmates slowly became homework helpers, then exam co-studiers, and eventually board game buddies in our free time. We also plan to continue studying together for our next physics class even though we’ll have different professors and discussions.
My physics labmates and me playing a German board game together.
In my opinion, study groups are not simply for studying; I’ll leave you to figure out what exactly they’ll mean to you.
Study Group Tips
- Be bold and make new connections in class.
- Talk about learning styles and expectations for how your group will work at the start.
- Agree on tools and time commitments when you get started.
- Consider setting up Discord servers for your group or another shared workspace where you can check in with your group, share notes, and ask questions throughout the semester.
- Build out a suggested schedule at the start of the semester that takes into account prep for exams and important assignment deadlines.
- Take notes and save or share them with each other in case people miss a study session.
Milana Berhe, Class of 2028, is majoring in astrophysics and political science and minoring in creative writing. Feature image by by Keegan Houser.
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