7 Tips to Help You Host a Study Group at Your Apartment

By Alicia Geigel on April 8, 2023

Studying on your own has its perks, but having a group of people to study with can be an effective way to gather and absorb information for your next big test or quiz. Hosting a study group can seem intimidating given the responsibilities that come with it, but if you follow these simple tips, you’ll have a solid group to study with, and be adequately prepared for your course test!

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1. Find the People You Want to Study With: The first and obvious step to hosting a successful study group is finding the people you want to study with. Gathering a group of people can be a little difficult, especially if you have a big lecture and don’t have many people to talk to. If you do have a select group of friends, then you have a great foundation to start your group, but if you don’t, you’ll have to do a search on your own. A student blog from the University of British Columbia offers a few recommendations, which include, “Ask your instructor if it would be possible for them to send out an email to connect interested students. Alternatively, set up a group on social media for your classmates to join. Many courses also offer discussion boards, whether on Canvas or Piazza.”

2. Determine Your Study Goals: Once you have an established group of people to study with, it is important to determine your goals and evaluate what you want to accomplish together during your study sessions. If you have a big midterm, a test, a quiz, or even a small project coming up, these are all good opportunities to host a study group. As you all are planning the study group, touch on everyone’s approach to learning, any weaknesses or strengths that each person may have, and how the work will be split up. Each person can have their own responsibility, like gathering information on a certain subject, making flashcards, typing out a study guide, etc.

3. Collect Everything You Need: Before your group begins to study, ask your professor the most important topics/concepts to focus on and what chapters to study. Next, ask your professor what the form of the questions on the test will be: will they be true/false, multiple choice, short answer, matching, etc.? Afterward, be sure to have everyone get the supplies and materials needed, so no one is rummaging around for some old notes or a textbook and wasting time. Have a notebook, a black and red pen, a pencil, a couple different-colored highlighters, your laptop (if you have one) and any notes/print-outs and books for the course so you have one less thing to worry about!

4. Cut Out Distractions: Unfortunately, there are many distractions that can be tempting when you’re working on schoolwork or studying for your next exam when you’re at home and with a group of people. We can all be vulnerable to distractions, and the most common ones can include: engaging in social media, texting, listening to music, and watching TV. Have your group silence their phones and put them on a table to minimize the risk of anyone being distracted.

5. Give Everyone Time to Speak: Each person in your study group has their own personality, learning style, approach to studying, etc., which at points can create tension amongst the group. If one person is learning faster than others, they might get frustrated at how slow things are moving. On the other hand, one person might like using a typed-out guide over flashcards, which can break up the flow of a group. As you are hosting the group, make sure everyone has time to speak and share their thoughts or questions about anything you are reviewing.

6. Take Breaks When Needed: When studying, one of the only things your group may be thinking about is taking a break. Believe it or not, cramming too much into one sitting can be detrimental to retaining information. To help everyone learn better, take short 5-10 minute breaks in between chapters/dense topics/etc. to help break up your study sessions. Not only will this give your group time to grab a snack or send out a few texts, but it will also leave everyone refreshed and ready to tackle the next section of your guide.

7. Set Up Virtual Meetings: Study groups are best conducted in person, but sometimes a situation may arise that takes everyone away from being in a physical environment together. In the case that the members of your group can’t make it to your apartment, set up a time to have virtual meetings through Zoom, Google Duo, Skype, Facetime, etc. to continue the work you started in your physical meeting.

Hosting a study group doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and with the help of everyone in your group, you can have a great studying experience that will undoubtedly give you a boost on an upcoming test!

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