How to Get Straight A's at WSU - WSU study tips from a Coug student

by Connor Weller December 6, 2025

It can be a shock to get used to classes in college. You have to be much more self sufficient and find what works for you. I have compiled a lot of tips from my time at WSU for creating good study habits so you can have a great first semester. Every person thrives in a different environment so a big part of studying is learning what works best for you. It may take a few months to refine your study habits and make a good routine.

Tip #1 learn how to take notes

Taking notes during class is an important skill to have to be successful. First figure out what style of notetaking works best. Some good options may include typing up notes on your laptop, handwriting notes, recording lectures, (if your prof allows it) printing out lecture slides, or you can even get a notetaker if you need accommodations. Here's some general tips for great notetaking:

Keep your notes brief but include important details. You won't have time time to write everything down word for word so use shorthand that you will be able to understand when you look back at your notes later.
Write down all the important information. I can't tell you how many times I learned a new concept in class and thought I understood it enough to not take any notes on it but then once exams came around I had completely forgotten what I needed to know because I didn't write it down.
Make a study guide. When you are going over old notes in preparation for exams I found a useful way to study was by making a study guide. Instead of just reading over your notes or textbook write down all the information you need to know in a condensed format. Not only will creating a study guide help you figure out what you know and what you need to review more, but it will be easier to look at than pages and pages of notes that you have taken throughout the semester.

Tip #2 find the right place to study

First, it is helpful to know what kind of environment you study best in. It could be a café with some background noise, with a group of friends, or a room in the library that is dead silent. Personally I found it tough to study in my dorm and it was best to go somewhere with less distractions. Studying in the same place I was living usually led to just turning on Netflix instead or taking a nap to avoid what I needed to work on. These were some of my favorite places on the WSU campus to study

Owen Science and Engineering library
Connor knows all the other places

Tip #3 schedule time to study

It's no secret that college students tend to procrastinate. I found myself putting things off any chance I could because I felt like I would have time later. When you intentionally set aside some time to study it cuts down on procrastinating. If you have an hour or two between classes, that is a perfect time to schedule some study time and make it a part of your routine.

Tip #4 don't cram for exams

This is easier said than done but putting off all your studying and assignments until the last minute is rarely a successful strategy. Space out all your readings and assignments so that you do not have to do them all in one night. Getting a good nights sleep in important before a big exam so pulling an all nighter is not a great way to make sure you remember everything you need to.

Tip #5 go to office hours

Sometimes independent study can only get you so far. Having some one on one time with your professor is what you need to really understand the topic. Especially for complicated subjects like chemistry or calculus you really need to have a good understanding of those core concepts. Never be afraid to go to office hours, your profs are there to help you succeed plus they are happy to have students come by and ask questions so they don't have to sit in their office alone waiting for a student to come by.

Tip #6 find a study buddy in each class

Collaborating with other students is awesome. Studying with other people helps to keep you on track and held accountable. Besides study groups there are a lot of other ways to get help from your classmates. Join a discord server for your class or faculty. You can ask questions or have a virtual study room where other students can join your voice chat. Make a group chat with other people in your class so you can set up times to study together or to ask for help on tough assignments.

Tip #7 stay organized

Especially if you are taking a lot of classes, having some way to organize and remember all your deadlines is super important. There have been several occasions where I completely forgot about an assignment that was due because I wasn't staying organized. Once you get your syllabus, transfer all the due dates and assignments into a calendar of your choosing so you have everything in one place. Here's a few ways I would recommend to keep track of due dates.

Keep a daily planner. If you like to have a physical reminder of everything you need to do get a planner where you can write down all the readings and assignments you need to do.
Google Calendar. If you prefer an online calendar this is a great option you would use the same as a physical planner
Trello. This is an online platform I would highly recommend checking out. You can make lists with all your assignments from each class and organize them in a way that makes sense to you
Have a whiteboard with important dates and deadlines. Having a visual reminder of all your assignments placed by your desk or where you can always see it cuts down on forgetting about important due dates.
Excel. Take all your readings, assignments, and exams listed in your syllabus and put them into excel organized by due date, That way you can see what weeks you have the most work to do and you can plan accordingly.

Tip #8 go to class

This one may seem obvious but it is way too easy to get into the habit of sleeping through those early morning classes. Skipping classes will make studying a whole lot harder when exams come around. If you have to skip a class or you end up sleeping through it make sure you have a study buddy who you can ask for notes from the class you missed.