It is an organized schedule that designates study times, educational goals, and strategies to be used to achieve the set goals and objectives. Just like a work or school schedule, a study plan outlines the time, day, and the exact courses.
A study plan is a key tool that will help you soar to great heights in your educational endeavors. It will help you organize your schedules and make you accountable for whatever you do. Furthermore, it acts as a reminder; it reminds you of due dates.
It enhances time management skills. A comprehensive study plan enables you to know how you are using your time and ensures that you allocate enough time for studies. It will give you enough time to complete your assignments, review and retain the information you have acquired, and study for tests.
Types of Study Plans
The Cram Weekend
The cram weekend is usually not very much recommended; however, there are some instances in which it makes sense. For instance, if by the time you decide to for business school, the deadlines are in two weeks, and you are an excellent test-taker, it may be worth cramming for a weekend then giving the exams a shot. The key to this type of a study plan will be to outline what might be tested, skim through some rusty concepts, and get skills on unique components of the exam.
The final exam week
This plan is more similar to the ram weekend. However, it is more recommended. Students typically have a week or two to study before their doing their finals. During this time, they may have other key commitments, and they may spend most of their time in the library, going through their course materials. In this study plan, one has to take one to three weeks to study. There is no burning out, so you have to put in as much time as you can on a daily basis.
The fitness program
This study plan is more or less similar to a medium to long- term physical fitness program. It works best if taken for over 2-4 months. This is the best and simplest study plan as one has to dedicate only a few hours of their time each day to study. You might need to practice longer on some days if you have more time and energy, but to avoid burnout take a day off once a week. Like a physical fitness program, the study plan is a gradual process with a long-term payoff.
Obsession mode
Most people begin their study plans ready to do whatever it takes to achieve their desired goals. They want to practice to the core and for as many weeks or months as they can to accommodate their schedule. If you are such a person, you will need a lot of practice resources and a way to organize all of those resources to use them effectively.
What to Write in a Study Plan Essay
Explain your main education goals
Start by mentioning what you want to study and why you want to study it. For example, you could discuss the program that you want to do while you are in a foreign country or a degree program that you would like to complete.
Explain why you chose that specific program
It is not enough to only say what school or program you want to study, nor is it enough to state that it is a great school. You need to back your claims on why you think that school is a great fit for you or the area you want to study.
Discuss your future research
If you are doing your Ph.D. studies, then you need to explain what you plan to do for your research, especially if you are doing scientific research that requires test subjects
Identify the study or research objectives
The research objective is the pillar of the study plan that defines what the student will do with their study project. Research objectives are the possible outcomes of the project. The answers to research objectives questions can be found by identifying the research objectives.
The research objectives highlight the steps that the student will follow when conducting their study. The research objectives can be found by identifying the measurable variables, indicating the research steps and the study’s limitations.
Explain how your studies will help your long-term goals
Once you have identified your study objectives, discuss how the program is in line with your future goals. This way, you will make it easy for the scholarship committee to know who you are and why you are choosing a particular school, major, and location.
How to Write an Effective Study Plan
Analyze your current learning styles and study habits
Identify what works for you. Here are some of the questions that will guide you on what works for you. What times of the day am are you more productive? Do you prefer studying for long hours of daytime to studying for forty minutes at night? How many times should you read to get the concept fully? To what degree do you find group discussions effective?
Outline your current schedule and how to manage your time
You can use a calendar to help you keep track of all the standing commitments. This will help you know how much time you have for studying. If your schedule does not outline enough time for studies, then you need to reevaluate and allocate more time.
Plan your time for each class
The commonly applied rule has been that for every one hour of class time, you should study for two hours. This means that you need to spend more hours studying outside of class. Your instructors will give you the syllables and the course outline for each class. Use these guidelines to calculate how much time you have and set aside time accordingly for every class.
Develop a work schedule
After knowing How much time you need to study to achieve your goals, you can now schedule your study sessions. Just like any other commitments, add your study sessions to your calendar. Plan which subjects you will study at a particular time and date. For example, you can set aside Monday and Fridays for English and Tuesdays and Thursdays for Mathematics. Although you might be having a very busy schedule, be creative, and find time for studies.
Assess your daily and weekly calendar
Think of what goals you what to achieve in each class. If your goal is to improve your grades or capture a specific skill, then let this be the driving force throughout the term.
Stick to your routine
If you want a study plan to work for you, then you should follow it to the latter. Create a comprehensive study plan that you can be able to follow consistently.
Free Study Plan Templates
If you are not sure how to create a study Plan then feel free to use our study Plan templates given below.
Tips for Writing a Study Plan
Maximize effectiveness
Create a realistic study plan; you should not study for too long. Give yourself enough study breaks between sessions. If possible, you can have a tutor or a study partner; this will help you become active.
Avoid overbooking dates
Do not overload yourself on days in which you have fewer commitments; consider having many hours of studies while on days in which you have lots of errands to run, schedule a couple of hours for studies.
Personalize it
They are different types of students, fast learners, and those that learn at a slower pace. When you personalize a study plan, it will help you identify how much time you need to understand a certain subject.
Keep updating your plan
Update your plan before each study period. This will help you identify specific objectives, outcomes, and appropriate study materials for a specific study session.
Be as detailed as possible
Provide enough details about what you plan to study and how you plan to go about it. This way, the recipient of the essay will have a better understanding of who you are, which can help you stand out among other candidates
Proofread your work
After writing your essay, go through it several times to ensure that it is free of any grammatical errors and that all the details are correct.
Advantages of Creating a Study Plan
- It clears off careless attitude and aids you to focus on your target.
- Proper and regular studies reduce exam stress, therefore creating a good study habit.
- Studying regularly increases your concentration level.
- When studying, you tend to set targets; achieving them will motivate you to study more than before.
- Having a good and organized study plan clears off all the confusion and creates a sense of direction.
Keeping a paper and pen schedule might not be enough; therefore, you should think of other ways to keep your studies on track. You can use a calendar app, set reminders when to alert you what time you are starting and ending your study session. We have other study planners apps that will help you manage your time. These applications are My Homework and My study planner. Although we should embrace the use of reminders, as students, you should develop a sense of self-discipline and be determined to carry out your studies without constant reminders.