Maximizing Group Study Sessions
- Ritika Chamlagai
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Studying with friends, not only can be more fun, but can also be more helpful than studying alone, but only if you do it right. When done well, group studying can keep you motivated, help you understand tricky concepts, and make the overall process less stressful. Here are some tips to make your group studying productive and enjoyable.
1. Pick the Right People and Group Size
An effective study group is small, ideally three to five people. This ensures everyone has time to ask questions and share ideas.1 Choose classmates who are committed, prepared, and ready to focus. If someone is not contributing or is too distracting, it can hurt the whole group.2
2. Set Clear Goals and Roles
Decide what you want to cover in each session and how long the meeting will last. Assign topics or chapters to each member of the group. They can lead discussions or present on their assignment. Another option is having a "leader of the week" who can help keep everyone on track and make sure no one dominates the conversation.
3. Come Prepared
Before each meeting, review your notes and make a list of topics you do not understand. Bring questions, homework problems, or specific ideas you want to go over. Being prepared helps the whole group use the time efficiently and stay focused.3
4. Use Active Study Strategies
Group study works best when you actively do things together. Compare notes to find missing details, quiz each other, create mind maps, or teach a topic to the group in your own words. Talking through concepts out loud helps your friends learn and also improves your ability to remember them at a later time.1,4
5. Choose a Good Place and Time
Meet somewhere quiet, with enough space for everyone to work and write. Libraries, study rooms, or even virtual platforms like Zoom or Google Meet work well.1 Schedule sessions at times when everyone can focus, and take short breaks to stay fresh. Various locations for your next study session in Philadelphia can be found here.
6. Keep It Positive and Fun
Set ground rules for respectful communication and teamwork. Everyone should feel comfortable asking questions and giving input. A little humor, icebreakers, or a team name can make sessions more enjoyable and reduce stress.2
7. Follow Up and Plan Ahead
Make sure you save some time at the end of each session to set your group up for continued success. First, it's important to perform a quick review of topics you covered before ending your session helps to solidify ideas and answer any lingering questions. Next, decide with your group what topics you want to tackle next time. A shared document or not is helpful to ensure everyone knows what has been covered and what they need to prepare for before the next meeting. Staying organized helps make sure that every meeting can build on the last one.1
When you follow these steps, study groups can become a powerful way to learn, stay accountable, and make new friends. Grab a few classmates, plan your session, and make the most of your study time together.
Ritika Chamlagai
Medical Student, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
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