Written By Guest Blogger Jason S.
Greetings –
One of the key items to being successful on a big exam is having great places to study. I’m thinking everyone has their own opinion on where to study, but it’s important to have the right environment to study effectively. I have three main places I love to study. Right now, I am back at my parents’ house (in Michigan) and my main place (and my favorite place) to study is at the MSU Law Library. One of the reasons I like the Law Library is because it’s probably the quietest place I know. It’s also very motivating for me to be in an environment where everyone is studying and trying to further their education. It always gives me a little more incentive to work harder and study longer. The MSU Law Library also brings back good memories for me since I was a student at MSU almost 10 years ago, and I can’t tell you how many long nights I put in studying for various exams.
Another place I love to study is at a coffee shop. I normally go to a coffee shop if it’s a low-key study day. If I’m cramming for the exam or need total peace and quiet, I will opt for the library or my office. Coffee shops have always been one of my favorite spots because I love coffee drinks and it provides a good atmosphere that feels somewhat academic to me. There are definitely more distractions at the coffee shops but I have always been able to get quite a bit done. I probably did most of my CPA/CFE exam studying in various coffee shops, so I have good memories of studying and it has worked for me in the past.
I almost never study at my apartment or wherever I’m living because to me there are too many distractions. Some will find home a great place to study, but I have never been very productive and would find myself doing anything but studying (and making a lot more excuses). The key is finding a place where you can be most productive because you want to maximize your time studying and make significant progress toward your end goal. If something has worked in the past for you, I would not change it.
In my next blog, I will update everyone on how my CMA studying is going and discuss the biggest struggle I have had so far.
