Identify areas of your life that are interfering with your study schedule. Late nights out with friends, your children's school schedules and weekends watching television can all hurt your academic performance.
Work with your friends and family members to build a schedule that allows you time to study. This means asking your spouse for help with the kids and letting your friends know you need to study on the weekends instead of going out. Ask for help managing home tasks if you are overwhelmed.
Speak with your graduate school professors about the problems you are experiencing. Your teacher can provide you with extra support, clarify topics that you find difficult and may have a few study strategies of her own.
Assess whether your grades are being impacted by your inability to understand the material or by your inability to get the work done. Your response to this problem should point to a reason for unsatisfactory grades.
Set time aside every week to do your class work, no matter what else might be happening. Staying focused and committed to the task is the hardest part of getting through graduate school.
Take a hard look at your academic strengths. Understanding where you need to improve and what you already do well will help you with your study schedule. You can also leverage your strengths for greater success by choosing appropriate classes and projects.
Remember your syllabus. You will receive a syllabus for every class, which can serve as an effective method for daily study planning. If you always know what is coming next, you'll always be prepared when class time comes around.
Take detailed notes. Notes are your lifeline to a class once the lecture has ended. Try to get as much of what your instructor says on paper as you can. Your notes will be a vital resource in studying for exams or preparing short essays.
Try sitting in the front of the room. It is easier to focus and stay engaged if you're near the front. Participate in discussions and debates whenever possible. The more active you are in class, the more knowledge you take away.