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It's no surprise your friends will come banging on your doorstep trying to drag you to a party right when you're in the middle of  

studying

  for an exam. Or, you'll sit down to write a report, but find yourself thinking about the latest season of your favorite show instead. If you'd rather do your roommate's dirty dishes than finish your assignments, you might have some concentration issues, and it's likely to reflect in -- gasp! -- your grades.

But here's good news: You can develop concentration and decrease anxiety no matter what your initial abilities are. "Strengthening concentration is like any kind of exercise," says Danny Ruderman, an independent college counselor and author of Admit U: The Ultimate College Acceptance System (Enlighten Learning, 2004). "Consistent and directed effort will result in lasting improvements. Just know that the beginning is the hardest, but it does get easier!"

Setting the Scene
Your chances of focusing on your work are much greater if you have the right environment. For starters, Gregory Taillon, a University of Miami (Miami, FL) graduate and author of Remote Control Wars: The Media Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Our Youth (Publish America, 2004), suggests you move to a quiet area such as an empty classroom or the library. "In the library, you'll be surrounded by other students who may be able to assist you on projects," he says. Not to mention the variety of resources at your fingertips.

Eventually though, you will need to study in your own room. So keep the following factors in mind: Is there enough lighting and ventilation? Is your seating area comfortable? Do you have enough space to spread out all your material? Can see yourself spending a couple of hours there each day?

"I like to pile up a mound of pillows on the floor and against the foot of my bed, and create a cozy little niche," says Laura L. Ordway, a junior at Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL). "It's comfortable, quiet, and familiar, so I'm not distracted by my surroundings." On that note, try to keep music to a minimum. If you absolutely must listen to something, it's better to listen to music with no words. "Forcing your brain to decipher song lyrics while also asking it to remember the formula for sodium perchlorate is not conducive to getting an A on your chemistry exam," says Laura.

The Prerequisites
A little preparation goes a long way. To make sure you're completely focused, here are some tips from college-goers:

"Figure out your high and low-energy times," suggests Shantanu Sharma, a junior at the University of Chicago, IL (Chicago, IL). "If you're sharpest in the morning, consider doing your toughest coursework then. In the evening when you're tired after all the classes, work on something lighter."

"Routines help you get into a mode. Fix a certain time for studying every single day. By doing so, you'll make it habitual, and it'll be much easier to start," says Sumana Kakani, a graduate student at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA).

Samveen S. Gulati, a junior at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT), advises that you set goals before every study session. "The pressure and challenge of achieving them will act as motivation for you to get down to business and work instead of procrastinating." He's also a fan of neatness. "It's a good idea to keep all your notes, books and calculators handy, so that you don't have to disrupt your session by getting up to fetch them," he says.

Laura also relies on being diligent. "Focus on getting one task finished at a time, rather than trying to go back and forth between assignments," she explains. One way to do this is to jot down things you're reminded of during your study session. You can deal with the entire list later.

On the job
Studying itself has to be a pleasurable activity, not punishment. If you enjoy doing it, your concentration will automatically build itself. Make your study sessions active by taking notes, preparing review sheets, underlining text, attempting quizzes, etc. "Time management is critical," warns Taillon. "Dedicate at least three hours per night to library study on weekdays and avoid working while in college if possible."

A reward system is a great motivating factor too. For instance, 20 minutes of Algebra followed by an ice cream sandwich, or 30 minutes of reading followed by 15 minutes of basketball. Taillon's three-hour rule is a bit tough, so make it easier on yourself by adding smart friends to the mix.

"Studying in groups often helps me find new perspectives to problems," says Sam. Ruderman agrees. "If you have trustworthy and knowledgeable friends, you can take an assignment (like 45 pages of history reading) and break it up among three people (15 pages each). This group will then meet so that each person can highlight and teach the most important terms and concepts to the group. This benefits both the group and the teacher."

The Backgrounders
Concentration isn't just about doing everything right when studying. It's also about the various factors that affect you when you're not studying. Make sure you sleep enough, eat right, and keep fit.

"The best concentrators are rested concentrators," says Taillon. "I found that many students, including me, often perform below our capabilities simply because we stayed up too late cramming for exams or finishing projects at the last minute." He suggests getting at least eight to nine hours of sleep every night, with no more than 10-minute naps in the afternoon.

Taillon also advises that you avoid sugar and heavy meals. "Sugar boosts metabolic rate and stimulates the neurological system, then it does the reverse. You'll feel groggy and sleepy if your sugar intake is high."

Exercise is another important element of concentration. "Find time to exercise, at least three times per week," he says. "You can read your course materials while riding on an exercise bike or walking/running on a treadmill. A fit body and a fit mind work hand in hand."

Being able to concentrate is more about having the right attitude and mindset than anything else. Try combinations of these tips and you'll not only find yourself becoming a better concentrator, but a concentrator with higher grades as well.

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