Temperament and Study Strategies
If you are a Commander/Guardian...
1. Watch your tendency to get mired in the details. Remember that some things matter more than others. Particularly, when taking notes, don't copy everything down, but learn how to differentiate between what matters and what only seems to matter.
2. Learn how to pace yourself so that you don't run out of time when the clock is ticking (such as during exams). Don't think you have to read every exam question three or four times... some Guardians have doubled or tripled their exam scores simply by trusting their first impressions more.
3. Don't just memorize information in a verbatim way. Many college courses emphasize theory, not mere facts. Practice rephrasing key concepts in your own words (not just memorizing formal definitions). Try generating original examples (not just memorizing examples offered in lecture).
If you are an Adventurer/Artisan...
1. Find ways to keep yourself engaged in boring classes, since courses with a heavy emphasis on theory and a "talking heads" approach may easily put you to sleep. Ask for opportunities to earn a grade through real-world application of theories and concepts, like internships or field observation.
2. Hold yourself accountable since it's easy for you to procrastinate around activities that aren't much fun. Use the "Premack principle" -- reward yourself for doing something you dislike by following it with something you do enjoy.
3. Take the time you need to double-check your answers during exams... don't be in too much of a hurry to rush out of the exam room. Beware your tendency to be overly impulsive. Make sure you haven't missed important information on the exam.
If you are a Systematizer/Rational...
1. Don't be confrontational in classroom interactions (especially not with your instructor, who may expect deference or at least common courtesy). Learn how to disagree without alienating others.
2. Don't neglect the facts... in some courses more than others, it's important to get the foundational facts right, even to be nitpickingly precise.
3. Be sure to affirm, not just question... a balanced analysis spends as much time on what's right with something as on what's wrong with it. Learn when (and how) to personalize, to develop and express a subjective opinion.
If you are a Harmonizer/Idealist...
1. Don't confuse enthusiasm with understanding. Being excited about an idea is one thing; being able to articulate your comprehension of the underlying ideas is something else.
2. Watch your tendency to nonlinearity, to chasing the rabbit where it runs, particularly in writing essays. Don't ramble unnecessarily, which drives more linear types up the wall. Work hard at maintaining a logical, linear focus with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
3. Learn how to logically defend a point of view. It's not enough to be passionate about something; you have to be able to make a rational case for it, which means looking objectively at both pros and cons, both strengths and weaknesses, both assets and liabilities.
You might also want to look here for the other side of the coin.