Police Academy Study Tips

[dchoudhry61]

What's going on everyone, I just started the police academy and wanted to ask all my LEO's what has helped you retain and memorize information? I have a hard time studying and wanted to learn new study tips.

[tanksoldier]

I retain information well, so I can’t offer direct advice.

However, I can say that what helped some of my classmates was to only worry about retaining the current module’s information until the test. Then forget it.

Many got overwhelmed at first with the firehose of information in the first few weeks, and realizing this was going to go on for six months was discouraging. They got in their own way burning cycles worrying about down the road, instead of using all their cycles for the here and now. You have to pass this week’s test for next week to be a problem, so focus on this week. You passed last week’s test or you wouldn’t be here, so forget about last week.

Every police academy in the country spends the last week or so refreshing everything from the beginning, focusing on what’s actually in the certification exam.
, so forget about it until then.

In the real world there is almost nothing you have to have memorized. You can look everything up: is this third degree assault or second degree assault? Look it up while he’s sitting in the back of your car. You know it’s an assault, that’s enough to get him there.

[CCCSD]

I’d add there ARE things that MUST be memorized verbatim…

[Aidokea]

Study groups.

[Zeitgeist1]

This was very important for me. Especially Criminal procedure. +1000

[Aidokea]

And focus on the stuff you suck at, because those are the things that will cause you problems.

[NolaT]

FLASH CARDS

Break down every note into short small sentences EVERY weekend, and review on a regular basis. Don’t fall behind.

When studying, reviewing, make two piles of cards, the Know It pile, and the Don’t Know It pile. There isn’t a shortcut, you MUST study on a regular basis.

Someone in the class will graduate in the number one position, in both class GPA, and State Certification, make it YOU!!

Good luck and keep us updated!

[Aidokea]

And run, run, run, and then run some more.

[John Wick]

Study and study hard. I learn by saturation. I need to review over and over. I didn't sleep much at the academy but it worked. I finished 4th academically.

[Metro174]

Re-writing my class notes every evening helped me. This made it easier to read and I was able to review.

[NolaT]

True, writing helps you remember, that’s why it’s important to make YOUR OWN flash cards, vs studying someone else’s notes or available online cram notes.

Plus, who’s to say their notes, that you’re studying, are even Correct?!?

[dchoudhry61]

Thank you everyone for your response, I will take everyone's advice.

[Ratatatat]

1. Review the academic material for a brief period of time every night. That way you won't have to cram the night before an exam, which isn't exactly the best mode of recollection.

2. Study groups or having a study buddy may work for some folks, but I always found them to be more of a liability than an asset. Example: you think you have a solid grasp on a complicated subject like 4th amendment search and seizure, until your confused classmate raises doubt in your head during a study group session and then you go into an exam not so sure anymore. I'd rather fly solo and soar than fall and fail because of some marginal classmate.

3. Every academy I went through (five, it's a long story) had romantic trysts break out. At the community college academy, they didn't care. At the state academy, they strongly discouraged it. At the fed academy, they practically passed out condoms. Anyways, don't participate in such shenanigans, if for no other reason than doing so is a distraction for you, and the other classmates, from the training.

[NolaT]

I agree with the above on study groups, I prefer to study by myself,……

[clof2001]

3. Every academy I went through (five, it's a long story) had romantic trysts break out. At the community college academy, they didn't care. At the state academy, they strongly discouraged it. At the fed academy, they practically passed out condoms. Anyways, don't participate in such shenanigans, if for no other reason than doing so is a distraction for you, and the other classmates, from the training.

Tell me about it. Every weekend break at my academy was like being at senior prom night.

Most of the people who were hooking up prior to graduation never made it off patrol phase training. I don't think one thing necessarily had anything to do with the other, just always thought it to be a weird coincidence.

[Aidokea]

Tell me about it. Every weekend break at my academy was like being at senior prom night.

Most of the people who were hooking up prior to graduation never made it off patrol phase training. I don't think one thing necessarily had anything to do with the other, just always thought it to be a weird coincidence.

Same-same. At my last academy, as a happily-married 44 year old father, some 22 year old diversity hire with big boobs made a run at me. I politely declined. She eventually ended up getting knocked up by some other guy in our class, neither one of them graduated with us, and much life-altering drama ensued.