If you are in a class that is particularly challenging, chances are you are not the only one that is struggling. It might seem like everyone in the class is doing well, especially in the beginning when no one wants to admit that they do not understand a thing that is coming out of the professor’s mouth. I bet if you asked a few people from your class, they would tell you that they are completely lost or just barely getting by. You could suffer through the class and complain until finals or you could start a study group.
The best way to start a study group is to just get the word out there. You might think that it is embarrassing to make an announcement to the class that you want to start a study group, but you will be surprised by the response. The best way to get people interested is to pass around a piece of paper for everyone to put down their emails. Email is great because you can reach everyone at once rather than having to contact everyone individually.
It is important that you decide where the group should meet. You should plan to hold the meetings in a public place that is easily acceptable to everyone in the group. College campuses and libraries are the best places to meet because chances are everyone is already at the campus. Coffee shops are also a great location to meet because they are quiet and most college students love coffee. However, coffee shops usually close early and you might want to meet somewhere where it is not required that you purchase something.
Also, consider how you are going to run the study group. It is common that work is divided between the group and then discussed together. If someone is not understanding, take the time to emphasize that section.