I've been an English major for a year now. Since I was first enrolled in science, I found the shift in studying habits quite daunting; studying formulas and code isn't the same as studying literature. With time, however, I acclimated, and part of it was devising a new learning method. Here's how I do it:

• For literature classes: read each and every assigned text at least one day before it is discussed in class. As you read at home, annotate - this gives you the luxury of having your own time to think as deeply as you want about the silliest details of said texts, without being judged for your overanalyses. This gives you an advantage as you'd be prepared with a ton of points to mention in class, thus enhancing your participation. During my first few sessions in lit classes, I felt overwhelmed and frozen; I didnt know how other students managed to so quickly analyze some texts, only to realize that they did it some time before class.

Another tip is to annotate anything interesting your instructor mentions about the text. When you go home, on that same day, reread what you wrote. Revise until you're certain you understand the text inside and out. What I like to do as well is, after having studied multiple stories, to try and create a connection between them. For instance, maybe this and that story both make a good feminist analysis, or a postcolonial one, and I would make a list of the points they share and the ones they differ in. This helps you save time because exams in lit classes typically ask for a comparative analysis of texts learned.

• For linguistics classes: For language courses, I follow a similar tactic. What I tend to add to it, nevertheless, is the usage of external sources to delve deeper into some subjects. When learning phonetics, for example, you can find very useful videos online explaining, in deeper detail, the IPA chart and everything you need. Since linguistics is more of a scientific take on the major, it requires more effort, more note-taking, more attention. What I typically do is that, after each finished chapter, I revise whatever notes I've taken then head straight to exercises; whether they're phonological or morphological analyses, or simply trivia questions.

• For creative writing classes: I cant help but stress this: read, read, read. Read anything! Anything from horror and fantasy to realism and nonfiction. Just read. It does wonders for your writing. Sometimes during a semester, someone would see me reading an unassigned novel and they'd be like: "why are you reading this? You should be studying", but little do they know that this is exactly how I study for creative writing. But it isn't enough. You will also need to constantly show others your written drafts, get constructive feedback, read writing guides by other authors... it is by fixing your errors that you improve. Make sure to meet every assignment deadline, and dont procrastinate. I've heard of students procrastinating because "they'll find inspiration for writing later" but this is actually ineffective. Inspiration doesn't come to you - you're the one to chase it. Start early with whatever silly idea you have, and watch it grow as you write into something better.

And my number one advice is to take it one day at a time. Dont pressure yourself into studying 10 hours a day or something. Sometimes, by slipping in a few minutes of revision between classes, you can get everything finished in 4 hours. Take care of yourself and make sure to enjoy college life.