As a teacher, I see students struggle with this all the time. The most effective approach is different for everyone, but research consistently shows that active practice beats passive reading. Don't just read — do problems, write summaries, teach the material to someone else.

Teach it to someone else, even an imaginary student. If you can explain a concept simply and out loud, you understand it. If you stumble, you've found the gap you need to study. They call it the Feynman technique and it really works.

There's no one-size-fits-all answer here. Experiment with different approaches and pay attention to what actually works for you, not what worked for your friend. Learning styles are real — some people learn by reading, some by doing, some by listening.

I graduated college 5 years ago and wish I'd known this earlier: the specific knowledge you learn matters less than learning HOW to learn. Develop good study habits and critical thinking skills and you can adapt to any subject or career.