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A study group is a small group of students who meet together regularly with the aid of a trained leader to discuss concepts, confusions, and insights into course material. Each group is unique, contains students with different backgrounds and abilities, and determines its own pace and the material that will be covered. This allows each group to address the needs of the individuals in the group. Students also have indicated that study groups benefit them in a variety of ways.
They include:

• Understanding how much of the class material they understood
• Understanding how others might approach/consider a problem
• Detailed explanations at a slower pace
• Solid exam preparation
• Meeting other students with whom they can study
• Forces early and constant preparation of the material, leading to a high level of confidence, a mastery of the material and better grades

Before coming to the study group, students review class notes and the assigned reading, attempt the current problem set, and jot down points that are unclear or questions they would like to discuss. In the study group, the leader helps the students to get organized and to decide which questions are most basic or important and encourages the students to work together and to answer their own questions. The main role of the study group is to help students organize their thoughts, test their understanding by asking and answering questions, learn how to approach the material, and understand the basic concepts involved.

Study group leaders are chosen on the basis of their grades in past courses, recommendations from professors, willingness to help other students, and ability to communicate the material well.