I just wanted to see what everyone's opinion about memory improvement courses are. The reason I am asking because I want to take some of these courses to improve my memory in order to do better in school. I have read that memorization is a key to learning and in reply I would think that if I could improve my memory I would be able to make my school year a lot easier on me. So I have done some research and found a couple of sites. Like the School of Phenomenal Memory and Dr. Bruno's course. I don't know if anyone has any experiences with either these or any other memory improvement course but any help would be great. Thanks.

Better memory will improve your grades in school, the lower levels. Grad courses and the like which require more novel thought and independent research it will not really help you with. You can't really improve your memory (according to my intro to psych book) but you can use better study/reading habits that will elicit better memorization of the material.

Thanks Kstrike! Your Psych says one thing and some of these other websites say others, so it gets kind of confusing. Like this website for the school of phenomenal memory. I mean they claim that after taking their course you can memorize an entire book. I mean seriously who says that. But then I am still doing research on all these memory improvement courses so I can't say anything right now. What I am really waiting for is someone who has taken one of these classes to tell me his or her experience with it.

It depends on what subject your talking about.. Very little memory is need for English Language, a bit more English Literature. Subjects like History require both skill and memory, same with the sciences as well IMO. You can train your memory, but in my experience memory follows interest.

I know a guy with great memory. He remembers the most things he has ever read. He can quote long sections of books, word by word, correctly.
This guy has had the best grade in all courses ever. However, when he began to study mathematics at the university, he had a really hard time passing courses.
So, better memory only helps if you are suppose to remember a lot of nonsense things.

Like anything, buyer beware. There are ways you can learn to improve your memory a lot just as there are ways for fat people to lose weight. You just have to realize there is no quick and easy way. Do your research and be prepared to invest considerable time and effort.

Better memory does not automatically equal better grades. It differs from subject to subject, as well as depending on at which level you are studying.

For example, take a science subject. In lower level courses (up to high school level), much will depend on your correct regurgitation/recollection of facts. As you progress to higher (college/university) courses, more rational thought and logic has to be applied. At this stage, having a good memory alone will not ensure success.

You must remember that these people are out to make money off people willing to believe their tripe about teaching yourself a photographic memory.

I've always wished I could have a brilliant memory, be able to read entire novels and textbooks in a matter of hours and understanding it would be on a degree of brilliance for me like having a superpower akin to invisibility or walking through walls - but unfortunately it can't happen.

Improving your study technique is a good thing to think about, as many people have very bad study habits that don't lead to a great deal of learning that will stick in the long-term mind.

I would recommend, personally, trying as many different techniques as you can find and seeing what suits you best, as I don't think there's a universal system of study which suits everyone.