College study groups can be a student's best friend -- or worst nightmare. Everyone has been in a group that completely implodes and provides more drama than help. Some groups, however, seem to do well and prove to be a great resource. So what's the difference between the positive study groups and the not-so-positive ones?

In addition to strong group members, effective study groups all rely on one thing: a basic understanding of the rules.

And even if those rules aren't formally documented, the group members know what's okay and what's not okay to do during group study sessions.

1. Stay on topic. Does this mean you can never veer off topic for an amusing aside? Of course not. But study groups have the word "study" in them for a reason. The point of the group is to help each other out by preparing for a major exam or otherwise supporting each other academically. Staying on topic during group meetings is extremely important. If you don't stay on topic, the time might be enjoyable but also unproductive. And when things get unproductive, people don't want to come back.

2. Be respectful. Everyone has a different learning style. Everyone has different academic strengths and weaknesses. Utilize these differences to strengthen the group, not demean members of it. If someone has an uncanny ability to remember historical dates, utilize that in your study sessions. If someone is impeccable with his or her grammar, have that person look over everyone's papers.

Someone standing out because of their academic abilities is to be celebrated, not mocked.

3. Have everyone carry an equal load. Things can get ugly when one or two people carry the entire group -- or when one or two people are constantly reminding everyone else to stay on topic during meetings. The group's productivity relies on everyone carrying an equal load. Everyone should be contributing equally over the long-term life of the group. Some weeks, some people may carry a heavier workload than others, of course, but the ultimate goal is for balance and equilibrium.

4. Allow time for fun and relaxation, too. Is it important to stay on topic? Of course. Does this mean you can never stray off topic? Of course not. The goal is to let yourselves relax and hang out when it's appropriate. If it helps, agree to study for 2 hours and then take a 30-minute break for pizza and chit-chat. It's important to study but it's also important to build some camaraderie along the way, too.

5. Have a to-do list for your meetings. While this may seem formal at first, it's incredibly important if your group is to be -- and stay -- productive. Instead of saying, "Okay, let's study tonight after dinner," try rephrasing with some specifics: "Okay, tonight at 8:00 we'll study Chapter 1 for an hour, Chapter 2 for an hour, and then take a 30-minute pizza break. After that we can do Chapter 3 for one more hour and call it a night."

6. Keep the group to a manageable size. If you're lucky enough to have a productive study group, people will want to join. And while it may seem harmless to let your roommate come to your next session, the group's dynamics can change drastically when people start being added. Aim to keep the group between 3 and 5 people (depending on the subject matter) so that everyone can contribute and benefit from each other.

7. Have a specific, quiet space designated for your sessions. Hanging out in the quad might sound great, but you're more likely to be interrupted when people walk by than you would be if you were in the library. Having a quiet place to study can make all the difference in the productivity of your group. Consider a residence hall lounge or meeting room that's not in use, a library carrel, a quiet classroom, or any other place on campus that supports a good studying atmosphere. (As an added benefit, you can use the dry erase boards in a classroom to help with studying.) There are lots of quiet, secret nooks on college campuses that work perfectly for group study sessions.

With a little effort, a study group can be one of your best assets during your time in school. Knowing how and when to best learn from and with each other can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding.