So I need to learn how to study. What are your guy’s techniques?
Classes I’m taking this quarter are physics 2, calc 3, thermo, and statics. (ranked in order of perceived difficulty)
I think calc is just doing practice problems. but physics and thermo need a more understanding of concepts than just going through the motions of practice problems.
Note cards? hundreds of practice problems? what worked for you?
there are handfuls of different theories on this. When I was struggling through school I took a 2 credit hour class on studying techniques. Helped big time. It’s basically all about how you learn best. For me, it was writing down the notes during the lecture and doing problems. One of my big things though, is that I sometimes need someone to walk me through the problems 1 or 2 times before it clicks. Office hours helped out with that big time. I went to the UB Math Center a lot too to get this help. It was just a room where there were some tutors hanging out and helping you out where needed. I would just go there to do my homework so that if I got stuck they could help me out.
The questions at the end of each section and chapter were a huge plus. Some professors only assign a random few questions (even tho they may take 30 min each) however, I made an effort to do more than that for my own practice. Techniques are usually best taught with repetition. Also, if you struggle on a chapter or concept, do NOT think it will suddenly make sense or it will just get harder later. Even if you may not be tested on it, the entire subject is built off the previous chapter so it will get exponentially hard.
For time and days, I had to study after class. If I went home and slept after Calc or a science class, I woke up and forgot everything.
For me, it was notes during class; for some reason the motion of writing things down helped me retain it better than any other way. That, and then doing the practice problems until it was no longer a “struggle” to get through them.
And that course load, ouch… I see why you’re struggling.
Make sure you take notes during class. Then go up to the silent floors of the RIT library (3 & 4) and sit in a cube (turn your cell phone off) and do tons of practice problems and any reading that would be helpful. Make sure you take a break every hour or so or you will bore yourself to death and lose your concentration.
plus intro to C, but thats a fun class for me.
that would be good if I understood what was going on. bashing my head against the wall doesnt get me anywhere but pissed off. I go to the study centers but a lot of the kids there cant help much as they usually only help on the lower level classes. Sometimes I have to ‘reteach’ them the material just so they can help. Like right now I asked a tutor for dynamics on my statics hw. WTF what cant someone doing dynamics not help with statics. douche bag
Worst comes to worst I re-take physics sometime. It wont effect the next 2 quarters…
Professors are typically always willing to spend extra time helping students, why not go visit the professor during their office hours?
Do the TA’s hold office hours?
From my recollection that’s the standard sophomore fall schedule for ME’s (at UB at least) with a gen ed thrown in there too.
This worked for me as well. I took so many notes during class I filled some of my note books in a semester without too much trouble, depending on the subject. I would then literally re-read them before an exam or test.
I can’t just sit down and study.
Yea I’ve been going to professor office hours here and there and statics/thermo TA’s have office hours a few times during the week.
The teachers expect me to have specific questions and most of the time its more than that. Idk. I’ll just take notes, read the chapters, do the homework, and see what happens.
I figured out the best way for me to retain something was to write it a couple times. I would often take notes in class and then re-write the notes later that week. I just had to make sure not to zone out while re-writing the notes or I’d go on for pages and retain very little.
Problems of course help also. I wouldn’t hesitate to look at the answer in the back of the book, and then make sure I did what I had to do to get that answer. If I couldn’t match the book answer I’d bring it up with my professor or a ta, and get to the bottom of it. Be aware though the book answers aren’t ALWAYS correct. I pulled my hair out a couple times over nothing, but got recognition for finding book mistakes.
Most of my classes allowed notes and books during testing anyways so it wasn’t too bad. It bewildered me though that some kids did so terrible on tests when teachers allow you to use your notes…
i just do practice problems until i feel like i grasp the concept. if i get stuck i’ll look through my notes. if that doesn’t work, then through the book. again, if that’s unsuccessful, i’ll google whatever topic it is. good results usually come up. as for calc, this dude patrickjmt makes a lot of good youtube videos where he goes through the concepts. my calc 2 teacher is awful so this helps me.
however, i suck at studying and get distracted really easily lol. i always cram before tests too.
Travis, I’ll PM you later, I think I can help you out. I’ll be teaching till 3:30 so expect it after that.
I have yet to have a professor that wouldn’t help. If you walked in and said “I dont get this” and wanted him to teach you again, they would brush you off but if you actually attempt work and are confused about a concept or problem but show that you are trying, most are more than willing to sit with you as long as you need to help.
For me, doing the problems out of the text helped big time for calc, physics, statics, and dynamics. I just did as many problems as possible to study for tests.
Also, sign up for Cramster.com. Your text books will likly be on there, and it will give you step by step solutions for every single problem in the book…This is by far the best money I spent in college (much more effective than a tutor).
LOL Dynamics was one of my favorite courses. I went to a grand total of two (2) lectures the whole semester and still got a B. Just worked out the homework problems on my own and learned it that way. I struggled with statics. :shrug:
I have a login for cramster. its not MY login but a login none the less.
That doesn’t make sense to me. afaik statics is sum of forces and monents are zero and in dynamics things move.