college academics are really hardddd!

College Life
1

Everyone told me about how hard college course work was, but being a straight A student in high school, I never put too much thought into it. Now, I’m in college and struggling with all my classes. I know I have to change my study habits.

I got a 76 on my first chem test. I knew most of the material except a few problems that weren’t explained in class. I got all the questions that were discused in class but I don’t seem to being getting the questions that involve me taking my knowledge tot the next level. Like stuff that make me like infer with my knowledge

In computer science, I got a 50 on my first test. :frowning: It was only out of 30 points so even a small mistake cost me a lot. However, my hw is also worth 25 points. Does that mean if I do good on the hw it will balance out that test?

I’ve been studying a lot for all my tests. I study like 4-6 hours a day but it doesn’t seem to be efficient. I made flashcards for chem, did a lot of practice questions, re-read the textbook and took notes. I also tried to explain to myself all the concepts I learned.

For computer science, I just did a lot of practice cause I didn’t know how else to study.

How should I study for my next tests?

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@Peoples you’re not the only one – it’s an adjustment process. I failed a couple tests early on in my first semester.

Do your classes give practice tests (or do you have access to previous semesters’ exams)? Those tended to help me the most, since I generally know what will be on the test.

3

The Learning Scientists blog http://www.learningscientists.org/blog?category=For+Students has a variety of research-based studying techniques that will help you learn more effectively and efficiently. Here is one of their blogs about using interleaving http://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/8/11-1. There are links to retrieval practice techniques, spaced practice, and elaborative interrogation techniques on the interleaving page. They also have good videos that summarize the techniques http://www.learningscientists.org/videos/. If you have been studying by rereading your notes/study guide/textbook, you will be amazed by the benefits of switching to science-based study techniques!

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I understand you OP. I’m struggling in my CS discrete math class as well. I have the same problem that I can’t use my knowledge to create solutions for the problems. I can’t conjure up the creativity lol