<p>Can a student who got mostly A/B in regular level high school courses and B/C in AP classes in high school do well at Penn State? I’m finding the tests difficult even when I feel I know the material. Do I need to learn how better to take college tests? If so, how can I improve my scores on tests?</p>
<p>I would suggest you explore resources at Penn State - is there a department that provides academic support? Perhaps they can help you with test skills. I would also suggest you post on the Penn State forum - you are more likely to find current Penn State students who can make very specific recommendations to you about how to get help. Good luck.</p>
<p>Are you a senior applying to PennSt?</p>
<p>I do not know about Penn State. However, my D. who has graduated #1 from small private prep. HS found college classes at state university to be extremely challenging starting wtih very first semester of freshman year. She still managed straight A’s so far (graduating in May of 2011) but it required enourmous efforts, although she had been very busy with EC’s, job and unrelated minor. She needed very high college GPA for her future, though, which is not so pressing for everybody. Be prepared to work extremely hard.
Yes, there is help available at all levels at college. My D. has been Supplemental Instructor for several years who was praised by her boss - Chem. prof. for raising kids’ grades in this class. She herself has been seeking help in some classes, primarily during profs’ office hours. There are also tutors for hire.</p>
<p>Such a student can do well, but should be prepared to work hard, especially in the more rigorous programs like engineering. There is help available-- learning centers, tutoring, study groups ([Penn</a> State Learning](<a href=“http://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/]Penn”>http://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/)) but you will need to take the initiative to get involved with them and also take advantage of review sessions and office hours.</p>
<p>You’re going to fail.</p>
<p>Very few students are willing to follow the “study guidelines” recommended for college level courses.
So if you do so consistently, you’ll have a great chance of doing well. For every hour in class, study 2 hours outside of class. Do this every week. Not just when prepping for exams. Follow the class syllabus, and read the assigned readings before you attend the lectures. That way you’ll already have an outline in your head about what the prof is going to cover. You’ll take much more organized notes which will aid your study efforts. Good luck! Eat well, sleep well, and save a little time to relax.</p>
<p>^Some classes will require many more than 2hrs of study per 1 hr in class. Engineering by far is the hardest major, way harder than science or pre-med majors. There are weed out classes in every major that designed to push students to the limits to make sure that only dedicated stay on. For example for pre-meds at most schools it is Org. Chem. The dedicated ones study many more hours than 2 per 1 in classes like that. D. has mentioned that 30 hours for one exam is about average. If you do not, you either fall out of track or your GPA might suffer to the point of no return.
Everything is doable if one works very hard.</p>