Previously-straight-A student worried about staying in Schreyer

Colleges & Universities Penn State
5

<p>Fischerman provides many good pieces of advice.
However, studies have shown that students who form study groups and move through curriculum as a cohort (aids study group formation and effectiveness) do much better in classwork. As you can imagine, the key is finding serious, like minded students. Do not give up on study groups, but be careful who you work with. </p>

<p>I can’t echo #5, connected with #4 loud enough. I must add two things from the other side-

  1. Go to office hours REGULARLY. If you are confused, get it straight before more material is taught. Eleventh hour trips before the exam are not as effective, and you will be in competition with others showing up at the same time. If you go regularly, OHs are not awkward and more importantly, the instructor gets a sense of what types of methods work to help you understand the material. An added bonus- you give the professor a chance to get to know you and he/she could be a future letter writer.
  2. Come prepared to office hours with your questions. Place flags in your notes. It is important students come to OHs prepared. When a student sits down and then has to search through their notes to find their question (I’ve waited 3-4 minutes, no joke), then yes they are wasting their time and the times of other students in room. A more frequent occurrence (when multiple students are present before the exam) others present who are prepared will dominate the hours. In the end the student never gets their question addressed. Whether or not someone is paid does not justify wasting their time or disrupting the flow of the session with other students as you struggle to find your questions in a sea of notes and textbook pages.
    If you go into office hours with a feeling or attitude “you are paid to do this and why can’t you teach me”, and this comes across, that is not a good thing. Students also have to accept responsibility for their role in learning. </p>

<p>here’s an analogy- the person waiting in line at store comes up the counter on their cell phone and they don’t stop talking. It is rude to the employee and those behind them waiting to be served. Think about that</p>