<p>In order to keep my scholarship I had to take 19 credit hours this semester. The recommended course load at my school is 15. It's only the third day and I'm already finding myself overwhelmed. I suppose my anxiety stems from the fact that none of the stuff seems to be going in especially when it comes to the seemingly endless readings. It's like I'm constantly throwing new information at my brain, but nothing seems to stick. I'm not going to do well this semester if I don't retain anything. Any advice?</p>
<p>Maybe take an easier class that does not go with your major or work towards requirements? For example at my school we have classes like hip hop dance, basketball, etc. Pretty much anything. Most classes like that are easy A’s.</p>
<p>Thanks, but its too late to change my classes. My school doesn’t any fluff courses like that anyway.</p>
<p>What is your schedule?</p>
<p>I’ve taken 19 units a semester. I’ll be frank. A large percentage of your success rate will be based on your memorization ability. The faster / easier you can remember material the better. If you push yourself over your limit there is nothing you can do. In a few of my classes I would have practice tests that I went over each day; that is about all I can recommend.</p>
<p>Biology
Biology lab
Advertising
E-Marketing
Marketing Research
History
Business Information Systems</p>
<p>I don’t memorize things well, especially by reading. Guess I’m screwed</p>
<p>Try making a schedule that allows you time to do a “good enough” job on each course (can you get B’s and keep your scholarship?) and gives you a work/life balance. Then follow it, realizing that something - maybe social time - will need to be cut back (not eliminated) for a short time. Maybe that means going to the library to study more often or getting up earlier or cutting back on work hours or…</p>
<p>That schedule doesn’t look that bad.</p>
<p>I would tend to agree, but all these courses combined require a monstrous amount of reading. They require that I retain too much information too fast and its very hard for me to focus when I have so many different concepts to remember. I’ve literally become paralyzed with anxiety and dread that I can’t do anything.</p>
<p>That doesn’t sound like ‘too’ bad of a schedule. I took 21 credits last semester, and I am again this semester. Most of my classes weren’t really reading intensive though. I currently have University Physics I, Calculus II, General Chemistry II, General Cultural Anthropology, and Spanish II. Last semester was basically the same courses, just the previous step in the sequences. </p>
<p>The key is trying to stay ahead as much as possible. Get readings done early, get an early start on problem sets etc.</p>
<p>Did you have a lighter load one semester to have to overload this semester? I agree with you that it’s a heavy load. If you are locked into it, then here are some ideas. 1) get a planner and put all the deadlines for classes on it. That helps you stay on top of each class. 2) in the same planner or on a piece of paper, plan out when your breaks are during the week and which classes/homework you will do during the day and when; 3) find study buddies in each class so that you can compare notes, prep together for tests, etc.; 4) make sure you get to know your teachers so that when you have questions you can visit them during office hours; 5) the first tests/quizzes are the ‘hardest’ because you are finding out how the teacher evaluates, and if you get poor results, visit those teachers to review strengths/weaknesses on test/ quizzes or papers; 6) if there is a tutoring center, find it/connect with people there in case you need help in any of the classes. Those are my ideas. I can understand you feel paralyzed. Make a little sign that says, ‘I can DO this’ and put it by you when you study. You need to think positively so that the paralysis doesn’t prevent you from studying. And again: if you are on overload because something happened fall to have you take less credits, connect with a counselor/advisor so that if something is going on in life that is making it hard to get the classes done, it can get documented. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Make sure you get some air too… alot of people forget that just studying or doing work all day everyday can really make you miserable, try and go chill at your rec center or something like that if you can, from time to time, makes a big difference in your mentality.</p>
<p>Maybe you have too many classes in 1 day?? Try to space it out if you can.</p>
<p>For now I’d say plan your time management wisely</p>