<p>I have a very busy schedule with 5 courses: Analysis I (honors calculus), linear algebra I, general Chem I, advanced physics I, intro to computer programming I. I study 4 hours every weekday and 16 hours total on the weekend. I am doing well so far, but my life feels very empty. All my high school friends went off to different schools, so I'm the only one here and all I do is go to class, study, eat, and sleep. Is this normal for a college student at an academic (non-party) oriented school?</p>
<p>Maybe Mon-Thurs that should be normal (maybe). But Fri-Sun, definitely no.</p>
<p>As someone who has taken those classes (sub different engineering class for programming), I’m jealous you only study 4 hours on the weekdays. </p>
<p>Everyone is different, my professors assigned a ridiculous amount of graded homework and I like really good grades. I studied/did HW about 6 hours on weekdays and 8-16 on weekends (most of the time 16). I also tutored 2 hours a day. </p>
<p>The more I got into it the less it bothered me. However, you have to learn to pull yourself away and take time for yourself. Otherwise you are going to burn out and hate life.</p>
<p>But you were in engineering. I am just a first year science & mathematics student. We don’t even declare our major of study until after the first year. Most of my classes are manageable, except for that analysis class. It is all proofs and theory, and the problem sets assigned twice every week are next to impossible. </p>
<p>Most of my classes have a cutthroat atmosphere and my classmates don’t seem to be interested in forming study groups or friendships. Based on my observations, I’d say they live a similar lifestyle to me and they don’t seem to be bothered by it.</p>
<p>I think you’re working harder rather than working smarter. You shouldn’t need to do very much studying for freshman and “intro to” classes.</p>
<p>Even though I was Engineering I still did Calc, Linear, Gen Chem and Calc based Physics at one point. Linear was my theory, proof class that took a lot of work and Physics was a ton of HW. Back then I still studied the same amount. Eventually you get used to it and get better at studying and doing homework and have a little more free time. When I first started I would spend 3-4 hours on lab writeups (I’m a perfectionist) and eventually I could knock one out in ~40 minutes. </p>
<p>I really think it depends on the kind of student you are. You probably could get though the classes with minimal involvement and get decent grades… I know that quite a few of my classmates took this route and kept 3.0-3.3 “ish”. There is also a ton of people who quit because the workload is too much. </p>
<p>You are taking hard classes, despite the intro comment above. Some people seem to have an elitist attitude towards people who work hard. I dunno.</p>
<p>I completely understand about the whole cutthroat thing, my classmates were pretty similar. I formed a lot of my friendships at tutor centers.</p>
<p>Do you know what you wanna major in yet, specifically? Mathematics will end up being a ton of proofs.</p>
<p>Like queen said, you could probably be working smarter. </p>
<p>Anyway, it’s not that abnormal to be out partying and whatever your freshman year. If grades are more important to you, then that’s fine. Do what you want.</p>
<p>You don’t attend any college events like club meetings, social outings, shopping out on the weekends, comedy nights, or any other activities hosted by the college campus? I sleep, eat, study, and go to class too but I still try to go out and do something just to keep me from being bored. Just recently I attended a presentation/speech/talk from an author just for the hell of it because I had nothing better to do and I have bio, chem, calc, and my freshmen seminar on my plate. I mean, I should’ve studied, but you know … It’s college haha.</p>
<p>Many college freshmen start off like you, and then switch to a different major (non scientific/math/engineering pathway). </p>
<p>Usually the social atmosphere of college gets in the way of keeping up that kind of academic pace. It appears you have a difficult schedule. I think your advisor should have thrown in an easier general elective in there to balance it out a bit. </p>
<p>That programming class could become a problem later in the semester when your projects become more difficult.</p>
<p>You definitely overloaded your 1st semester course load. 5 math/science classes with 2 labs? 4 classes with 1-2 labs was normal at Brown, and so no, your lifestyle is not normal. Even if you don’t party, you should have/need time to do SOMETHING other than school, eating, and sleeping.</p>
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Please don’t make assumptions. It is rude. </p>
<p>All I’ve been doing is “working smart”. In fact, most in my analysis class spend much more than 4 hours (even 8 hours) on the problem sets, and I finish all of my assigned readings and problem sets for all my classes in 4 hours. If that is not working smart, I really don’t know what is. And the “intro to advanced physics” is considered a second year physics course at other universities according to my professor. So, again, please don’t assume.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say it’s normal. I’m kind of a loser and I still socialize each day, usually with my housemates but still. I’m also involved in a club.</p>
<p>That sounds like a hell of a schedule though, so I’m not too surprised that’s what your days look like.</p>
<p>If that is literally all you do day in and day out, then no it’s not normal.</p>
<p>It’s understandable to be busy, but if you literally have no time for anything else then something is amiss. I’m working a ton on school this semester but I still go to the gym for ~90 minutes 3-4 times a week and socialize a little bit when I can.</p>
<p>There are 168 hours in a week. If you can’t find .5% of your week (yes, that’s ONE hour a week) to do anything else, you’re doing it wrong.</p>
<p>aaaaaaaaaaaaaanddd you’re posting on a forum about your monotonous life, which is a start to making it less monotonous I’d say.</p>
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<p>they are not interested in parties…or study groups…hmmm that doesn’t sound very plausible. maybe your observations are not accurate.</p>
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<p>What do you study?</p>
<p>That’s normal the first few weeks with those subjects. I’m just in precalc, bio 1, chem 1, statistics and music appreciation and that pretty much sounds like my study schedule. Once your further into the semester it’s easier to tell what classes you can study less for. I just got an 80 on a precalc test, first test of the semester, and got a rude awakening that I need to study not just the assigned chapters but other ones too to do well. Oh well, it always seems to get better about half way through once you get accustomed to the expectations.</p>
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I plan to double major in mathematical physics and computer science, so I am fully aware that I must become proficient in proof writing. The problem is, I’d rather prefer to learn it in second year or second semester of first year than my first semester when I’m just transitioning into the university lifestyle.</p>
<p>Yeah, that was pretty much my college experience. I got out in 3 years though so it was worth it. Just keep your head down and study and the rest doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>^ honestly, that’s a little depressing. Life is about more than studying.</p>
<p>It’s pretty normal, but there are ways of arranging your schedule and adjusting your study habits so that you can make room for a life outside of school. Remember, you don’t have to be out getting wasted every weekend, or even out every evening. However, there should be something in your life that’s totally outside of school. It’s healthy.</p>