<p>I'm a computer science major and I did poorly in my first midterm, scoring a 74%. Even though the midterm isn't worth too much - 12% - it's still a demoralizing blow. I now feel like I'm behind in my courses, and worried about my final grades. I have fall break now, though I feel like I should spend it reviewing concepts instead of relaxing, which was my original plan. What does CC think?</p>
<p>As a Penn grad, all I can tell you is that it’s only going to get harder. Start out strong unless you want to get really demoralized and start tumbling your way through grades you’d consider substandard. Fall Break is a great time to do some studying.</p>
<p>Oh nooo, seriously? Damn! Any study tips? I get the feeling that I can’t cruise through Penn on rote review like I did back at my old school, and there aren’t really any office hours over fall break.</p>
<p>All I can say is that procrastination can be a deadly thing, haha. Time management is a huge component to succeeding academically at Penn, in my opinion. </p>
<p>What worked for me is planning. It’s like when people work out and allow themselves “cheat” days where it’s OK if they eat a bag of chips (or some other junk food). You grant yourself guilt-free relaxation as long as you stick to a study plan otherwise. I could get a lot done in the 2-4 hours I’d allocate for myself each day and then enjoy kicking back in the meantime without worrying so much. </p>
<p>It sure beats waiting till the last minute and then realizing you still don’t fully understand something. Just keep on the ball and use office hours whenever you’re feeling confused. It also helps to know people who are naturals and can give you good advice/insights. Computer science is one of those areas where help is everywhere.</p>