How to cope with increase in difficulty for transfers and new students at UM Classes?

I transferred from another campus of UofM (UM Dearborn) and was excelling. Straight A student with nothing less than a 4.0. At Ann Arbor this seems impossible, and I am okay with that. But it seems like my grades have drastically dropped. Specifically EECS 183… I took my first exam and bombed it and the time input as compared to my output in results isn’t matching up. Any feedback? What can I do to alleviate this ugly transfer period, hopefully I can get used to it.

Get used to it, the competition has ramped up and the only thing you can really do is to put more time into it.

My freshman son is taking the class. He told me he worked with a partner and put in like 11 hours on just like a few problems this weekend. I guess this used to be an easier class…

I would do peer to peer tutoring and talk to your professors or grads. There is also a learning center there for assistance for studying. Michigan is a really hard school for even the best students.

@akk@uofm FYI at the engineering parents weekend they said that kids that come in to Michigan with their 3.91 avg, after the first semester through graduation are usually a 3.3. Avg. They said it is a big shock to a lot of students just how challenging the classes are.

@Knowsstuff Interesting… for a 100 level course I’m thoroughly surprised. But I guess I shouldn’t be.

@akk@uofm not sure what’s surprising but he started lsa and just did a cross campus transfer to engineering. He needed either engr 101 or eecs 183. I think he wanted to learn c++ and python VS Matlab in eng 101and/or its what fit his schedule.

My D found the ENGR101 to be much less challenging than Org Chem and Calc 3 in her freshman year. So you should watch out for the other weeding classes too. They are not easy easy for top students admitted by CoE directly. Usually you would adjust to it after 1 or 2 semester, or after you finished those weeding classes.

@billcsho… Do you know anything about spring term per se. My son is looking at Calc 3 and maybe another class if he goes spring term. Just trying to figure out the speed of it. He had Calc 3 in high school so it won’t be new to him.

The Spring and Summer terms are shorter so it would be more condensed. My D did not take Spring or Summer term but she took Physics 201 at WCC in the summer after freshman year and transfer the credit. It turned out to be cheaper and much easier. If it is only for Calc3, you may want to find out if they accept the transfer credit from a CC.

Yes we are considering that. Not a lot of cc by us have Calc 3 We are talking to financial aid and lsa scholarships to see what it actually looks like. It is very expensive.

Hey!
I’m a current freshmen who came to UMich from a low performance high school. The transition is rough, but something that really helped me was taking advantage of any tutoring opportunity available. The Math Lab tutoring is a great tool if you haven’t already been acquainted with it. Red Bull + the ugli are a formidable combination.
Form study groups, go to office hours, go to tutoring. I know it sucks, it’s embarrassing at first, etc… but you have to fixate the idea of succeeding in your mind.
Good luck!

@michigan009. You are an inspiration. Can you go to the open houses and tell all the students what you are doing. Saying it was embarrassing at first is wonderful. Since after you got over that fear you are getting the help you need to succeed. So many students just won’t ask for help and Michigan especially the first year is pretty rough for any students coming from any type of school. Good luck to you and sounds like you have the drive to be successful!