<p>...how well I did last semester. I mean, I know the numbers (21 credits, 4 A's, 1 B, 1 "pass," a 3.75), but I have no clue how well I worked, managed time, etc. The thing is, I'm your classic always-busy overachiever. I'm involved in a bunch of student activities, etc., and if all goes well, I'm hoping to add even more to that list (undergrad. science research) to that list next semester. However, I?m also a procrastinator, and I feel like I worked considerably less in my first semester of college than I did in high school. I?m really not sure how much this contributed to said shameful ?B,? as a big problem was that the tests were written, I have a physical writing disability, and didn?t realize I could get extra time until half way through the course. Totally my fault, but I?m not quite sure how much of it was the B was that and how much was procrastination. My other classes, where I didn?t have accommodation problems (though they were foreign language, humanities, and psych, so it?s not a direct comparison), I was generally at the top of class (not bragging, just judging based on instructor comments). So I?m not sure if the classes are easier, or if I?m not working hard enough, or if overscheduled, or not scheduled enough. Next semester, I?m taking 19 credits (bio, calc, chem., creative writing [GE], and business law [honors course]), so that I can complete program reqs. and have time to fit in other courses I want to take in future instead of jamming in honors courses I have to take but I?m lukewarm about; I don?t want to try to overload on top of OChem. However, I?m divided over whether I?m taking on too much or not. In sum, my question is how do you evaluate your own efficiency and academic abilities? How do you know when you could have done better?</p>
<p>Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.</p>
<p>You've already gotten into college, you can back off the Type A behavior and enjoy life. Seriously, you're doing fine. Enjoy college, and don't forget to goof off a little.</p>
<p>Since things are going well, I would be thinking "fine-tuning". Think earlier about possible accommodations. Think about adding or changing an activity or two. Tweak (reasonably) here, tweak (reasonably) there and see what works second semester.</p>
<p>There are always things that could have been better--no one is perfect. But your overall judgment obviously has been good so far. Therefore, don't overly question yourself! Rather, trust yourself. Get advice if you wish, but go with your best judgment. You'll have many more chances to learn what works well for you, and to adjust accordingly.</p>
<p>You could drive yourself crazy with "could have done better". There's no end to that. You're doing great! Give yourself a pat on the back and continue to enjoy those ECs. Who you meet and what you learn about yourself in ECs can be as important in finding your future direction as coursework. Are your parents giving you a hard time about the B?</p>
<p>I have no idea what college you attend but if you got 4 A's, 1 B, took an additional class P/F, participated in lots of clubs and didn't work very hard it seems that you are attending a college with very lax academic standards.</p>
<p>For a self professed overachiever, you should be seriously considering a transfer from that college which seems second tier and second rate.</p>
<p>I don't think it is necessarily true that a bright, hard-working college student should be killing him or herself with work and if he/she isn't, the college isn't good enough. I've read wolfpiper's posts before and I think he tends to push himself too hard and minimize his achievements. IMO, there's nothing wrong with having fun and even a little downtime in college. Some HSs are so rat-racy that anything would seem like a break in comparison.</p>
<p>Oh My! If you don't know what college wolfpiper attends, how could you dismiss it as second rate and second tier? You really don't know how hard he worked in HS and in college. All we know from wolfpiper's post above, is that he FELT he worked less in college than in HS. As you might have noticed, working less in college (especially the first semester) than in HS, seems to be a common theme on CC lately - even reported by students attending the so-called "elite" colleges. So, I would not have been so hard on wolfpiper.</p>
<p>I have only one suggestion: if you get involved in science research, cut back on the credits -- to 18 or even 15, including the credits you get for the research. Research is interesting but it takes up a lot of time. I mean a LOT of time, especially if you really get into it. It may be best not to overload yourself with courses during the first semester when you are actively involved in research. After that, you will be a better judge of how much of your time will be absorbed by your research project.</p>
<p>Bio (I am assuming Introductory Biology), Chem (General Chem 1?), Calc (1?) AND two other classes, is a big load. I teach microbiology and this is what I tell my students: for every hour you spend in class, you should figure on spending 2-3 hours outside of class. For a science class, you really need 3 hours outside of class for every hour spent in class. Remember, the science courses will have labs, you will need to do lab reports, problems sets, etc.</p>
<p>At the college I teach, a student would spend the following number of hours in class for each course:</p>
<p>BIO with <em>lab - 6 hours per week
Chem with</em>lab - 6 hours per week
* at some colleges, the labs for these courses are longer</p>
<p>So, I would advise one of my students to have at least 24 -36 hours per week outside of class JUST for the two science classes you plan to take - if he/she wants to get As. If you took AP Bio and AP Chem in HS, then you might find the two science courses a touch easier (no guarantee, it all depends on how they are taught). If you are also taking Calc, then you will need a significant amount of time for problem sets, etc. </p>
<p>My advice: if you are taking all those courses together (for a total of 19 credits), be careful you are not doing too many ECs.</p>
<p>bethie and micro, I did not mean to be insulting but I suggest we take wolf at his words and get off the politically correct and faux esteem train. Wolf stated that he had a (honors?) schedule with a one course overload, didn't study very much, was one top students in all his classes, got 4 A's, and one B that was a result of a writing/learning deficiency and not the academic rigor of the course. A result that he characterized as shameful. And he has so much time on his hands that he will be adding more extra class activities to his schedule in the future.</p>
<p>Looking at these facts, I do not see how the college wolf is attending is challenging him very much. And isn't that something so many students here are encouraged to do?</p>
<p>It just seems to me that if wolf's post is accurate he is more likely attending a college like UDallas or Wayland Baptist than Rice or UT-Austin. And he certainly isn't attending a college like UChicago, MIT or Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Many students find that college is easier than high school, particulary the first semester when schools are trying to start off slow
Doesn't your brother go to RPI?
Tech schools are generally a little different because there is so much material to get through before graduation</p>
<p>Good G-d, do I need to get another screen name! I'm a girl, and I based this name off a female character in a story, so I don't know what it is that makes people think "male."</p>
<p>Ahem... now that I've gotten that out of my system....</p>
<p>a) I don't have a "learning difference." It's an actual physical problem with my hands that makes me write slowly and somewhat poorly. Sorry, it's a distinction I'm a bit touchy about.</p>
<p>b) That being said, I don't necessary disagree with wheattin's point. I probably could have gone to a more difficult school;I attend a flagship state u, but it's still ranked in USNWR's third tier. However, I'm happy to be here, I have an awesome merit scholarship for which I'm very grateful and I need excellent grades to pursue my professional goals, hence the disappointment in the "B." </p>
<p>c) I know science classes can be intensely graded and time-consuming, thanks to my fellow pre-professionals ;) and so I appreciate the post offering that perspective. I don't know if my school givens credit for research or not. I'll check into that.</p>
<p>Congrats on an excellent first semester. I second the concern about science overload. If you are strong in math, calc shouldn't be any more work than any other rigorous course. But, the intro sciences are typically tough, so not sure I'd recommend doubling in bio and chem.</p>
<p>Wolfpiper, congrats on the fine semester and do not get too bummed by that one B+. Here is what I suggest. Carefully go thru the entire college catalogue and try to search out those courses which seem very interesting and challenging. If there are prereq's which you have not taken, see if the department can waive in your case. Consider taking graduate level courses too.</p>
<p>The one advantage I found in attending a large state university was the amazing array of courses in the course catalogue. I took classes in subjects such as Serbo-Croatian lit, urban planning, metallurgy of ferrous materials, Medieval music, music of the 20th century, social cybernetics, etc. I even weedled my way into a class taught by Gunnar Myrdal which was wonderful. Also, in your major endeavor to select the most challenging departmental offerings and take as many grad level's as possible. Finally take a few IS courses with a faculty mentor. He/She will know of your abilities and be able to structure syllabi matching your abilities.</p>
<p>In summary take advantage of that flagship state U. The opportunities they offer are almost limitless for students who go after them.</p>
<p>I agree with originaloog. In fact I had a tendency to get B's in guts because they were boring and then I'd do really well in courses for which I was theoretically woefully underprepared. The best course I took in college was a graduate seminar in Chinese Landscape Painting of the Sung dynasty.</p>
<p>I thought you were a guy too. Like there aren't female wolves...</p>
<p>I went to my flagship state U for awhile (went to 4 schools before I got my ug degree) and had some excellent courses. Even some of the huge ones were good, but I was surprised to get into some small discussion-based classes too. The bane of my existence was Chemistry because I skipped senior year of hs so I didn't have the prereq. I managed to get a B, but only by seeking out the ta's like everyday for help. It was an enormous struggle.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I agree with originaloog. In fact I had a tendency to get B's in guts because they were boring and then I'd do really well in courses for which I was theoretically woefully underprepared. The best course I took in college was a graduate seminar in Chinese Landscape Painting of the Sung dynasty.
[/quote]
Absolutely ... put me in a gut class and typically I slack off. I always respond best to being thrown into the deep end of the pool without a life vest. One of the best courses and the grade I am most proud of as an undergrad was my B in Greek History ... a class of about 12; 11 hard core liberal arts majors (history, goverment, etc) and one lowly engineer who didn't know how to write ... brought my mid-term C+/D- up to a B and I damn proud of that B.</p>