<p>I'm a first year chemical engineering student. I think I did pretty well in my first term. However, I did not deserve that mark because I used the same study habits as in high school, and by that I mean I did not study (perhaps 10 minutes of going through notes in total for all courses). I ended up with an 87 average though so I was happy enough. The smarter kids who studied quite a bit got low 90s probably. </p>
<p>I know that this term, it will be different since I have a couple of memorization courses (unlike last term, which is all understanding concepts and calculations). I need to know how to study, either for courses involving memorization or complex calculations.</p>
<p>Everyone seems to learn different, but here's part of my approach for engineering classes:</p>
<p>Read over (or at least skim) the textbook section before it's covered in class. Then, after class or before the next one read over your notes and make sure you understand everything. If you don't, then speak to your professor in office hours. This is asuming you take "good" notes.</p>
<p>When you have a test coming up, have all your homeworks back (or copy them if profs take forever in handing stuff back) and look over the problems. If you have time, actually rework them all. Look over the book and make sure you know how to do the example problems, and try some problems not even assigned that have back-of-book answers.</p>
<p>Make a sheet that has all the things you need to memorize, whether they be processes, equations, etc. Carry this sheet around with you all the time before the test so when you get a few minutes you can memorize them. Flashcards also work well for me for this memorization, but I tend to be visual--in that I'll remember a little what the page looks like.</p>
<p>So in general, don't study all the night before. Make sure you understand stuff along the way and study a little every night, with the major memorization right before the test so it's fresh.</p>
<p>At least at my school, they don't make us memorize equations much. Maybe for a quiz we'll have the know the few we'll use, but especially upper-level classes tend to at least let you use a sheet of paper, your notes, or book.</p>
<p>Best of luck! (and an 87 sounds really great to me)</p>
<p>Stevee, if you dont mind me asking, what university are you currently studying at? I ask because I'll be applying to university next year for engineering and I'm also in Toronto. Any advice? =P</p>
<p>One thing that helped me was ditching the Solution/HW manuals since I tended to rely on them and would end up memorizing problems instead of actually learning the concepts.</p>
<p>As an engineer you need to master the concepts and basic principles of physics and math--not memorize a certain problem and trying to bend every other one to fit it.</p>
<p>but the thing about hw problems/solutions is that they tend to focus on at least one aspect of the concept. i know that memorizing one hw problem will do you no good but if you see how several hw problems work then in effect you will see several parts of the concept being stressed.</p>
<p>You do make a good point. I just want to emphasize that even though the HW Solution will save you the night before a problem set is due they however sometimes give you a false sense of comprehension.</p>
<p>i know what you are saying. relying on the hw solutions is a bad thing. one should at least read the chaptered materials instead of relying on the solutions to get by.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Everyone seems to learn different, but here's part of my approach for engineering classes:</p>
<p>Read over (or at least skim) the textbook section before it's covered in class. Then, after class or before the next one read over your notes and make sure you understand everything. If you don't, then speak to your professor in office hours. This is asuming you take "good" notes.</p>
<p>When you have a test coming up, have all your homeworks back (or copy them if profs take forever in handing stuff back) and look over the problems. If you have time, actually rework them all. Look over the book and make sure you know how to do the example problems, and try some problems not even assigned that have back-of-book answers.</p>
<p>Make a sheet that has all the things you need to memorize, whether they be processes, equations, etc. Carry this sheet around with you all the time before the test so when you get a few minutes you can memorize them. Flashcards also work well for me for this memorization, but I tend to be visual--in that I'll remember a little what the page looks like.</p>
<p>So in general, don't study all the night before. Make sure you understand stuff along the way and study a little every night, with the major memorization right before the test so it's fresh.</p>
<p>At least at my school, they don't make us memorize equations much. Maybe for a quiz we'll have the know the few we'll use, but especially upper-level classes tend to at least let you use a sheet of paper, your notes, or book.
[/quote]
I'd like to say that this sort of work is probably far above average for the standard engineering student.</p>
<p>time management is hard. I try my best to plan the time i study and time for break but tends to get into break more :X. In georgia tech there's something called success program where they teach you how to manage time and study habit for classes. If there is one like that in your school I suggest you visit and talk about your time management problem. It helped me alot especially ece3040 gah i hated that class</p>
<p>"I ended up with an 87 average though so I was happy enough. The smarter kids who studied quite a bit got low 90s probably.
"</p>
<p>wow. an 87 is a really high average. (sounds like you did pretty well) was it this high because everyone is really really good at this stuff or is the material really not that hard?</p>
<p>average % for chem/physics for freshman at my school is around a 70% while math is slightly higher (~73%). of course, an A is like 85-100%.. so average is around a B-/C+.</p>
<p>maybe you only need a slight revision to your study habits... it sounds like you study effectively your own way.</p>