<p>So, I am an incoming freshman who is really just adjusting to school. I am going to a super big school (BU) and I am not used to the big lecture halls and such. Anyways, I really have not been doing too great so far (what little amount of time I have been here). My quizzes have been fairly poor, but I haven't had too many assessments anyways, especially not major ones. </p>
<p>I have tried to do every textbook definition of succeeding on college that I have read on these forums. I spend a couple hours each day doing my homework in the library, sit as close as possible to the front of the room, have a very well planned schedule in terms of classes, a close dormitory for ease of traveling, and I go to every office hour and extra help type resource that I have access to. </p>
<p>Despite all my planning and preparations, things still seem to go wrong. I am not saying that I am going to fail the course (especially not based on two weeks), but I would like to know what to expect to do in the near future to make up for my current downfalls. I guess I am just nervous - my older brother flunked out his first semester of college and wasted 16k of my parents hard earned money. And I would like to maintain a good GPA eventually so I have options to great grad schools.</p>
<p>I realize its my first year and I am giving myself a "break", but I would like to start seeing a more consecutive stream of As soon.</p>
<p>My first tip is to be patient and don’t panic. It’s good you are acknowledging you aren’t doing as well as you hoped, that is important. But it is going to take you some time to figure out what you need to do differently from high school. I am a junior and I am still adjusting what study tactics I use to do well, it changes as I change and as my courses change.</p>
<p>What do you think might be going wrong? Are you tired? Are you understanding the reading? Taking notes? Are you going in confident only to find you failed, or do you feel unprepared from the beginning? Can you keep up with the lectures? Have your professors suggested anything?</p>
<p>At many universities, the students admitted mostly got A’s in high school. So, if everyone is a straight A high school student, how could everyone be straight A college students, especially when graded on a curve? Yeah, failing is bad, and it’s horrible to say but “someone has to do it”. lol. Not trying to say you will fail or can’t do better, just pointing out that not every “straight A student” from highschool will get A’s in college.</p>
<p>Seems like you are trying hard and doing everything right. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Relax.</p>
<p>Taken from the BU website:
Welcome to the certified ERC Tutoring Program.
Peer tutors complement the student’s classroom experience, as well as provide insight into becoming a more successful and well-organized learner. Our tutors are undergraduate students recruited from various schools and colleges at the University and are recommended by BU faculty. This is a free service to BU students.
You might want to stop by the Student Health Center to see if they have any New Students Adjusting to College Seminars. Good Luck.</p>
<p>What courses are you taking this semester and where do you see difficulties? Are there particular types of problems that you are having trouble with?</p>
<p>Well, I am taking Multivariate Calculus and General Chemistry. Multivariate is hard and I guess I take a lot of time to do the problems. Unfortunately, I have to rely a lot on an answer booklet to help me when I get stuck and cannot find a teacher. Because of the difficulty, in the mornings I spend all available time I can in the math tutoring center. For chem, most of the material I already understand from my advanced curriculum in my high school (not AP though). I don’t know why I didn’t to great on the quizzes. My first exam is on Monday, I am going to study my ass off with my floormates, who are all of the same major. And maybe find some tutors…</p>
<p>I just hope my results on the quizzes are not an indication of my grades on the tests.</p>
<p>I also take an archeology course and a engineering course, but I haven’t recieved much work from both - which is a GODSEND.</p>
<p>Did you have a chance to look over your quizzes? Is it the format? The wording? Talk to your TA. You’ve got to get it together before Monday. Good luck.</p>
<p>I guess they are too short for me. I am used to LONG tedious quizzes that I have a half hour to hour to do. These quizzes are casually given in a short ten minute period, but I also get anxious during the test. I actually got more time in school, because of my troubles dealing with anxiety - I think I leaned on the extra time too much and I am now paying for it. I did my tests in Linear Algebra just fine though…</p>
<p>I just don’t want to see a repeat on my tests. I will do every possible thing in my power to improve and learn from my mistakes.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice so far. I appreciate everything!</p>
<p>You might want to drop by the counselling center. The head of my D’s counselling department said that they do alot of work with helping freshmen adjust to college. I’m sure they can give you some strategies for settling in.</p>
<p>I had a similar problem, I was an excellent student in high school which was college prep. Then I really struggled my first couple of terms. I had excelled in all subjects in high school, but focused on science in college, but I didn’t enjoy it, and I struggled. But I easily got A’s in my English and History classes, even though Chemistry and Biology was my element in high school. Once I changed my focus to liberal arts, I went back to straight A’s. Whereas in Chemistry I was struggling with C’s. </p>
<p>I just wasn’t interested in science anymore, even though it was easy, I just had a hard time staying focused and wanting to succeed.</p>