<p>I finished my first year of college a week ago and for the past two quarters of physics, I got a C+ in both classes. This to me is a disappointing result because of the significance of the introductory physics sequence. I want to do much better in the final two physics courses because I'm also a chemE major so I'm going to need a lot of physics for my career.</p>
<p>I think my problem stems from the professors not teaching the course the way I prefer it to be. My last two physics teachers taught the same way: they prescribed reading from the textbook before "lecture" and then during the "lecture," they would bombard the class with a bunch of iclicker questions without actually teaching physics beforehand, though they do thoroughly solve the problem after we put in our answers. Yes, this teaching method would nurture problem-solving skills in a class full of engineers but this would also discourage learning from someone who did not understand the concepts taught by the book--usually me.</p>
<p>Also I think my low grades have also been due to being in a physics class designed mainly for engineering majors. Virtually everyone I studied with in that class has taken AP physics or a bunch of physics classes before college while my last physics course was in freshmen year of high school. Naturally, the curve would be set against me then.</p>
<p>What can I do to get on top of my physics classes--I have two more of them for the sequence with the next one focusing on electricity and magnetism.</p>
<p>Yes I’m actually ahead two quarters in math (I’ve done differential/integral calculus before, linear algebra, differential equations, and took multivariable calc. 1 last quarter). Lol I guess people can be good at math but not so in physics. That or I do way better when I feel like I’m ahead than when I’m behind.</p>
<p>Advise you form a study group to work on problems, go to prof office hours. It’s about doing problems, problems and more problems. Adjust your study strategies.</p>
<p>If you can, see if you can audit physics courses this summer, to get an idea of the material to be covered so it will be familiar to you when you face it again during the school year. My niece did this with organic chemistry and it really helped her excel when she took the course for credit at her U.</p>
<p>I am currently taking Physics I-a short 8 week Summer course at our local community college and this has been the hardest course I have ever taken so far. On the first test, I got a 43 and we had a study group since Day 1.</p>
<p>We have spent hours reviewing the concepts, doing problems but I am starting to realize that with Physics, you either get it or you don’t.</p>
<p>We have 3 weeks left and honestly I don’t even know if I am going to pass but even if I have to retake this class- I feel like I have learned a lot in these last 5 weeks.</p>
<p>Like someone said, it really helps if you were previously exposed to some of the concepts but as much I hate to not do well, if you are not doing well, it is because you are failing to grasp the concepts and it is not so easy with Physics.</p>
<p>Don’t they have lab or recitation sections in your courses? What about the academic support center at your school? They usually have students that can help with the introductory courses or even hire a tutor if you need it.</p>