<p>I am a first-semester freshman at Penn State + Schreyer. Basically, I have been hating it here for going on seven weeks now. I joined several clubs and study groups, but I have yet to make any friends. I eat 1/7 of my meals with a high school friend who is slowly drifting away and the other 6/7 by myself. I am on my third assigned roommate (long story), who is actually looking to move back to where she was. On top of all that miserableness, my boyfriend (3 hours away) is having so much fun at his college. </p>
<p>So I basically hate life here, but I don't think that I'd have any more luck anywhere else. On top of that, I just got a B on a chem exam (should have been an easy A...the course is all review for me) and a low, low C in my honors math course. If I go any lower, I won't be able to stay in Schreyer. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm drowning. </p>
<p>I am sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed. College is very difficult at times (as life is for us all) and I guarantee you are not the only person who feels like this.</p>
<p>Contact the advising center at Schreyer. Make an appointment. Why? To discuss your worries with a human being. Contact the people at CAPS (the counseling center, 5th floor of the health center over by Eisenhower) by phone or walk in.
<a href=“http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/services/counseling.shtml”>http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/services/counseling.shtml</a></p>
<p>CAPS will talk to you on the phone to see what’s up, and then suggest some solutions. Don’t think you have to fix everything yourself. </p>
<p>Go to <a href=“Mathematics | Penn State Learning”>https://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/tutoring/mathematics</a> and get yourself hooked up with a math tutor. The biggest mistake students make is waiting too long to get help. Don’t be too proud or stubborn to take the life preserver. There are also lots of sections of chem tutoring. Go meet other chem students who have the same questions you do. </p>
<p>Lastly, call your parents, siblings, and be reminded that people love you and you aren’t alone. Your bf might be having a great time. He might not. If you were with him, that might not make you feel entirely better, so try to not compare. Don’t wait to seek help. Eat enough, get some rest, value yourself and trust that this is not a permanent state of life. Hang in there! </p>
<p>Thank you very much for your advice.</p>
<p>Hi Bodangles,</p>
<p>I’m currently a junior in the Honors College (chemical engineering), and I’m really sorry you’re having a tough time. Believe me, I understand what it feels like to struggle academically in college after getting straight A’s in high school – and by “struggle” I mean failing the beginning of Honors Organic Chemistry my first semester (I believe the exact text I sent my mom was “This feels like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.”) I was learning to live with a complete stranger, maintaining a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend, and trying to decipher all those wash cycles in the laundry room (I still have no idea what “Permanent Press” means, but it doesn’t sound good…), and most days just felt like I was trying to keep my head above water. </p>
<p>As far as (STEM) classes are concerned, let me offer some tips that have helped me tremendously. For what they’re worth, I would HIGHLY recommend…</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Taking detailed lecture notes. It’s not enough (for me at least) to just transcribe what the professor WRITES on the board – really pay attention to (and take notes on) what they SAY. </p></li>
<li><p>Avoiding study groups (you will have plenty of other chances to make friends), which can fool you into thinking that you understand stuff when you actually don’t. You’re not going to take a test in a group, so don’t prepare that way.</p></li>
<li><p>When you study, being honest (I would even say ruthless) with yourself. This could mean doing example problems without looking at the solutions, making concept maps to understand how ideas are interrelated, pretending you have to teach someone this material, etc. Whatever works for you. </p></li>
<li><p>Writing down your questions (however stupid they seem) on a piece of paper. This way you won’t have a bunch of nebulous, conflicting ideas floating around in your head.</p></li>
<li><p>Going to office hours. You may be a skeptic like I was, but trust me – they’re a game-changer. Bring your lists of questions and (respectfully) interrogate your professors. So what if they treat you like an idiot and act like you’re wasting their time? So what if it’s totally awkward? You pay your professors’ salaries – make them earn it! </p></li>
<li><p>Taking advantage of TA’s and free help (like the Math Center), and looking into <em>good</em> off-campus tutoring (I recommend Upgrade Tutoring – it’s run by an Engineering Schreyer Alum and might be just what you need).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As far as other things go, I totally agree with Greenbutton. I would just add that for me, getting involved with Alliance Christian Fellowship has been a great (understatement) way to stay grounded and make lasting friendships with people who genuinely care about you. </p>
<p>I know doesn’t feel like it now, but this insanity is just a blip on the radar of life, and whether you bomb a class or drop out of the Honors College in no way defines or reflects your worth as a human being…really 
Keep on persevering! </p>
<p>Fischerman provides many good pieces of advice.
However, studies have shown that students who form study groups and move through curriculum as a cohort (aids study group formation and effectiveness) do much better in classwork. As you can imagine, the key is finding serious, like minded students. Do not give up on study groups, but be careful who you work with. </p>
<p>I can’t echo #5, connected with #4 loud enough. I must add two things from the other side-
- Go to office hours REGULARLY. If you are confused, get it straight before more material is taught. Eleventh hour trips before the exam are not as effective, and you will be in competition with others showing up at the same time. If you go regularly, OHs are not awkward and more importantly, the instructor gets a sense of what types of methods work to help you understand the material. An added bonus- you give the professor a chance to get to know you and he/she could be a future letter writer.
- Come prepared to office hours with your questions. Place flags in your notes. It is important students come to OHs prepared. When a student sits down and then has to search through their notes to find their question (I’ve waited 3-4 minutes, no joke), then yes they are wasting their time and the times of other students in room. A more frequent occurrence (when multiple students are present before the exam) others present who are prepared will dominate the hours. In the end the student never gets their question addressed. Whether or not someone is paid does not justify wasting their time or disrupting the flow of the session with other students as you struggle to find your questions in a sea of notes and textbook pages.
If you go into office hours with a feeling or attitude “you are paid to do this and why can’t you teach me”, and this comes across, that is not a good thing. Students also have to accept responsibility for their role in learning. </p>
<p>here’s an analogy- the person waiting in line at store comes up the counter on their cell phone and they don’t stop talking. It is rude to the employee and those behind them waiting to be served. Think about that</p>