Discouraged

[focvx]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi all,

This is may sound dumb because I'm only a freshman in my second semester but....
I've been feeling very discouraged. I didn't do so well as I hoped for my first semester -- I ended up with a 2.91 as a GPA, and it's the lowest GPA I've ever generated. I took the following courses:

Kite Making: A-
Bio 101: B-
Gen. Chem: C+
English Comp: B
Precalculus: B

I'm really upset since my only A was in kite making and it wasn't even an A....
The thing is, I know what I'm doing wrong too. I don't study at all. I want to study but can't seem to get myself to do so. I get motivated very easily but also become really lazy easily. I know if I studied more, I would've done way better, but it's so difficult for me -____-. I had a 3.6 GPA in high school and I guess I underestimated college and thought if I put everything off I could manage a 3.5.

So far I'm doing good my second semester. I guess what I want to say is -- can anyone give me tips on studying, methods that work for you? How to avoid procrastinating and manage my time better (I have a work study at the moment) and what GPA I should aim for to be considered "competitive". Because of my GPA I feel so discouraged and everyone else in my class is doing much better than I am. I am worried I won't be able to "make it". 🙁

Thanks everyone.

 

[oldstock]

Hi all,

This is may sound dumb because I'm only a freshman in my second semester but....
I've been feeling very discouraged. I didn't do so well as I hoped for my first semester -- I ended up with a 2.91 as a GPA, and it's the lowest GPA I've ever generated. I took the following courses:

Kite Making: A-
Bio 101: B-
Gen. Chem: C+
English Comp: B
Precalculus: B

I'm really upset since my only A was in kite making and it wasn't even an A....
The thing is, I know what I'm doing wrong too. I don't study at all. I want to study but can't seem to get myself to do so. I get motivated very easily but also become really lazy easily. I know if I studied more, I would've done way better, but it's so difficult for me -____-. I had a 3.6 GPA in high school and I guess I underestimated college and thought if I put everything off I could manage a 3.5.

So far I'm doing good my second semester. I guess what I want to say is -- can anyone give me tips on studying, methods that work for you? How to avoid procrastinating and manage my time better (I have a work study at the moment) and what GPA I should aim for to be considered "competitive". Because of my GPA I feel so discouraged and everyone else in my class is doing much better than I am. I am worried I won't be able to "make it". 🙁

Thanks everyone.

I also have the same problem, i.e. procrastination and time management.

My solution:

-write down goals/tasks: long term + short term + daily

-at the end of the day/month: check off what you have accomplished and what you did not

-grade yourself on the percentage of completion


You can do better. GL !! 🙂

 

[Neodynium]

I am also in my 2nd semester of my first year of pre-pharmacy and the only main issue I am finding is time management and procrastination.

My first semester grades were:
Pre-Calculus: A-
English: A-
Biology: B
Chemistry: B-
3.2ish GPA

I too underestimated my bio and chem class (mainly because I took AP courses back in high school which pretty much contained the same material of the classes I took last term). I didn't really try or focus too much for my first semester ;(. I pretty much blame my gaming addiction and my lethargic attitude for these mediocre grades.

What my current solutions are:
-Find classmates that you can study and work with for each class (This will definitely make college life easier)

-Manage my time (As oldstock stated, make a checklist of the things you should get done. I have a checklist widget/app on my phone that I constantly keep updated with my exam dates and assignments.)

-Be physically active. (I'm an extremely lethargic person from playing too many games. I noticed that when I hit the gym or workout, it gets me mentally worked up and prepared on my main tasks at hand.)

-Complete assignments before hand. (It always feels great knowing I don't have to cram my paper before the day its due.)

That's about it. I'm looking forward to getting those A's this term, and I hope you are too!

 

[PharmDCandidate2014]

Use this if you drone off during your reading assignments, I find this helps. Found it on the medical students forum on SDN.

http://rain.simplynoise.com/

Also, when you get your GPA up, change your status from pre-pharmacy to pre-med or something. The pharmacy boat took its last customers in Fall 2013. Maybe some room left for the Fall 2014 matriculating students reserved for the type A, pharmacy is the end all be all, super networking and connection skills, attend every state professional conference type of people. But after that, it's going to be real ugly.

No more negativity though - ace your classes from now on OP!

 

[sunshao]

university courses are different then AP. My advice is to study just an hour a day and I mean really study. No looking at phone browsing social media or any type of distraction. 1 hr of effective studying is enough for the average reader to read and understand a whole chapter.