Down in Flames! Week 5 Fall 2011

[E46Chick]

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Well not really down in flames but I made a C on my first Chemistry I test, a B on my first PreCal test (it gets deeper in that class), bombed a quiz in English II today (worth 10pts), confused but there is a flicker of hope and understanding in my critical thinking class (a B or possibly a low A), and chem lab...well let's just say that I have been really lucky. This past weekend was the first weekend I did not crack a book. Normally I come home everyday around 2pm, walk the dog and study until 12am. I BASICALLY DON'T MOVE unless it's to pee! I found that I was mostly doing alot of review these past few weeks since I am a nontrad who hasn't looked at any of this stuff since I was 18 (I'm 31 now). 'm really trying to cut myself a break 😛 here. I understand my precal now just behind (my body wanted sleep more than the student wanted to study this weekend and I had a major personal issue pop up) and didn't complete 6 homework and quiz assignments in the online math lab! YIKES! Professor says we have amnesty day on 12/13 when he will open everything back up and you have 24hrs to complete for full credit. Up until this I had A's on everything and the B on the test.

I guess I'm writing this because I am seeking a bit of encouragement and suggestions (feel free to ask questions). I have roughly 3 years to complete my degree as a biology major/chemistry minor and of course am looking to head to medical school (this will be my 2nd career and I have an assoc in business). I don't think I want to be a doctor, I know I will be a doctor but my assoc degree GPA is a 2.73 and I have been told that if medical school is to be an option for me then a 4.0 at my current university on this path is my only ticket in (I feel smoke blowing up my ass here 😡). I start volunteering soon at a hospital near the university, I will go to Kenya for 6 weeks next summer to do doctor shadowing and community projects as part of a premedical elective and I quit my nice $$$$$ job of 4 years on 8/1/2011 to engage in this full time to ensure no distractions (part of the reason for the 2.73 GPA in business--worked FT as FT student). Sigh...

 

[jay2324]

the only thing that i would be worried about if i were you is that chemistry exam grade.....yikes bro! chem is important but dont give up, just keep your eye on the prize. study everyday, do practice problems like crazy and you'll be fine

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Study that long and still get a mediocre to bad grade on an "intro" class (assuming you speak good English) then you are doing it very wrong.
Reevaluate your study habits.
Also, I remember the fist time I took my Chemistry test at the beginning of the course. I got a 44%. It wasn't dropped but 3 tests after I got a 95, 105, and a 110 to seal me with a B+ in the course. Admittedly, I didn't even study for my first test, but I new I had to bust my ass soi won't get a bad grade in the class. I begged for him to drop my first test grade, which my reasoning that I know how to study the material as my test grades have shown. I learned my lesson that you must finish strong, but start stronger.

 

[Etorphine]

Well not really down in flames but I made a C on my first Chemistry I test, a B on my first PreCal test (it gets deeper in that class), bombed a quiz in English II today (worth 10pts), confused but there is a flicker of hope and understanding in my critical thinking class (a B or possibly a low A), and chem lab...well let's just say that I have been really lucky. This past weekend was the first weekend I did not crack a book. Normally I come home everyday around 2pm, walk the dog and study until 12am. I BASICALLY DON'T MOVE unless it's to pee! I found that I was mostly doing alot of review these past few weeks since I am a nontrad who hasn't looked at any of this stuff since I was 18 (I'm 31 now). 'm really trying to cut myself a break 😛 here. I understand my precal now just behind (my body wanted sleep more than the student wanted to study this weekend and I had a major personal issue pop up) and didn't complete 6 homework and quiz assignments in the online math lab! YIKES! Professor says we have amnesty day on 12/13 when he will open everything back up and you have 24hrs to complete for full credit. Up until this I had A's on everything and the B on the test.

I guess I'm writing this because I am seeking a bit of encouragement and suggestions (feel free to ask questions). I have roughly 3 years to complete my degree as a biology major/chemistry minor and of course am looking to head to medical school (this will be my 2nd career and I have an assoc in business). I don't think I want to be a doctor, I know I will be a doctor but my assoc degree GPA is a 2.73 and I have been told that if medical school is to be an option for me then a 4.0 at my current university on this path is my only ticket in (I feel smoke blowing up my ass here 😡). I start volunteering soon at a hospital near the university, I will go to Kenya for 6 weeks next summer to do doctor shadowing and community projects as part of a premedical elective and I quit my nice $$$$$ job of 4 years on 8/1/2011 to engage in this full time to ensure no distractions (part of the reason for the 2.73 GPA in business--worked FT as FT student). Sigh...

I have a feeling that when you say you are studying that long, you are really talking with friends, browsing the internet, watching tv, or getting up every 10 min to go check on something. Additionally, you might be studying at home, which for many people is a terrible idea. These will be your biggest problems.

You need to physically move yourself to the library, turn off the cellphone, put earplugs in your ears, and program 20 minutes intervals in which you are giving 100% of your brainpower. If you feel like you are only giving 80%, it is better to take a 10 min break and then come back 100%.

Last, you NEED to be doing some form of aerobic exercise for 30 min/day. There are a lot of scientific principles on why this helps your studying, that I won't go into here.

Rinse and repeat and watch the 4.0's trickle in.

 

[Person0715]

Study smarter not harder. It seems like your spending too much time studying and the results aren't still very good. You should evaluate your study habits and adjust accordingly.

 

[Gigantron]

Quantity of studying =/= Quality. If you are studying anywhere from 2pm until 12am and still "bomb" exams like you say, then you seriously need to reevaluate how you study. To repeat Person0715: study smarter, not harder.

 

[Doctor246853]

Study smarter not harder. It seems like your spending too much time studying and the results aren't still very good. You should evaluate your study habits and adjust accordingly.

No truer words were ever spoken. You can actuall have a 4.0 semester but you will need to change some things about your study habits. Its only the first test and they usually drop the lowest one.

 

[HeavyMetalMiss]

i agree with everyone above on the studying habits. however, as for encouragement.. don't feel bad. you're not the only one. i have not done too hot so far this semester either, due to tons of issues i've been having that are non-school related. however, i decided this past monday that i'm going to officially turn over a new leaf and get myself back to where i've been for the past year and a half. just try and do the same. keep your head up, and remember that you have the whole rest of the semester left to basically bust your ***, as everyone else has said. make it a point to tell yourself, "i will not allow this to happen going forward." keep a positive outlook, have confidence, try some new studying techniques, and you'll be fine!