Getting Good grades question

[gerrybrown82]

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i just thought i'd ask since there are a bunch of A students on here.........what exactly did yall do as far as preparing for classes and tests and what study methods do yall use to get straight A's..or close to that......just wanted to see what everybody is doing and maybe adopt some of these strategies........thanks

 

[mechanictodr]

Daily enemas.

 

[TX515]

The professor gave reading assignments and notes. I read them.

 

[Morsetlis]

Go to all classes, sections, and office hours. Ask questions. Be the gunner 🙂

 

[BlueElmo]

Just work hard.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

i dont think there is a specific way to get good grades, just bust your ass in every course you take

 

[chman]

I will give you the suggestion that most are not likely to give...Everyone will give you suggestions about study habits etc., which is true. However, one important point usually gets missed; do what you need to do to get on your professor's/TA's good side! You would be really surprised how far this can take you. Go to office hours etc.

 

[Slowpoke]

heres an advice from my high school math teacher that has stuck:

"study for the final everyday"

think about it

 

[Narmerguy]

I will give you the suggestion that most are not likely to give...Everyone will give you suggestions about study habits etc., which is true. However, one important point usually gets missed; do what you need to do to get on your professor's/TA's good side! You would be really surprised how far this can take you. Go to office hours etc.

Well that's because it doesn't matter in a lot of classes. Some classes (especially science) are graded 100% on what they can accruately solve on a test. A loving professor/TA can't make you know the info...unless cheating is involved in which case we've got a whole 'nother ball game.

 

[tinery]

or you could be naturally gifted

 

[chman]

Well that's because it doesn't matter in a lot of classes. Some classes (especially science) are graded 100% on what they can accruately solve on a test. A loving professor/TA can't make you know the info...unless cheating is involved in which case we've got a whole 'nother ball game.

You would thinks so, but I say it helps even with those classes. For example, I was taking a pre-calc class and I calculated going into the final that there was no way I was going to get above a B in the class. Guess what? I came out of it with an A.

Plus, you never know when you might miss a test and need a retake etc. Lastly, even if you get the answer wrong most professors/instructors will at least give you partial credit, and them liking you could not hurt. Just IMO.

 

[Latuza]

I have smart friends who seem to breeze through classes and get A's. Besides their high IQ's, here's some common traits I've noticed:

1) Have a wholesome sleep pattern. Go to bed early and wake up early. So when you go to lectures, your brain is in a ready, receptive, retentive mode. Half the game is understanding the lecture content on the spot, and noticing what the profs/TAs think are important to know (key points) and study for those.

2) Keep up with classes. When finals roll around, there's only time for review. Cramming works to a limited degree.

3) The way to absorb and retain concepts is by working with those ideas. This means read slowly until you understood, take own notes summarizing the main/important points, do problems, go to study groups. Sometimes I say out loud what I need to memorize to use all 3 senses to help me remember: visual, auditory, and tactile (touch). Thoughts can easily become muddled.

Well figure out what works for you.

 

[Danlee07]

Couple things i've learned and am still learning:

1. The prof/ta tip is good. 2 of my classes, reli and bio 1, i was a borderline B+. 89.something I forget. I ended up with an A basically because I gave them my case and asked.
2. I just look do problems over and over til it clicks either by hand or just looking if it's easy.
3. To memorize, I read something, say it, and then cover it up. If I do well, I go on... and then come back to it to repeat once more. By then, it's usually stuck in my head.

 

[FloatOn]

You should walk into every test aiming for 100%. I've witnessed so many times people half-ass study, especially for their finals, and they get mediocre grades when they were very much capable of doing better. When it's time to bring it on, you BRING IT ON.

 

[flip26]

Stay on top of the material. Don't get 300 pages behind in reading. Set aside time on the weekends for something more than "partying."

And remember, not everyone around you in college gives a crap about their grades - many of them are there for the parties and the poon, and all they care about is a "gentleman's C" average.

 

[apumic]

The SDN Search Button.

Or Google.

 

[orthomyxo]

1. When applicable, READ AHEAD!!!!! That way, when you get to class, it will be your second time hearing the material. Then read it again later, and it will stick in your mind.

2. Do not write everything that the prof. writes/puts on the slides. Doing this wastes time and distracts you from listening. Just write what you think is most important.

3. Get to know your prof. After the first test, you will see the types of questions/problems they like to ask. Anticipate the material that will be on the exam.

4. Like someone else said, go into the exam expecting and wanting to get a 100%. You'd be surprised how your confidence can effect how clearly you think.

 

[skiddoc]

Stay on top of the material. Don't get 300 pages behind in reading. Set aside time on the weekends for something more than "partying."

And remember, not everyone around you in college gives a crap about their grades - many of them are there for the parties and the poon, and all they care about is a "gentleman's C" average.

You can kill two birds with one stone and go to a poon party.

 

[barcoderider]

1. Attend every lecture! You won't know what you missed, even if you get notes from a friend. I can think of a dozen times when I was taking an exam, and vaguely remembered, oh yeah, the prof said the answer was THIS in class.

2. As far as how to study, my method was usually to go through my notes/lecture slides and, on separate sheets of paper, write out all of the concepts, then read through them later. If I could write it out, I understood it, and if I wrote it, I remembered it. Worked for me anyway.

 

[mwalker394]

I disagree entirely with whoever said you shouldn't write everything the professor says because it distracts you. That is a completely personal quality that depends on your listening skills. Learn if you are the type who remembers things they heard or if you are the type who remembers things they write down. If you really can't listen and write everything, record the lectures and write the notes later. A complete set of notes is what has saved me in every class in college, because it's very useful when you use the tip I'm about to give you...

This is something my Biology 201 professor told me before the first test. I have used it in every single subject since and it has been amazing: before a test (several days before... not the night before), go into your room, shut the door, have a dry-erase board/mirror/chalkboard at the ready and teach your fish/dog/bed/teddy bear/dresser all the material. Give every single lecture as if you were teaching a class. It's sort of embarrassing at first, but you get the hang of it quickly. Trying to explain something out loud pinpoints precisely what you do and do not understand, so you're not staring at your notes passively thinking, "I'm pretty sure I get this." You are actively testing yourself to see if you understand. Obviously, the goal of this is to be able to explain everything on your own, only using the notes to carry you from one topic to another.

Hope that helps!

 

[Morsetlis]

The motto my Swiss MD/PhD mentor taught me was: see one, do one, teach one.

 

[snorlax]

go into your room, shut the door, have a dry-erase board/mirror/chalkboard at the ready and teach your fish/dog/bed/teddy bear/dresser all the material. Give every single lecture as if you were teaching a class.

Agreed. this is the best way to make sure you know everything.

 

[Wolfman89]

1. When applicable, READ AHEAD!!!!! That way, when you get to class, it will be your second time hearing the material. Then read it again later, and it will stick in your mind.

2. Do not write everything that the prof. writes/puts on the slides. Doing this wastes time and distracts you from listening. Just write what you think is most important.

3. Get to know your prof. After the first test, you will see the types of questions/problems they like to ask. Anticipate the material that will be on the exam.

4. Like someone else said, go into the exam expecting and wanting to get a 100%. You'd be surprised how your confidence can effect how clearly you think.

These are all very good bits of advice. Especially #3. The second test is usually easier in my opinion than the first since you know your prof's tendencies.


Also ask friends who have taken the class questions.

I disagree entirely with whoever said you shouldn't write everything the professor says because it distracts you. That is a completely personal quality that depends on your listening skills. Learn if you are the type who remembers things they heard or if you are the type who remembers things they write down. If you really can't listen and write everything, record the lectures and write the notes later. A complete set of notes is what has saved me in every class in college, because it's very useful when you use the tip I'm about to give you...

This is something my Biology 201 professor told me before the first test. I have used it in every single subject since and it has been amazing: before a test (several days before... not the night before), go into your room, shut the door, have a dry-erase board/mirror/chalkboard at the ready and teach your fish/dog/bed/teddy bear/dresser all the material. Give every single lecture as if you were teaching a class. It's sort of embarrassing at first, but you get the hang of it quickly. Trying to explain something out loud pinpoints precisely what you do and do not understand, so you're not staring at your notes passively thinking, "I'm pretty sure I get this." You are actively testing yourself to see if you understand. Obviously, the goal of this is to be able to explain everything on your own, only using the notes to carry you from one topic to another.

Hope that helps!

Re-teaching your own class does help. Or describe what you are studying to a friend that helps to. Explaining it is the best way to figure out if you know the material or not.

The motto my Swiss MD/PhD mentor taught me was: see one, do one, teach one.

This could be interpreted in many ways....😛😱🙄

 

[Morsetlis]

He is Swiss, after all. They cuss a lot.

 

[Sammich117]

He is Swiss, after all. They cuss a lot.

Are you just trying to be the last poster in every thread?

 

[Ok2Panic]

Are you just trying to be the last poster in every thread?

I too have noticed this pattern......

 

[Morsetlis]

No.

 

[FloatOn]

I think finding a good balance among your classes within a each semester is also important. If you're a science major, for example, you don't want to be taking 3 science classes + 2 labs + random class + extracurricular stuff when you know you can't handle the work. Challenge yourself but be realistic too.

 

[Wolfman89]

I think finding a good balance among your classes within a each semester is also important. If you're a science major, for example, you don't want to be taking 3 science classes + 2 labs + random class + extracurricular stuff when you know you can't handle the work. Challenge yourself but be realistic too.

In other words do not do what I am doing this semester.

Gen Chem I + Lab
Cell Bio + Lab
Applied Calc I
Abnormal Psychology
Pediatric Neuropsychology and Nueroimaging lab
Weight Training
Plus Social Chair of my dorm's community association (2 meetings per week plus 1 bi-weekly activity)
Communications Director for my College Dems chapter (at least 1 meeting per week)

But if you do something like that just do your best. Who knows you might be able to handle it.

 

[oaklandguy]

Study often. Study efficiently. Study material that may not have been covered in class to actually learn the material. Studied more. Study with friends. Read material over. Spend a lot of time on work to be turned in. If all else fails, sleep with or pay someone to sleep with the professor on my behalf.

 

[jkhanh]

Stay up all night to study for the exam the next day 🙂

 

[TheLoveMD]

Working problems causes information to remain in your memory for much longer...not only is this better than strict memorization for retention, but it also helps master concepts. there are many supplemental materials for questions even if their is no homework or assignments in the class...these help tremendously...organic chemistry is 100000000 x's easier when you have a text and a study guide and solutions manual to learn from