Getting Started.. Literally

[Zel]

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Hi everyone! I am a new member, and currently an undergraduate psychology major at the university of Las Vegas, Nevada. I am a third year at the moment, and heard about this great forum from my friend at UCSC for pharmacy.

I've always had a little problem focusing in class, and its gotten to a point where I hardly can take notes right now. I just listen to everything and retain it with auditory memory, and kinda just scrape by. I'm taking 21 units this semester, and I'm really afraid my GPA will slip from its high marks.

I was just wondering if anyone else had the same problem of being unable to focus and just know of a way to make one's self do research, read, and study. I can't seem to do it unless I have pressure, and I usually don't sleep the night before during tests and just read as much as I can.. its really unhealthy and I'm recovering from Pneumonia at the moment because of my eating and sleeping habits as well.. All of my classes are on two days, from 10AM-10PM (nonstop on one of the days) so I usually only eat once during the day if I have time.

I really love psychology though and I memorize almost everything i learn during the classes.. I won't give too much more info on my living lifestyle, as I'm not sure if I'm talking too much, or if this is going far from the topic. I would just love to know how everyone deals with studying and having dedication to follow through. I've had this problem since childhood, and it would always just take forever to really work hard on studying, or to complete assignments early.

I have an idea of having short steps to planning my day and just having little tasks I can complete and reinforce myself by doing activities I enjoy after completing those tasks.

Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks everyone! 🙂

(sorry.. if this does not really relate to this forum.. I don't really know what is acceptable to be posted as I am new. Thanks for any advice!)

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Also, on another note, I would love to know if I'm doing enough for my career path. Currently I want to go to Graduate school in UC Berkeley or New York University. I've just started volunteering at a hospital near my house, and currently involved with a club called Up 'Til Dawn with Saint Jude's hospital. I was planning on joining the Psy Chi club, but I haven't done that yet. Next year I'm going to study/teach abroad in China for a year, and then come back to finish up my studies. I haven't taken my GRE's yet, and I'm very fearful as they are changing (Math is now fill in the blank, and English has strings of questions, rather than just one). What should I be focusing on, doing, and working at to secure a good spot for my schools and really get into the clinical profession at any of those two schools?

Thank you for anyone who takes time to read! 🙂

 

[berzerk]

I'm just am honors undergrad student, but since nobody else seems to be responding, I'll go ahead.

If you feel that you're trying your best and honestly do have an interest in what is being taught but just can't stay focused, it might be worthwhile reading about ADD. I was in the same boat for years, but looked into it last year and am now on Adderall with great results. It will not motivate or inspire you, that's something you need to do yourself and rightfully so.. but it will help with concentration and attention. Procrastination is something you need to deal with yourself as well.

About the GRE's, where did you hear about those changes?

 

[Zel]

Ah Thank you!

The GRE changes, I've heard about, from several professors, and one of them actually handed me a paper stating the two different changes.

I just recently found out that the Psychology GRE is also changing next year, and they will start doing "Short Answer" approaches to questioning students. For anymore detailed information, I'm not sure exactly, but I think you can go to http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/...nnel=b195e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

As of now, there is only two sections being changed, Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning, and beginning November, testers will should only see 1 question being changed in either of the fields. They're trying to use it to collect data on how the actual population does on these new type of questions, and finally they'll tweak the GRE more and more, as time goes on.

I don't know the exact changes planed for Psychology, as I haven't found a news article on that, but I'll let you know as soon as I get onto it.

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My culture isn't especially keen on taking Medication lol. I really appreciate your advice too, and actually, during the time I posted this, 2-3 of my teachers were going over ADHD, and ADD, so you could imagine what i was thinking 😛. I'm taking steps to improve my studying right now.. and if I find some crazy important cure that helps, then I'll share it with you guys! 😀