next semester, no mercy!

[lakerzfan36]

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I come from highschool with a mediocre GPA, where i didnt care what my grades were or which direction I was going, therefore I have little to no study skills. I did fine my first year in college, and by fine i dont mean excellent in any way, but did manage to go fro ma 2.3 high school GPA to a 3.5 university GPA, which in my book, is good, considering it was the first time i ever strapped down and did my work and study, because now I have a goal in mind and a dream to follow.

2nd year of college hasn't been so forgiving, as I was killed in chemistry 1 this last semester with a C, a C in calculus 1 and a B- in bio

I did study my but off (but still at times slacking), but I knew this was bound to happen, because I had set myself up for failure when I didnt care during high school. I know high school wouldnt have prepared me for premed, but it would have given me the study skills that i needed to tackle these college courses, and now i find myself at a disadvantage against those people that had 4.0's in highschool, already posessing the study skills and time management that I should have developed back in high school, but enough dwelling on the past, I am ready to focus on the future. I did understand most of the material in chemistry, but screwed up on the first test and 2nd test which really brought me down.

I want to go in chem 2 this semester and really tackle the material and come out with an A...my professor that I have to take is known around campus as being merciless when it comes to tests, especially the final. They say his material is insane, but I think if I try hard enough and develop some skills I can come out on top.

These last 2 weeks of winter break, I have decided to utilize, since I have the chem book, which was used for chem 1, and will be used for chem 2 as well.I want to go through all of the material, do all the practice problems and possibly read ahead, wayyy easier said than done. Please if anyone has any suggestions, tips, wisdom, please pass it this way! tell me what i am doing wrong and what i have done right if anything. BTW after emailing this professor, asking him for the syllabus so that i can read ahead, this is his reply:

"The syllabus and lab manual are being compiled and will be sold through the bookstore for convenience of all students.

AT this point review net ionic equations, stoichiometry, acids and bases and basic equilibrium concepts and you will have a good starting point."


So now you guys, much more experienced than me, help and guide me to stop wasting time, give me a plan of action!

much appreciated

 

[TTigers70]

Well, first off he gave you pretty good advice. Seeing as he will write up the exams he may focus more so on the topics he listed on the first exam. Also, seeing how you struggled with Chem 1, nows the time to master some of the tools that got away from you last semester. The topics he outlined will give you a pretty solid base to begin the semester. Acid-Base stuff will be all over your exam when you're about 2/3 done with the semester so a good understanding of what makes and acid an acid and base a base as well as pH, etc will be helpful. Net ionic equations get to be very annoying when you go into oxidation-reduction reactions somewhere near the very end of the course (if it is covered by your professor). Thinking back to Chem 2 it was certainly very manageable in the beginning without relying on Chem 1 skills. For example, just from how my textbook did it, the first few chapters dealt with things like physical properties and the bonding that causes different kinds, and sort of new material before introducing acid-base again and all that entropy jazz. I wouldn't worry too much about doing practice problems yet but rather focus on grasping some of the bigger concepts. Honestly, it would probably be best to to skim over things than to read in 100% detail because a) you'll spend a lot of time reading when you don't know what exactly you need to pull from the text without a syllabus b) you may not fully understand something but come time in class you'll pretend you do and not devote the attention it deserves to the topic at hand c) nobody likes a burnout, read a few pages a day maybe but you have a long semester ahead of you so not worth cutting your break uber short.

Lastly, be diligent and stay on top of your work. Once you get the syllabus figure out a game plan and stick to it. One weekend you can get a lecture ahead of the class so you have a little leeway. Don't read too much into reputations, my organic chemistry professorS had such terrrrrrrrible things said about them. The chemistry department as a whole is known to be relentless but it would be taken to a whole new level in orgo. It was BS, sure the course was very difficult and it didn't help that each professor made the exam for each portion of the course they taught so just when you think you have the kinds of questions that will be asked figured out, they throw you a curveball. Just go in with a positive, refreshed mind and be ready to hit the ground running (which by the way according to mythbusters actually slows you down but yea...). Even the professor that makes a girl cry when asking what section they are in (no lie, true story) can be quite helpful in office hours.

 

[scapermoya]

first off, stop thinking about high school. completely.

study skills aren't something you get once chance to acquire, and if you miss it too bad. they are just a term people use to describe a certain level of dedication and some time management skills.

if you are truly serious about turning things around, you need to identify what exactly has been hurting you. do you procrastinate (that's my biggest problem)? do you read all of the assigned material? do you go to every lecture and discussion? do you do the problem sets, even if they aren't "required" or graded?


don't get caught up with the reputations of professors. it can never really help. just study hard, put in a lot of hours, do a lot of problems, and be an active learner. if you are really struggling with a concept, go discuss it with a TA or GSI. go to office hours, even if just to be a fly on the wall (at least at first).

does your school have a learning center? tutoring? access to old exams?


there are tremendous resources available to you. it's up to you to take advantage of them. don't blame your current problems on old things.

 

[riverjib]

I come from highschool with a mediocre GPA, where i didnt care what my grades were or which direction I was going, therefore I have little to no study skills. I did fine my first year in college, and by fine i dont mean excellent in any way, but did manage to go fro ma 2.3 high school GPA to a 3.5 university GPA, which in my book, is good, considering it was the first time i ever strapped down and did my work and study, because now I have a goal in mind and a dream to follow.

2nd year of college hasn't been so forgiving, as I was killed in chemistry 1 this last semester with a C, a C in calculus 1 and a B- in bio

I did study my but off (but still at times slacking), but I knew this was bound to happen, because I had set myself up for failure when I didnt care during high school. I know high school wouldnt have prepared me for premed, but it would have given me the study skills that i needed to tackle these college courses, and now i find myself at a disadvantage against those people that had 4.0's in highschool, already posessing the study skills and time management that I should have developed back in high school, but enough dwelling on the past, I am ready to focus on the future. I did understand most of the material in chemistry, but screwed up on the first test and 2nd test which really brought me down.

I want to go in chem 2 this semester and really tackle the material and come out with an A...my professor that I have to take is known around campus as being merciless when it comes to tests, especially the final. They say his material is insane, but I think if I try hard enough and develop some skills I can come out on top.

These last 2 weeks of winter break, I have decided to utilize, since I have the chem book, which was used for chem 1, and will be used for chem 2 as well.I want to go through all of the material, do all the practice problems and possibly read ahead, wayyy easier said than done. Please if anyone has any suggestions, tips, wisdom, please pass it this way! tell me what i am doing wrong and what i have done right if anything. BTW after emailing this professor, asking him for the syllabus so that i can read ahead, this is his reply:

"The syllabus and lab manual are being compiled and will be sold through the bookstore for convenience of all students.

AT this point review net ionic equations, stoichiometry, acids and bases and basic equilibrium concepts and you will have a good starting point."


So now you guys, much more experienced than me, help and guide me to stop wasting time, give me a plan of action!

much appreciated

You're fine. You had one bad semester early on, after earning a high GPA for your freshman year. Not a big deal. Go ahead and try to study ahead of time if you think it'll help, but it's probably not going to help as much as you think it will.

What you should work on is keeping on top of your classes. You need to prove you're capable of mastering the basic sciences (a wide array of subjects) as well as learning a lot of material in a short time. You're better off waiting to see what your instructors want you to learn than you are teaching yourself the material off the syllabus before the class even starts. Attend the lectures, do the homework, and consult TA's (or better, the professor during office hours) weekly. That way you'll economize your time and only study for what your professor really wants you to learn, and develop relationships with professors and TA's who know you're serious.

It's all about balance. Read ahead if it helps you, but your breaks are better spent studying for the MCAT, spending extra hours volunteering (or in whatever EC's matter to you), and RELAXING, which is a skill that also needs developing. You can spend all winter studying and outlining six chapters only to find out your professor only expects you to understand a few basic concepts. Whether or not you've wasted your time learning more material than you needed to in depth is a philosophical question, but you'll probably find that it's more useful to wait to find out what you need to know, and study that material at the appropriate time.

 

[Techmed07]

You're fine. You had one bad semester early on, after earning a high GPA for your freshman year. Not a big deal. Go ahead and try to study ahead of time if you think it'll help, but it's probably not going to help as much as you think it will.

What you should work on is keeping on top of your classes. You need to prove you're capable of mastering the basic sciences (a wide array of subjects) as well as learning a lot of material in a short time. You're better off waiting to see what your instructors want you to learn than you are teaching yourself the material off the syllabus before the class even starts. Attend the lectures, do the homework, and consult TA's (or better, the professor during office hours) weekly. That way you'll economize your time and only study for what your professor really wants you to learn, and develop relationships with professors and TA's who know you're serious.

It's all about balance. Read ahead if it helps you, but your breaks are better spent studying for the MCAT, spending extra hours volunteering (or in whatever EC's matter to you), and RELAXING, which is a skill that also needs developing. You can spend all winter studying and outlining six chapters only to find out your professor only expects you to understand a few basic concepts. Whether or not you've wasted your time learning more material than you needed to in depth is a philosophical question, but you'll probably find that it's more useful to wait to find out what you need to know, and study that material at the appropriate time.

+1, I have studied ahead for every single one of my classes up to this point and it proved to help very little or sometimes to be detrimental. OP, the professor is really there for a reason, and if the professor is as "cut-throat" as you described than he is likely to have huge impact on what material is actually worth understanding. However, studying ahead can illicit a type of "placebo affect" which may give you the confidence and the drive to actually continue studying for the class for a little while.

I come from highschool with a mediocre GPA, where i didnt care what my grades were or which direction I was going, therefore I have little to no study skills. I did fine my first year in college, and by fine i dont mean excellent in any way, but did manage to go fro ma 2.3 high school GPA to a 3.5 university GPA, which in my book, is good, considering it was the first time i ever strapped down and did my work and study, because now I have a goal in mind and a dream to follow.

2nd year of college hasn't been so forgiving, as I was killed in chemistry 1 this last semester with a C, a C in calculus 1 and a B- in bio

I did study my but off (but still at times slacking), but I knew this was bound to happen, because I had set myself up for failure when I didnt care during high school. I know high school wouldnt have prepared me for premed, but it would have given me the study skills that i needed to tackle these college courses, and now i find myself at a disadvantage against those people that had 4.0's in highschool, already posessing the study skills and time management that I should have developed back in high school, but enough dwelling on the past, I am ready to focus on the future. I did understand most of the material in chemistry, but screwed up on the first test and 2nd test which really brought me down.

I want to go in chem 2 this semester and really tackle the material and come out with an A...my professor that I have to take is known around campus as being merciless when it comes to tests, especially the final. They say his material is insane, but I think if I try hard enough and develop some skills I can come out on top.

These last 2 weeks of winter break, I have decided to utilize, since I have the chem book, which was used for chem 1, and will be used for chem 2 as well.I want to go through all of the material, do all the practice problems and possibly read ahead, wayyy easier said than done. Please if anyone has any suggestions, tips, wisdom, please pass it this way! tell me what i am doing wrong and what i have done right if anything. BTW after emailing this professor, asking him for the syllabus so that i can read ahead, this is his reply:

"The syllabus and lab manual are being compiled and will be sold through the bookstore for convenience of all students.

AT this point review net ionic equations, stoichiometry, acids and bases and basic equilibrium concepts and you will have a good starting point."


So now you guys, much more experienced than me, help and guide me to stop wasting time, give me a plan of action!

much appreciated

Well it is good to meet an individual that did not over-achieve in high school. I was beginning to think I was the only one who turned it around. I graduated from high school with a 2.99 weighted GPA so this is probably equivalent to C+ average unweighted. I have >3.8 now in college..near the end of my high school carrer I began working hard in order to bring my GPA from the depths of hell.. enrolled in honors classes etc etc. However nothing could really salvage the 1.8 GPA (weighted) I had garnered my freshmen year but I digress...The way I turned it around in college is first I did my research ( like any great scientist) I searched for what individuals who succeeded did before me (like what you are doing now). I picked up Cal Newports . In addition I got a pickaprof account and used it to pick my professors and to design my courseload. I buy into a professor's reputation if you do not you are usually in for a rude awakening. Knowing and respecting a professors reputation allows you be prepared for what is in store for you... and thus allowing you to study accordingly. My suggestions.. 1. Forget about high school, it was a joke anyways 2. Focus 3. Research study habits and your future professors. 4. Implement the study tips that you have learned and use what works for you. 5. Go to office hours 6. Go to office hours. 7. Did I say you should go to office hours?


Good luck

 

[echolalia16]

It has generally been my experience that one learns the most from the "cut-throat" professors. Incidentally, all my favorite professors are the ones rated the lowest (one exception) on ratemyprofessor.

 

[lakerzfan36]

Wow, thank you guys a lot, for your help and awesome advice. It really helped, and thankfully, everybody hit every topic. you guys are great!

be ready to hit the ground running (which by the way according to mythbusters actually slows you down but yea...)

I saw that episode! only episode I saw by the way

 

[lakerzfan36]

I have >3.8 now in college..near the end of my high school carrer I began working hard in order to bring my GPA from the depths of hell.. enrolled in honors classes etc etc. However nothing could really salvage the 1.8 GPA (weighted) I had garnered my freshmen year but I digress...k

do you mean you got a 1.8 freshman year of COLLEGE? and now have a 3.8?? is that even possible?! IF so, then that is great (and encouraging) because I am really worried on how I will be able to pull up my new 3.0 cumulative to a 3.7+, and wondering if its even possible with 5 more semesters

 

[Techmed07]

do you mean you got a 1.8 freshman year of COLLEGE? and now have a 3.8?? is that even possible?! IF so, then that is great (and encouraging) because I am really worried on how I will be able to pull up my new 3.0 cumulative to a 3.7+, and wondering if its even possible with 5 more semesters

I was talking about my freshmen year of high school. Good luck in your endeavors.