Why is school so hard for me

[magicaldinosaur]

Long story short, was valedictorian in high school, went to good school, everything has been **** since then.

What's the secret? Many people go from doing poorly to doing well, but how come I'm the opposite.

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[EdgedThesis]

You may be feeling the shock of being around people as smart as you are.

In high school I felt like I was king of the world, but when I got to University I got my teeth kicked in and realized I was no longer the cleverest person in the room. It was a growing experience, where I learned that you can't lean on how smart you are--you need to grit your teeth and just get through the work.

Do that, and you'll be fine. Do your problem sets. Don't fall behind. Never think that your cunning is going to save you. Only practice and experience will.

 

[karayaa]

What's your specific problem?
Many people struggle with the transition from HS to undergrad. Google "how to succeed in college".
Do you know anyone who is doing better than you? What do they do that's different? Imitate their good habits.

Edit: How does your GPA/SAT/ACT compare to the school's averages? Are your metrics high or low compared to other students?

 

[Aerus]

Confidence, responsibility over time/work, and an understanding of yourself are all key to succeeding in a university environment. A little drive and motivation won't hurt either. 😉

 

[magicaldinosaur]

What's your specific problem?
Many people struggle with the transition from HS to undergrad. Google "how to succeed in college".
Do you know anyone who is doing better than you? What do they do that's different? Imitate their good habits.

Edit: How does your GPA/SAT/ACT compare to the school's averages? Are your metrics high or low compared to other students?

Unweighted GPA was slightly above average. ACT was average (36 all categories except Reading, Verbal MCAT will be the death of me)...

 

[Aerus]

(36 all categories except Reading, Verbal MCAT will be the death of me)...

On an unrelated note, I wouldn't use Reading on the ACT as an indicator of success on MCAT Verbal. I'm studying for it right now and am owning passages and Reading was my lowest score on the ACT too (low 30's).

 

[magicaldinosaur]

What's your specific problem?
Many people struggle with the transition from HS to undergrad. Google "how to succeed in college".
Do you know anyone who is doing better than you? What do they do that's different? Imitate their good habits.

Edit: How does your GPA/SAT/ACT compare to the school's averages? Are your metrics high or low compared to other students?

I would say mostly time management. I feel like I need 10 hours to study everyday and it intimidates me.

 

[magicaldinosaur]

On an unrelated note, I wouldn't use Reading on the ACT as an indicator of success on MCAT Verbal. I'm studying for it right now and am owning passages and Reading was my lowest score on the ACT too (low 30's).

Yay!

 

[deanthedream17]

HS was a joke honestly. Look at all the kids who don't do anything with their lives so depending on the school it is not out of the question with hard work to be top of your class. In college, especially in premed everyone is gunning for the same thing so everyone is competing for the same grades and the same scores. It also moves much faster and its more material.

 

[Aerus]

I would say mostly time management. I feel like I need 10 hours to study everyday and it intimidates me.

Typical "high school was easy so I never learned how to study properly" story. You will need to find how you learn best. If it's taking you 10 hours to study per day, then your current methods of studying are not working.

 

[La Presse]

Unweighted GPA was slightly above average. ACT was average (36 all categories except Reading, Verbal MCAT will be the death of me)...

Yeah...nothing to see here. You are overreacting.

 

[magicaldinosaur]

Yeah...nothing to see here. You are overreacting.

Me? My sGPA is 3.0 if not lower.

 

[La Presse]

Me? My sGPA is 3.0 if not lower.

You are more than academically capable if you are pulling scores like that on the ACT. How is your motivation in your science classes? Are you studying properly? What about your ECs? Are they taking a lot of time?

 

[magicaldinosaur]

You are more than academically capable if you are pulling scores like that on the ACT. How is your motivation in your science classes? Are you studying properly? What about your ECs? Are they taking a lot of time?

NO ECs fresh year, downward trend as it got harder. Light ECs sophmore year, didn't challenge myself from fear of doing badly. I am not studying properly at all. Studying is so new to me, I don't even know where to begin.

 

[Person0715]

High school is a joke. Most people can get through high school just give without studying. College is when you have to buckle down and find what works for you. Besides studying, you really need to master time management if you want to do well.

 

[trino]

Make sure you're learning the concepts as well. You can't just make flash cards and memorize the information. You need to know why something is the way it is (in most classes). Many professors will expect you to take the information and apply it to a new scenario. This is completely different from high school which is straight regurgitation.

 

[claduva94]

Make sure you're learning the concepts as well. You can't just make flash cards and memorize the information. You need to know why something is the way it is (in most classes). Many professors will expect you to take the information and apply it to a new scenario. This is completely different from high school which is straight regurgitation.

This is great advice. I see the "regurgitation" kind of mindset so much in my O Chem classes. So many premeds think the way to a good score is to memorize everything and write EVERTHING the professor says down. That will overwhelm you. I approach my classes so that I do the least memorization possible. Believe it or not most classes can be summarized by a few fundamental concepts. If you memorize mechanisms and don't understand how electron movement works then you are none the wiser when you are presented with a new topic on an exam that you have to reason through.

 

[trino]

This is great advice. I see the "regurgitation" kind of mindset so much in my O Chem classes. So many premeds think the way to a good score is to memorize everything and write EVERTHING the professor says down. That will overwhelm you. I approach my classes so that I do the least memorization possible. Believe it or not most classes can be summarized by a few fundamental concepts. If you memorize mechanisms and don't understand how electron movement works then you are none the wiser when you are presented with a new topic on an exam that you have to reason through.

This is also great advice. Evaluating your study habits and focusing them on thinking through concepts will also make the MCAT seem so much easier. Don't neglect the material, but be sure you can explain it, not just repeat it.

 

[magicaldinosaur]

Thank you @claduva94 and @trino. I will take your advice this fall.