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Stargirl · 07-22-2007, 06:13 AM

Note: I did assume a lot here because I drew a lot from my own past and mistakes, so forgive me for being harsh/assuming things that don't apply.

I agree with many of the suggestions here.

Reading

I too respectfully disagree with Shamou's suggestion to stop at places you don't understand. Been there. Done that. It's frustrating and takes forever. It gets you stuck on the minor details and usually moving on helps you understand.

Instead, I suggest going through the material quickly, looking at bold headings, and just looking at what's covered. Then skim through it. Let it go for 10 min and maybe have some water. Then go through it again more thoroughly, but never dwell too long on something you don't understand. Try to understand the concepts holistically first.

If you still don't understand it, ask a friend or the professor. You mentioned you go to a large school. Do you have teaching assistants you could ask?
And don't feel worried about asking your professors for help. You don't come off as stupid by asking. And no one will call you stupid when your grades go up.

Friends

Perhaps it seems like friends especially girls would harm your grades, but isolation does more harm. You need that anchor of support sometimes. Friends are invaluable IMHO.

Having fun is so crucial to academic success. It clears your mind. I think today you should have taken some breaks and had some fun. Even a 10 min mindful walk can give great insights.

The key problem is BALANCE.

You need to balance your social, mental, physical, and spiritual parts of your life.
When you feel overwhelmed by your studying, do something social, physical, or spiritual. Run. Have a conversation. Meditate.

That's a lot to take in. I'd suggest starting by taking a day off for only fun and let go of any worries/stresses about college. Just relax. It's your day.

Then I'd work on studying with balance.

Understanding homework, but blanking out on tests is a matter of confidence. This will go away once you start trusting yourself and balancing your life. It's a matter of time.

BEST OF LUCK

.

07-22-2007, 06:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
Stargirl Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 92	Note: I did assume a lot here because I drew a lot from my own past and mistakes, so forgive me for being harsh/assuming things that don't apply. I agree with many of the suggestions here. Reading I too respectfully disagree with Shamou's suggestion to stop at places you don't understand. Been there. Done that. It's frustrating and takes forever. It gets you stuck on the minor details and usually moving on helps you understand. Instead, I suggest going through the material quickly, looking at bold headings, and just looking at what's covered. Then skim through it. Let it go for 10 min and maybe have some water. Then go through it again more thoroughly, but never dwell too long on something you don't understand. Try to understand the concepts holistically first. If you still don't understand it, ask a friend or the professor. You mentioned you go to a large school. Do you have teaching assistants you could ask? And don't feel worried about asking your professors for help. You don't come off as stupid by asking. And no one will call you stupid when your grades go up. Friends Perhaps it seems like friends especially girls would harm your grades, but isolation does more harm. You need that anchor of support sometimes. Friends are invaluable IMHO. Having fun is so crucial to academic success. It clears your mind. I think today you should have taken some breaks and had some fun. Even a 10 min mindful walk can give great insights. The key problem is BALANCE. You need to balance your social, mental, physical, and spiritual parts of your life. When you feel overwhelmed by your studying, do something social, physical, or spiritual. Run. Have a conversation. Meditate. That's a lot to take in. I'd suggest starting by taking a day off for only fun and let go of any worries/stresses about college. Just relax. It's your day. Then I'd work on studying with balance. Understanding homework, but blanking out on tests is a matter of confidence. This will go away once you start trusting yourself and balancing your life. It's a matter of time. BEST OF LUCK .