Haha. I remember my first semester at SFU. Didn't study and then I get my first D on a PoliSci midterm and then I was like, this has got to stop (I later ended up with a B- after studying my ass off for the final).
Anyways, I work two jobs (6 days a week), go to school for 4 days, dance, cheer, find time to work out, blog for a fashion website and I'm only taking 4 courses. If you plan on having many extracurricular activities, you definitely need to manage your time very, very wisely. I keep an agenda as well as alarms and note stuff on my cellphone. For each day (especially for this semester) I plan ahead what I should be doing and make little goals and deadlines for myself and for school work. So far, it is working out great. You just need to figure out what works for you. Try a few different methods or dividing time between training and studying time.
...or you can try winging your exams and seeing what grades you can pull off.
Haha. I remember my first semester at SFU. Didn't study and then I get my first D on a PoliSci midterm and then I was like, this has got to stop (I later ended up with a B- after studying my ass off for the final).
Anyways, I work two jobs (6 days a week), go to school for 4 days, dance, cheer, find time to work out, blog for a fashion website and I'm only taking 4 courses. If you plan on having many extracurricular activities, you definitely need to manage your time very, very wisely. I keep an agenda as well as alarms and note stuff on my cellphone. For each day (especially for this semester) I plan ahead what I should be doing and make little goals and deadlines for myself and for school work. So far, it is working out great. You just need to figure out what works for you. Try a few different methods or dividing time between training and studying time.
...or you can try winging your exams and seeing what grades you can pull off.
Good luck!
That is insane. I commend you for that.
I have 4 classes (all upper div crim). With going out, gym and school that leaves no time for anything else. I tried working one semester and it was just way too hectic, and that was only like 16-24 hours a week. I think I could have done it if it was like lower div courses but definitely not upper divs with the 20-25 page papers.
Just stick to a study plan. It is hard to suddenly change your habit of studying. Maybe start to force yourself to go to to library/quiet area after class everyday for 2-3 hours. read the notes, and don't forget to take breaks every 20-30 minutes or so.
Don't worry too much, lots of first year, including myself, have a hard time adapting to first year in university. It is not like high school anymore where the teacher reminds you everyday about an assignment being due. You gotta learn to manage your time better and prioritize what is important for you.
IMO, dont just give up on your training and extra curicular activites at school. You got plenty of time i think with only 4 classes and training 20 hours a week. Maybe reduce it to 10-15 hours a week, and use that 5 hours to study!
good luck, your still early in your semester + you got 3 1/2 years left, so you still have some time to improve!
One thing: It may help to get a tutor or take time out to specifically talk to your course's TA if you're finding you're having trouble. Tutors are pricey but a good one can help you a lot, though I have no experience being the tut-ee, as it were.
As a TA, though, one thing I can say is that the students that show up and ask questions during office hour are usually the ones that end up doing better on their assignments and suchlike, because they've taken the time to identify what they don't understand and get help.
I see that you're in the sciences. Do try to keep on top of your courses, since many concepts are built on previous knowledge assumed to be mastered in the subject.
For example redox reactions require a basic understanding of how to balance equations in the first place. If you don't know how to balance, there's no point doing redox because you'll just eff it up.
Agree 100% with keeping an agenda (as per Kinky's post).
I have one of those hour-by-hour agendas. I never thought I need it, but I'm working FT for the next 8 months (long days with game nights), taking one evening class, volunteering on a crisis line, making time for a relationship, and working out every day. It can be difficult in the beginning, but I find that I have no idea what to do with myself on days when I have nothing to do. Once you're in the routine, it gets quite easy.
I would recommend buying a great agenda and really sticking to it!
From age 13-17, I went to a catholic seminary. I lived a life following a strict 7-day military-like schedule which goes like this:
Monday - Friday:
6:00 - wakeup/make bed/showers/dress up. 6:45 - prayers 7:00 - breakfast 7:30 - classes 9:30 - break 10:00 - resume classes 12 n - lunch 1:00 - resume classes 3:30 - recreation (TV not allowed) 5:00 - laborandum (clean stations and whatever is assigned) 5:45 - showers 6:30 - prayers 7:00 - eat 7:30 - free-time (TV allowed but no sports) 8:00 - mandatory study period 9:30 - showers/prepare for bed 10:00 - lights off (11 pm on fridays)
Saturdays:
7:00 - wakeup/make bed/showers/dress up. 7:30 - prayers 8:00 - breakfast 8:30 - free time (no TV, no sports) 9:30 - general cleaning 12 n - lunch 12:30 - sleep/TV 3:30 - recreation (TV ok) 6:00 - showers 6:30 - prayers 7:00 - eat 7:30 - free-time (TV allowed but no sports) 10:30 - showers/prepare for bed 11:00 - lights off
Sundays:
6:30 - wakeup/make bed/showers/dress up. 7:00 - breakfast 7:30 - church 9:00 - family time/visitations 3:30 - recreation (TV not allowed) 5:00 - laborandum (clean stations and whatever is assigned) 5:45 - showers 6:30 - prayers 7:00 - eat 7:30 - free-time (TV allowed but no sports) 8:00 - mandatory study period 9:30 - showers/prepare for bed 10:00 - lights off (11 pm on fridays)
Didn't know I'd enjoy recalling back to the old days.
Anyway, keeping busy and having a schedule is very helpful in a lot of aspects. However, at age 18, I worked graveyards and made money. That ruined the balance ><
86% on bio project that was done last minute! thought i could keep doing stuff last minute but i got 4/10 on math assignment and didnt even hand in last assignment! hopefully that will put me into place now!! math midterm a little over a week away gotta start putting in time now.
I found that the majority of the first year and some second year science courses were very similar to ones taught in high school. It's good that you're trying to change your bad habits now, because it only really starts getting tough in second year, where you begin learning completely new things.
Comments
Anyways, I work two jobs (6 days a week), go to school for 4 days, dance, cheer, find time to work out, blog for a fashion website and I'm only taking 4 courses. If you plan on having many extracurricular activities, you definitely need to manage your time very, very wisely. I keep an agenda as well as alarms and note stuff on my cellphone. For each day (especially for this semester) I plan ahead what I should be doing and make little goals and deadlines for myself and for school work. So far, it is working out great. You just need to figure out what works for you. Try a few different methods or dividing time between training and studying time.
...or you can try winging your exams and seeing what grades you can pull off.
Good luck!
I have 4 classes (all upper div crim). With going out, gym and school that leaves no time for anything else. I tried working one semester and it was just way too hectic, and that was only like 16-24 hours a week. I think I could have done it if it was like lower div courses but definitely not upper divs with the 20-25 page papers.
Don't worry too much, lots of first year, including myself, have a hard time adapting to first year in university. It is not like high school anymore where the teacher reminds you everyday about an assignment being due. You gotta learn to manage your time better and prioritize what is important for you.
IMO, dont just give up on your training and extra curicular activites at school. You got plenty of time i think with only 4 classes and training 20 hours a week. Maybe reduce it to 10-15 hours a week, and use that 5 hours to study!
good luck, your still early in your semester + you got 3 1/2 years left, so you still have some time to improve!
worst comes to worst you'll be in AP at the end of the semester and it should be more than enough of a wake up call for you by then, hopefully.
As a TA, though, one thing I can say is that the students that show up and ask questions during office hour are usually the ones that end up doing better on their assignments and suchlike, because they've taken the time to identify what they don't understand and get help.
I see that you're in the sciences. Do try to keep on top of your courses, since many concepts are built on previous knowledge assumed to be mastered in the subject.
For example redox reactions require a basic understanding of how to balance equations in the first place. If you don't know how to balance, there's no point doing redox because you'll just eff it up.
I have one of those hour-by-hour agendas. I never thought I need it, but I'm working FT for the next 8 months (long days with game nights), taking one evening class, volunteering on a crisis line, making time for a relationship, and working out every day. It can be difficult in the beginning, but I find that I have no idea what to do with myself on days when I have nothing to do. Once you're in the routine, it gets quite easy.
I would recommend buying a great agenda and really sticking to it!
From age 13-17, I went to a catholic seminary. I lived a life following a strict 7-day military-like schedule which goes like this:
Monday - Friday:
6:00 - wakeup/make bed/showers/dress up.
6:45 - prayers
7:00 - breakfast
7:30 - classes
9:30 - break
10:00 - resume classes
12 n - lunch
1:00 - resume classes
3:30 - recreation (TV not allowed)
5:00 - laborandum (clean stations and whatever is assigned)
5:45 - showers
6:30 - prayers
7:00 - eat
7:30 - free-time (TV allowed but no sports)
8:00 - mandatory study period
9:30 - showers/prepare for bed
10:00 - lights off (11 pm on fridays)
Saturdays:
7:00 - wakeup/make bed/showers/dress up.
7:30 - prayers
8:00 - breakfast
8:30 - free time (no TV, no sports)
9:30 - general cleaning
12 n - lunch
12:30 - sleep/TV
3:30 - recreation (TV ok)
6:00 - showers
6:30 - prayers
7:00 - eat
7:30 - free-time (TV allowed but no sports)
10:30 - showers/prepare for bed
11:00 - lights off
Sundays:
6:30 - wakeup/make bed/showers/dress up.
7:00 - breakfast
7:30 - church
9:00 - family time/visitations
3:30 - recreation (TV not allowed)
5:00 - laborandum (clean stations and whatever is assigned)
5:45 - showers
6:30 - prayers
7:00 - eat
7:30 - free-time (TV allowed but no sports)
8:00 - mandatory study period
9:30 - showers/prepare for bed
10:00 - lights off (11 pm on fridays)
Didn't know I'd enjoy recalling back to the old days.
Anyway, keeping busy and having a schedule is very helpful in a lot of aspects. However, at age 18, I worked graveyards and made money. That ruined the balance ><
SLC has stuff on study schedules:
http://learningcommons.sfu.ca/strategies/managing-time/study-schedules
including an assignment calculator