Please help me feel better! I feel like crap.?

Question

Starting college was something new to me and when people told me that college was a piece of cake, I seriously believed them-call me naive. Any who I am doing ROTC and I didn't do so hot this fisrt quarter so I took time off to get my act together, try to learn from what I am doing wrong and learn from it, find something that works for me. I was doing good in the beginning of the quarter, and still am in a couple classes, but yet I am not going to the full capacity I knew I could go to, or at least try to be at-because sometimes at the end of the day I feel so useless. Basically a paper was do Thrus. and this chick told me it was due Mon. And I came to class Thrus. unprepared, and it was due. So I spent the weekend working on my paper and my teacher said I would start at 70% percent and go from there. I turned in the paper but forgot the rubric. He basically said I need to get it together and he is right. Any techiques or word of advice on learning to be a better student?

I am trying to move forward, yet I feel like I haven't taken any strides to do so, and if I have, the change hasn't been much.

Answer 1

If you want to make a good life for yourself, you have to plan and work. Every night before you go to bed, make a study plan for the next day. Plan out the time periods when you will get it done. Instead of planning to work for four hours straight, do smaller time periods, an hour to two hours. Then STICK TO IT.

You are the only one who can do this for you. Go for it! YOU CAN DO IT!

Answer 2

Maybe you chose the wrong school, it could be too fast-paced for you if it is quarter system. Try switching to a semester system school where you have 15 week schedule instead of 10. That way you have to take fewer sets of exams every year, but you get the same degree. That is a big change, and drastic. First try to see if taking some better notes about due dates, and the scoring rubric on papers and tests, and work with others in study groups -- those are the first steps to try to see if it fixes the problem right where you are.

Answer 3

You don't need to "feel" better. You need to "do" better. The "feeling better" comes with success.

Set a schedule and adhere to it RUTHLESSLY. Your time should be scheduled in 15-minute blocks for the entire "work" day - whatever you consider that to be. Your ROTC commander should already have introduced this concept - but if not, ask about it.

Now what this means is that if you have 10:15 to 11:30 scheduled to study English, your cell phone is OFF, your iPod is OFF and put away, you are NOT engaged in any conversations and if anyone interrupts you for anything less important than the building being on fire, you tell them to go away - and you don't have a nice "chat" while telling them. You simply say, "This time is scheduled for study, please do not bother me now. I am available at (whatever time you've scheduled as "free" time.) but cannot talk now. Thank you." and get back to work. You might even print up some little cards that say this, and just hand them one and get back to work.

Pay attention in class. Take notes. If you speak to someone else in class, it had better be directly related to the class... a request for information (such as, "What pages did he say to review? I didn't catch it.") Schedule time to review your notes. Learning takes repeitition. You get the material once when you hear it in class. You get it again when you review notes. You get it in a different form when you read your text. You get more reinforcement when you solve problems.

Unfortunately, the government schools teach kids that "feeling good" about themselves matters more than what they accomplish. Welcome to the real world. If you want to succeed, you need to DO not FEEL.

You need to re-educate yourself, reorient yourself. Become goal-oriented, set a plan, then execute the plan.

The first couple weeks will be tough - but after that, you'll find it gets easier and easier. In college I had a friend who scheduled every minute of the day. She was taking 22 semester hours and pulling straight A's. She had a great personality and she had a social life. But it was scheduled.

Now, go forth and conquer the world.

Answer 4

It is a piece of cake, but only if you are in the right mind set. I took ten years to get from high school to university and I know that those years did me good. I would hate to recommend that anybody drops out of school but you sound like a smart young lady and maybe you need to kind of find yourself first. It is very hard to find out what you are doing wrong when you are so close-up. You don't have to feel like a failure just because you aren't doing well in your papers. Setting aside proper study time is priceless but if your head just isn't in it, it is useless. Advice? Listen in class and don't be afraid to ask questions, do your assignments and trust in yourself because if you don't, nobody else will. Good luck sunshine, I wish you only the best.

Answer 5

I answered a similar question a while back, so I'm going to quote it for you - as it is the best study method there is:
The following was given to me when I went back to college in order to make top grades:

1. Read the course materials ahead of time and take notes while you read.
2. While in class, take notes and record the lecture (if possible).
3. After class, read the material again. Listen to the lecture before going to bed, especially before taking a test.

If it is math homework - apply what you can. Get tutoring if necessary. Don't be shy to ask tor help. Join a study group or start one.

Limit your television time. Set your priorities and time for study. If you are dating - and he/she is interested in their grades - study together.

Limit dating and partying to Friday and Saturday. Turn in early on Sunday - prepare yourself for the week ahead by being well rested.

Also keep a planner of upcoming assignments and their respective due dates.

Good Luck and enjoy school.

Answer 6

All the other answers about scheduling properly and prioritizing etc. are all great advice, it really is up to you as well to follow it. But, also, college IS difficult and it's the tutors job to make sure you are not struggling either, so turn to them for help, that's what they are there for, they don't want to see their students fail despite what you may think. Don't give yourself a hard time, college is a learning process, you are not born with all the skills, reach out to those who can help!

Answer 7

A lot of people have trouble starting out in college, you should ask your school for help, most if not all schools have help for people starting out in college. Like classes called College Survival Skills, it really worked for me, it taught me how to be a better student. Keep you chin up and stay positive, it will get easier for you...

Answer 8

the bad news is that you are stuck!

the good news is that so is everyone else.

check in with your teachers ask them for guidance and help
if the schedule is to o tough you can always switch schools.

get to know some of the older studetns ask for help

meet friends
and have fun

dont be so uptight

Answer 9

the is only one way of being sure of where you are it is to start looking for a better attitude in looking to your studies and stand firm on your decision to be positive ,and the best way to do that is to be grounded on a much bettter position that is have something to look forward to every time to class.

Answer 10

Make a weekly timetable for yourself. Have slots of time totally dedicated to study and slots of time totally dedicated to fun. You'll feel in control straightaway and enjoy your student life.