Coming into TAMU without any prior experience in any upper-level science classes was a change, and an unwelcome one. I was shocked to see upwards of 200 people in each of my classes, particularly difficult ones. Since starting college, there have been a few things that have helped me find the best way to learn and be successful.
The first thing I changed was my attitude towards class. I’ve never really been one to stay focused for the entirety of a lecture, but that proved necessary for every single class I was in, so I had to find a way. I started by keeping my phone in my bag for the whole class and making sure I had a snack and water. This helped me stay focused and reduced the chances of me needing to leave the room for food. I also kept better track of my assignments, so I wasn’t working on other assignments in the middle of another class. It just serves you better to focus when you need to.
I also had to adjust my home habits. In the dorms, it’s easier to walk to a quiet study space and be more focused. In a house, I didn’t want to drive to campus for a distraction-free space, which made it harder to study effectively. Setting time aside to study when I had the mental capacity to focus has made a world of difference in retaining information.
As for taking STEM-focused classes, memorization is a key element. To effectively understand and memorize something I write what I’m trying to memorize down and do practice problems that reflect the concept I need to know. Critical thinking is always something teachers mention, but I find it beneficial to my learning strategy.
College is a big adjustment for anyone, no matter the circumstance, but it’s doable. I’ve had a lot of failures trying to make my life and school work, but the best thing I can do is have a positive attitude and keep moving forward.