Okay so I have a dilemma. I'm in my final year of High School and am looking to get straight A's throughout the entire year. Only problem is, I think I'm studying wrong, and I don't know what to do. Back in Elementary School, and even in High School until the second semester of last year, I had horrible study habits, and my marks reflected. Second semester last year, I started going to the public library after school everyday to get my work done, and my marks improved dramatically, to the point where I know that if I put in that amount of effort from day 1, then I know I'll achieve my goal. Currently, what I do is after school, I come back home, have something to eat, and go to the library. I'm usually there for 2-3 hours, and even then, I'm not getting all my work done, and I have a hard time understanding and retaining a lot of the material I study. I have 4 classes this semester- French, Math, Chemistry, and Biology. French gives projects that we have to work on, and they're usually due a few weeks down the road, and I've beens eriously neglecting my French work, because I don't even get all my work from my other 3 classes done on time, which is usually due the next day, so I never bother working on my French projects, which are due in a week or two. For that reason, I scramble to get it done in a few days, and that really affects the overall quality. For the other 3 subjects, I've bought separate binders and notebooks for each of them. I use the binders for keeping the notes we do in class and for keeping homework in there as well. I use the notebook for re-writing the notes we did in class all over again, because I feel it may help me remember the material better. It worked wonders last semester, but hasn't really been doing anything for me this semester, because last year, the only class' notes that I was re-writing was Chemistry, but now, it's Chemistry, Biology, and Math, and the whole process takes me a good hour and a half, if not more. Because of this, I rarely have time to start the homework I get from all 3 classes. I know I need to change what I'm doing. My head feels like it's got a ton of weight on it, and despite all the memorization, I don't feel I'm remembering all that much of what I learn. So what should I do? Should I stop re-writing the notes? I like the idea of having noes written out in a notebook, because everything is in one place, and binders can get messy. For these 3 classes, the teacher usually prints out power-point notes, where all we have to do is fill in a couple blanks on each slide. But I'm so confused. What should I do? Should I just forget about the homework (my teacher's never mark it), and focus on re-writing the notes? Or should I stop re-writing the notes and focus on just doing the homework? Maybe I could make the notes smaller? Please help, I want straight A's, but 3 hours of homework each night is seriously tiring me out and messing with my social life. 1-2 hours a night seems reasonable and I'd be more than happy to put in that much effort, but when I'm putting in 3 hours +, and not even getting everything done, it stresses me out, you know what I mean? So yeah, what would be the best option for me in this situation? What should I do about notes? About homework? Best answer gets 10 points.
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LOL
I'm in Calculus, Computer programming in C, Chemistry plus the 3 hour lab, and a sociology class that requires me to read 100+ pages a week. Not to boast but ask me how I do it?
Ok, I'll tell you... I basically have no life. I used to but now it's at the point where I don't care and I just want to put all my energy in pursing a degree in ME, a real good one. You know what you should do?
The following:
-Note cards for each subject
-have a planner
-have scratch paper ready for computing (writing and fixing sentences/doing math)
-Keep your stack of notecards separate from each subject and review each night before bed.
this is something that really helps me if you really get tired; I had to use this when I had only 2 hours of sleep in my car freezing then my day starting at 7am all the way down to 8:30pm when my 3 hour lab ends. 5 hour energy drink. That is like the thing that got me through the day and I really felt as if I had 8 hours of sleep. Man it is good.
EDIT!!!!!!!!!!
ok I read the whole thing. Stop re-writing notes all over again, are you stupid or something? Only write the important thing...and if you copy everything word for word, ugh don't do that...pointless.
What you need to do is understand the concept...okay? Work on one thing at a time. do the practice problems. PRIORITIZE! If you have more important things to do and your homework isn't required, don't freakin do it. It seems from what you are saying is that you are just copying things down and trying to remember it that way.
I'm starting a new paragraph so it's easier to read.
The best way to remember anything is to understand it, not just memorize it. 3 hours of homework is hardly anything, if you want all A's go for an hour and a half for each subject! French...isn't that supposed to be easy. The question now stands: which class is more important to you? Which ones do you value more? If you feel like you won't need to apply the class in the real world or in college, just get an A by means of memorization, completing assignments, and studying for the tests in a way that is less time consuming but allows you to pass with an A.
Hey there, I went through the same thing you did, except I had to balance academics with basketball which became such a chore during my sr. yr. when I switched skools (academic mistake on my part). I had a hard time learning the material bcuz we had these old beat up textbooks and the class was goin over s*** that I never went through yet! In your case, it would help to study at least an hour or 2 a day, everyday even when no homework is due the next day. When you study, you want to approach it like a sprinting contest in Track & Field. Give it your all and stop when u get 2 da finish line. And make sure you learn the main ideas rather than a bunch of useless information that won't get you anywhere. Pick whatever method helps you learn best. Try to develop organization skills too. Try to work during lunch in the library after you eat. HS is such a hassle and it sux when teachers cram us jocks with more than we can handle at times. It affected my social life 2. Heck, I didn't even play my sr. yr. of bball cuz I had a f***** F in Algebra III where I had only 2 weeks 2 learn all the things the class went through before I transferred. As much as you want those straight A's, just keep busting your butt. It'll pay off. Even if you don't get straight A's, any sign of improvement is always valuable. I got a 1/30 in the first Algebra III quarter test because I wasn't too familiar with the format of the test (it suckd). Then I got into the groove of things. Even though I got an F, my sign of improvement kept me positive. But since you're in HS, just keep working hard. HS schedule sux d***, so that's all u can do.
Have you thought about asking your teachers if you could use a digital voice recorder in class? They are pretty inexpensive for a basic one. That would help with retaining the class info and allow you to download the notes onto your computer. It would also allow you to skip the rewrites, but i would suggest still writing down what you think is key info, you could use the time being spent on rewrites to focus on the homework. Beyond that if you are trying to gun through three hours at a stretch you're not doing yourself any favors.
Make a quiet comfortable place to work at home. When you get tired take a break. Write out a structure for doing your homework. It sounds like you are scrambling which causes stress, build a system based on 2 hours per day and see how it works out.
Think positive.