After the first day of classes most of us are able to get a feel for how the semester is going to go. We learn about participation points, projects, and of course the acceptable amount of unexcused absences. We also are able to order our classes from "this is a joke" to "this class will be the death of me." We all have had that one class that for whatever reason comes off extremely intimidating and difficult. It could be the teacher, the subject matter, or the fact that your ex sits behind you. Whatever the reason is I am going to tell you how to make it out alive.
1. Make friends with your teacher/TA.
You don't have to have their cell number or go shopping together but if you can have some kind of relationship with your teacher it could really save your grade. Don't be afraid to ask them questions or to make conversation.
2. Be present in class.
Participate in discussion, ask a question, comment on something, just say something other than "here." When your teacher is grading your assignments you want to make sure they know more than just your name.
3. Make study guides.
Not the night before and not the day before. You should make study guides for exams far in advance so that by the time it is the day before you would have technically already gone through all the material and now have an easy way to review it all.
4. Make a steady reservation to study.
Set a time in the day or week that you are specifically going to use for study purposes only. Tell your friends you have to study or that you will be busy and don't let anything distract you.
5. Find a group of like minded people.
Find an organization or even a study group to be a part of. Having people that you can discuss lectures with or ask questions can really help you understand.
6. Put your phone in your bag.
It is okay to be M.I.A. while you are in class. If you need you can even put your phone on do not disturb so that you don't hear any buzzing or beeps. Focusing on what's going on in class will only help you.
7. Plan out the entire semester now!
Lack of planning will only make a hard class ten times harder. Succeeding in a hard class is all about being ahead of the game. Knowing you have a big exam in two weeks rather than four days will make a big difference in your outcome.
8. Take advantage of free tutoring
Even if you feel like you may not need it, learning the material from another person could help you see it in a different way and learn something new.
9. Don't take on more than you can handle.
If you suddenly have more classes or a bigger work load than you're used to, don't be afraid to cut back on your extracurriculars or anything that takes up a lot of your time. If you have a tight schedule at work try to take your work with you and look it over on your break.
10. Learn from your mistakes.
Got an F on your last test? Didn't do so hot on a homework assignment? Don't let it discourage you, instead go into office hours and talk it over with a teacher or TA. Understanding how your teacher builds their tests and learning what to listen for in class is the key to an A.
