Performing well in school often has less to do with how hard you work than with how well you meet your instructor's expectations. Before you even sign up for a class, ask around to see what past students think of the instructor and how they prepared for the class. If more than one reliable source tells you an instructor is unreasonable, avoid that class if possible.
Pay attention and take good notes
Sit near the front--not necessarily in the front, if you don't want to count the instructor's nose hairs--so you'll be able to hear and won't be distracted by the goings-on around the room. Write down as much as you can of what is said (even the stuff your classmates say ... unless it's completely moronic and irrelevant ... which is often the case).
If you can't write quickly or clearly, you may want to purchase a notebook computer and bring it to class. That way, all the information you'll need for an exam will already be typed up--which will save you a step when you assemble your outline. But we'll get into that later. If you do use a laptop, sit toward the side of the room, so your constant clicking on the keyboard won't distract your professor.
Your professor will often let you know which topics are important as she lectures, so make sure you pay attention. For example, anything written on the board should go in your notebook. You may also be able to tell just by your professor's body language how important the information is. And don't be afraid to ask "stupid" questions, like "What's going to be on the test?" Your instructor just might tell you. But if this makes you nervous, ask the kid next to you to ask the professor what will be on the test. The stooge!
Take advantage of your instructor's office hours
You should go to your professor's office hours at least once... just so he knows you care about the class. Before you drop by, write down any questions you have from your class notes or from the reading. Even if you don't have specific questions, it may be useful to meet with the professor simply to get a sense of what might be on the test. Remember, even if your instructors act like they're busy, helping you is their job; don't accept anything less for your tuition dollar than their full attention during office hours.
Find out what went wrong
If for some reason you still do poorly on an exam or paper, don't panic. Go to the instructor and politely ask to discuss what was unsatisfactory. You may learn how to do better in the future, and you'll also show you care about your performance (which in turn could affect how you're graded next time). The instructor may even occasionally give you the chance to redo the assignment. (Sigh--so much for spring break in Daytona.)
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Comments
arwitta said
on 10/30/2009 THANK YOU YOU'RE A LIFE SAVER