Help me not flunk out.

October 27, 2008 8:45 AM

I am struggling to get through University. Can you offer any advice?

I'm currently at a reasonably good University, in my 2nd year doing Computer Science. I scraped through my first year and I was doing a similar course last year but was failing so transferred onto this one without doing my exams.

I'm seriously struggling. The problems I have are this:
* My University has a serious lack of structure and I find it hard to motivate myself
* I don't know anyone and find it incredibly difficult to meet people. I seem to spend my life on the internet these days.
* I don't really know how to 'study' or 'make notes' and use my time productively. At times I find it difficult to focus, and I have poor organisational skills.

I simply don't understand where people find the time and motivation to do productive study for hours at a time while doing other things on top.

I did reasonably well as secondary school (without much work), I'm reasonably intelligent and now I feel like I'm hitting a brick wall, and I want to do something about it before it's too late.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

posted by anonymous to education (17 comments total)

If your school lacks structure, can you make some yourself? When I was in college and found myself spending too much time on the internet, I started scheduling out my day in 1/2 hour-2 hour blocks, and making a list of what I wanted to do in each block. Then I crossed things off as I went along. It's simple, but it made a difference. The things on the list don't just have to be related on coursework -- you can also have something like "find an event to go to this weekend" or "look into a club to join." And then actually do what is on your list. I also found it helped break up the monotony of work to spend some of the time blocks in a place other than my room, whether it was in the library or the dining hall or coffee house.
posted by puffin at 9:00 AM on October 27, 2008

I don't really know how to 'study' or 'make notes' and use my time productively.

There's not really much of a trick to it, usually the hardest part is just dedicating the time to do it. A good way to force yourself to follow through with studying is to isolate yourself from any distractions. For example, if you need to read, take your books to a library or coffee shop and do it there. If you need to work on something that involves a computer, go to a computer lab and use a computer there instead of using your own. Basically if you shut yourself in a room with no other option but to study, you'll end up studying, and once you start it will become a habit.

Also, look for official or unofficial study groups for your individual courses, and go to your professor's office hours for help on specific things that you're struggling with.
posted by burnmp3s at 9:05 AM on October 27, 2008

The only thing that has worked for me, with regard to structure, is treating my education like a job. This means starting early and working as long and as late as I need to each day, breaking only for eating, etc. This isn't nearly as austere as it sound: most of the time I'm done with my work for the week by Thursday evening or midday on Friday and have a solid two to three days to decompress completely.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:06 AM on October 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I went to an enormous state school with a significant commuter population, which required me to create structure. Does your department have an academic advising office? If so, there might be some resources there. Make yourself a calendar with hourly slots. Designate a certain time each day to "study." No internet, no answering the phone. Give yourself tasks to complete during that time (in writing, if necessary). Use that time to do the assigned reading (if any), review your notes (which, if you're at a loss as to what those should look like, can consist of transcribing what the professor says -- you can break out the main ideas out into an outline later if that helps you). Figure out what environment is most conducive to studying for you. Start by isolating yourself from distractions -- get out of your room and hit the student union or a library. Too quiet? Go somewhere with more white noise. To prepare for tests, you might try getting samples from past years or see if the TA has practice questions. (You might ask your TA for specific pointers about how best to study for an upcoming exam). I always hated study groups, but it might help you learn how to study by getting an idea of how others in your classes are doing it. You might also meet people this way.

As for meeting people, you might join clubs -- get a list of everything and see what interests you (Young Republicans, runners, Russian speakers, etc.). They often have fairs. Look at the little flyers posted around. If you're living on-campus, there are usually lots of additional non-club events, which you can go to pretty hassle free. Student government is one easy way to get involved. As is volunteering. The gym is also a good place to meet people (and regain focus for studying).

Do you work? I worked through school and it forced me to use my remaining time productively. Having only an hour only to do something may make you actually do it, while having all afternoon to do it may be an invitation to do nothing. A job may be too much if you're flailing now, but it imposes its own structure and an on-campus one can help you meet people and make some cash at the same time. Good luck.
posted by *s at 9:34 AM on October 27, 2008

For all university related questions, the resource is always Study Hacks. It's a great blog with tons of advice on how to study and how to organize your college life in order to make it successful.

Now, for the lessons that 3 years of undergrad have taught me (I'm a biology major but I've taken some comp sci classes so hopefully you can relate):
1. Get out of your room. You're only allowed to spend 9 hours there. Eight for sleep, one for relaxing before said sleep.
2. You shouldn't have to study for hours on end. Advice on how to get rid of all the extraneous study time and still do well in your classes is all over the Study Hack blog but a lot of it is aimed at humanities and social science students so you have to do a little searching.
3. Go to all your classes, bring a laptop to take notes on, but make sure your wireless is off. If you need to download lecture slides, do it beforehand. Do not dick around on the internet during your classes, no matter how bored you are.
4. Set an interrupted block of time everyday for doing homework. Start with half an hour. Get something done during this time. After a week, try to add an extra half hour block at another time. Increase your study time by a little every week, but make your minimum 30 minutes sacred. At the same time, you don't need to study more than 2 hours in a given day. Your brain won't be productive.
5. All those free hours where you aren't in class, aren't studying, and, most importantly, aren't in your room? Do something with them. Go to the gym. Find some seminar to go to and eat the free food. Join a million clubs and quit all but those where you meet some cool people. Browse the stacks at the library. Walk around your city. Find a hospital/animal shelter/soup kitchen to volunteer at a couple hours per week.
6. Find a hobby. Sport, craft, game, whatever. Doesn't matter. Just pick anything that sounds interesting. Only rule is, it has to have some sort of social component that is not internet-based. Do something related to your new hobby every day. Abandon your hobby at will. Just make sure that you pick a new one.
7. Sit down for a few hours and think hard about why you're studying computer science. In what ways does it fascinate you? How are the courses that you're taking helping you gain a better understanding of the subject? How is that eventually going to allow you to do a job that you love? It took me a while, but I got myself through my required calculus in first year by talking myself into believing that I would never be able to understand the finer nuances of gene regulation if I couldn't do integrals. Turns out that understanding calc is more important than I thought... It's all over the place in upper year bio courses. Point is, self-deception works.
8. Find a nice relaxing place where you can focus. It doesn't have to be the library. Cafes are good, as are parks (depending on what the weather is like where you're from). When you have a program to write, go to this place and just let yourself get in the zone. Write the bulk outline of the program. Then leave it alone for a day. Go back and refine. If you run into problems that you can't solve, write them down and take them to your TA.
9. In the sciences, the most important thing is solving problems. Do all your programming assignments and math problems. When your prof derives a theorem on the board, write it down and then derive it on your own until you don't need to check the steps. That'll get you a long way to understanding the material. When you're studying, don't read your notes, just do problems! Refer to the notes and textbook only when you're stuck.

That got a little long, but I hope that some of this will be helpful. Honestly, if I had just two piece of advice to give, it would be the first and last. Just get out of your room. It'll make a huge difference. Feel free to Mefimail me if you want any more help or just need to vent. It took me a while to get used to uni, and I swear it gets better once you figure some things out.
posted by snoogles at 9:36 AM on October 27, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Here's what works for me. It may sound flippant, but I'm serious:

Imagine failure. Serious worst case scenario. In your case (I'm guessing, obviously), you'd have to leave school, all your acquaintances know that you're a failure. You have to move home, lose all your new-found freedom and obey your parents again. The best job you can find is driving the porta-potty cleaning truck. One day while working, that girl/guy you crushed on the whole time you were in high school recognizes you, and then walks away embarrassed without acknowledging your identity.

Picture that, or a more appropriate isotope of it as clearly as you can. Now take the terror that this inspires and use it to get your ass in gear.

Repeat as needed.
posted by overhauser at 9:42 AM on October 27, 2008

What snoogles said.
posted by phrontist at 10:01 AM on October 27, 2008

Your university may lack structure, but I imagine their are support options open to you. I'd seek them out. Deparmental advisors, councilling, tutoring, etc. And your professors, they must have office hours. I think the key in approaching these resources is to take them seriously and give them a chance, but realize that they may not all work for you. So, embrace the things that help, and don't waste time or enegry feeling crappy about the ones that don't.

Beyond that, your department must have study groups, whether formal or informal. Find them and join them. It should help with both your understanding of the material, and your isolation. If you can't find any study groups, start one. I'm sure you aren't the only person who did relatively well in high school who is struggling now.

I had a lot of solitary work to do in college, but having a social aspect helped tremendously with my motivation and determination, whether it was lab work, or review sessions, or taking a break from studying with a friend, or finding someone in the library to talk to about whatever I was trying to work through.

Actually this raises another issue: Where are you studying? If it is in your dorm/appt at he same desk you kill time at, you are doing it all wrong. A change of venue helps reinforce the task at hand. If you are burnt out and need a break, leave your study spot. Even better, study someplace where other people from your department are studying. At my small college, that was our library. At the big university here, my friend studied in and around his departmental building and library. The advantage of this is it makes ad hoc group study and socialization easier and more likely. And, even if you are studying alone, you can get up and find someone to talk things through with if you get stuck. And don't be shy about going upto someone unfamiliar, and saying, "have you taken into to data structures? I'm having a little trouble with blah blah blah. Do you have a few minutes to help?"

As for how to take notes, just do your best. I think my notes in college were pretty good, but much of their value came in the thinking it took just trying to get stuff down. Do your best, stick with it, and you'll get better. Before exams, review your notes with study partners. At the very least, they'll be a reminder of stuff you have to review in your texts, or ask for clarification from your prof or TA.

Part of your question was how to keep on top of your studies, while doing other activities too. What other activities? Are you working? Or are you talking about hobbies, socializing, and entertainment? If it's any of the latter my answer is that you may not be able to. You are at school to study. This is not to say that there shouldn't be room for anything else, indeed, I think you need to be sure to come up for air at regular intervals, but there won't be time for all of it.

I was a mediocre student in HS, with mediocre self-discipline. I went to a state school for my first year. I lived in the dorms with all the distractions entailed, but manger to do well enough to transfer to a very intense small college. I spent a huge amount I my time and enrgy in my studies, but I still managed to cook at least one meal a day, have dinner parties, work out a few days a week, work a few shifts a week, have a girlfriend, watch the Simpsons and Twin Peaks regularly, read for pleasure, play Sim City, and spend a day off campus almost every week. I came through in one piece, and did pretty well academically.

You can do it too but it will take some time before the results are obvious to you, so don't get discouraged along the way. I think breaking your isolation and connecting with people in your department is a good first step. Consider also withdrawing from one of your courses so you can focus on getting your act together. Don't withdraw completely.

Some of these things may seem hard or drastic, but that's nothing compared to how it will be if you stick with the status quo for another year.
posted by Good Brain at 10:04 AM on October 27, 2008

What are your interests? Are there activities for those interests?

If you're not sure what your interests are or what activities might match up to them, here's what I'd do: get a schedule of all of the club meetings on your campus for the next two weeks. Most campuses have one on a website somewhere or available at the student activities office. Cross off the ones that immediately sound terrible to you, and only those. Go to as many of the others as you have time for, even if they are far outside of your comfort zone, or sound silly, or might be full of weirdos, or you can think of any other excuse not to go. Just go. Talk to at least one new person at each one, and try to get a sense of what it would be like to join that activity. Then, once the two weeks are up, pick a few of those activities to go back to.

That method is how I ended up joining my college debate team despite a longstanding fear of public speaking. It was the best thing I did in college. And the friends I made there helped keep me sane while I was struggling to scrape through my classes.
posted by decathecting at 10:16 AM on October 27, 2008

Don't know if someone mentioned this, but: do you really want to study computer science?

There's nothing wrong with it, but consider if its something you're interested in.
posted by achompas at 10:31 AM on October 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

The single thing that made the biggest difference to me in terms of grades was going to class. To every class I could conceivably get to. For me, letting myself skip class once, even for a fairly good reason, was putting a foot on a very slippery slope. The semesters where I went to every class I did very well (the one semester where I didn't miss even a minute of any class? 4.0, which surprised everybody). The semesters where I let myself make excuses (really, any excuse) I did less well. Even if it serves no other point, the routine will force some structure into your life.
posted by fidelity at 11:25 AM on October 27, 2008

Do you think you might have a low grade depression? It's tough being in a new environment. You might want to go and check with your uni's health services and see if you can talk to someone.

As far as self-discipline, I'd say chunking your tasks into smaller projects will help you get started. It's a hell of a lot easier to finish something once you start it.

If there is no structure, then create it. Set a schedule and stick to it. Say to yourself that you will spend a certain amount of time studying or going to professor's office hours and then set time to relax and unwind. Treat college like a job, to an extent. You get out of it what you put in. I might also suggest joining a study group or two. It'll get you out of your room and might motivate you to study so you don't fall behind your peers.

Finally, meeting people on a college campus is not as hard as you think. Do you have a school newspaper? If so, I guarantee they have a section listing the activities going on for that day or week. Pick something that sounds interesting and go. If there is no paper, then check the heavily trafficked lecture halls. They almost always have bulletin boards that groups post events on. Do you live in a dorm? If so, keep your door open and stop by other people's rooms. Most people want to get to know you.

Don't worry. This time next year, you'll have so many friends that you'll forget you ever felt this way.
posted by reenum at 1:01 PM on October 27, 2008

I asked a very similar question about a year ago about finding the motivation to do well in class.

The structure at a University is what you make it. There will never be anyone there to remind you of deadlines or due dates or study sessions. Structure is optional, but it is definitely available. Professors (here) are required to be available to students during office hours, voluntary study groups often form in the first couple weeks of classes, and the library among many other resources are available to those who seek them out. You can create the structure you desire, but you need to get out there and choose to create it. Some things will work for you others won't, but the second year is as good a time as any to find what works for you and what doesn't as the classes are likely to become more intense (and often much more interesting).

As for motivation, it took me falling flat on my face. I failed, completely and utterly failed last fall. It wasn't that I didn't have the ability to comprehend the material or complete the assignments, it was that I thought that I could continue the same last minute distracted mindset that I had developed in high school and the first few years of college. it just didn't work.

This semester, the first thing I did was to enter all of the major dates from every syllabus into an iCal calendar. Although this sounds fairly trivial, it is a big help, and you will never be blindsided by a due date. I made a commitment to myself to go to every lecture. Even if I stayed up until sunrise pwning noobs, I make a point to drag my ass out of bed and go. It really makes a difference. I moved close to campus, I can now walk to class instead of driving 15 minutes in a cold car each morning. I haven't stopped playing video games or surfing the internet way too much, but a commitment to school has really pushed those things out to a degree where school and mindless entertainment can coexist.

As for meeting people, I would recommend starting a study group in your classes. Perhaps the best way to do this is to ask your teacher to announce that a student would like to form a study group after class and take it from there, or create an email account for the teacher to announce in class. This will not only show the teacher that you are making a solid outside effort in their class, it will connect you with like minded people who share a common goal. It is never too late to do his, with midterms and finals still on the horizon. You will be surprised at how many people are in the same boat, especially with a tough to understand or difficult teacher. Also, get out there and do stuff. Whatever it is that interests you. If you don't like what is offered, college is the perfect setting to create a new organization or group for anything. Look up clubs/organizations/student government/campus events/campus activities/happy hours/conventions/rallys/tutoring sessions. The opportunities to meet people are numerous, yet once again like structure the effort is required on your part to take advantage of them.

Get outside and make your education what you want it to be.

Good Luck.
posted by clearly at 1:31 PM on October 27, 2008

I'm a university student who gets up at 7:30 every day and heads to campus for 8:30, even if I don't start til 12 and my house is 200m from campus. I almost never work in my room, I get nothing done there, I have to be in the computer lab/library to be productive.
posted by piper4 at 1:38 PM on October 27, 2008

It's tempting to spend all your time chatting to your existing friends online, but you need to make friends to stop yourself from feeling isolated and depressed.

If you find the process of meeting new people intimidating, try volunteering. There are groups out there who are desperate for a spare pair of hands and there's nothing quite so good for the ego as a total stranger saying 'Thank God you're here!'

You'll feel less self-conscious, because you'll be accomplishing something practical instead of just making small talk. Plus once you make friends, they'll introduce you to their friends and so on. At which point the scary part will be over and you can continue to build a friendship network the normal way.

Check out local charities, neighbourhood associations or activist groups. You can find local listings on Meet Up, Do It and MySociety. (I assume from your word use and posting history that you're in the UK.)
posted by the latin mouse at 2:27 PM on October 27, 2008

I'm about three weeks away from graduating. Here's what I told myself I'd do at the start of every semester:

Go to every class, take notes all the time.

At the end of each day, go home and read over the notes, highlighting important sections and rewriting this in an Important Notes Book.

At the end of each week, read though this book and make sure I understand it all, doing follow up reading if I didn't.

Repeat for each week, and go back over the whole month at the end of each month.

Now, if you did this, I'm sure you'd do brilliantly. I never quite managed it... I'd tell myself that THIS year, I'd be good, I'd study harder, I'd do all the work I hadn't done last year. And... no. But I would go to every class. That was the one thing I'd insist on, even if I didn't do the rest. Then at the end of the semester I'd go back over the months of lecture notes I'd taken and do all the revision that I should have been doing all along. And that worked.
posted by twirlypen at 3:21 PM on October 27, 2008

Don't know if someone mentioned this, but: do you really want to study computer science?

This is spot on.

I did one year of Computer Science at a top level UK university. During that year I realised that I was putting myself through hell to get a degree in something I didn't really enjoy and that I needed to get out.

I struggled to pass the year so I could change course to a Politics and International studies course. I failed my May/June exams, so I spent the entire summer studying to pass my resits - I've never worked so hard in my life. I did it, got onto the politics course, graduated in July and am now studying for an MA in Security Studies. My decision to change course was possibly the best one I have ever made.

Don't let yourself get stuck in a course you hate, there's no shame in changing to something completely different.

Good luck.
posted by knapah at 7:16 PM on October 27, 2008