mrcraptastic

i just started engineering at my college, and, having not studied for a minute throughout highschool i'm kind of uneasy. i've been told to start studying the first day for this course and i dont know where to start. i'd like to know some people's study skills, if any? memorization tactics, anything would help. i'm not about to start failing NOW.

dimbulb

well, after I've learnt the hard way, here's what i've observed for courses where i've done well.

1) Attend lectures. (sounds stupid, but so true)
2) Stay awake during lectures. (even more stupid, but I noticed a negative correlation between how early the class is, and how well i do.... if you wanna sleep or goof off in class, stay in bed, at least you get some sleep.)
3) Read the text, read it again. Flag parts that you don't understand.
4) Use your tuition fees wisely.Clarify points you don't know with your teaching assistant or the prof. I tend to ask TA's "mundane" questions, and save my 'deep' questions for the prof. Oh, and introduce yourself when talking to him. If he sees you regularly, and knows your name, you have a better chance of a good grade.
5) Write a brief summary of the textbook (and lecture notes if you have time).
6) And most importantly, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!!! and then try out the rest of the problems in your text. I cannot emphasize this more. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!
7) Try to gain an understanding on a deeper level. Know how to do things by first principles. You forget things that you merely memorize, but if you know how it really works, it'll stay with ya.
8)For me, dorms and studying don't mix. Way too many distractions in the dorms. Stay in school or in the library until you're done studying. Dorms are for play, sleep and sex only.

Kadath

It depends on the person. I learn aurally, so attending lecture and discussing the problems is best for me, but that wasn't always possible with engineering problems, so I'd say make sure you do the homework and, if you get any wrong when it comes back, do them again until you understand why you got it wrong and can get it right. Ask professors if they have old tests or homeworks to study off of. I've found engineering texts are dull and incomprehensible. Doing problems is the best way to be an engineer. Do all the problems you have time to do. Never let yourself fall behind; it's nearly impossible to catch up. Run hard. Prepare to go without sleep. Engineering is a hard road to hoe.

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it's quiet in here

fuzzix

I'm kinda lazy with studying, and my course is moderately easy - but hey I rarely fail anything. I'm one of those crammer types, who waits until the last day or two before the exam and then just learns everything in a panic. One technique that I do find helps is repeatedly writing out all the notes in the subject over, and over and over and over again. A far less accessable method (but probably more effective) I've used is integrating particularly difficult sections to learn into electronic music I've written, just speaking it once, and then listening to it a few times is all it takes to learn it.

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I'm most definately not 'lovin' it'.

Sleepyjack

i think i'd be quite similar to fuzzix. Am a bit of a crammer myself, although mainly to do with homework rather than studying for tests. I also second that idea to sumamrize points and write them in your own words (ie requiring your thought to understand and process the material. Also the more sense you use to learn something, the better it''ll stick. So by writing them down and then reading them to yourself, you get lots of actions here, by writing, talking, seeing and hearing the stuff. If only you could smell and taste it

cheerios

we'd do our HW in groups. we'd all gather in 1 persons room, that way 2 of us didn't know where the toys were and the third felt bad about playing, and we'd sit in a big pile of green gridded engineering paper and start working. when we got stuck, we had someone to ask, and sometimes we'd explain stuff, just ot make sure we understood it. You learn best by teaching. Best study aid I ever had were those 2 people sitting in a dorm room. This got me through 2 years of an engineering major i didn't enjoy, and the worse I did in a class, the fewer people i had to study with. But, that's just me.

dimbulb's got it all pretty much covered. go to class. do the homework. I'd like to add one, though. HAVE SOME FUN. seriously. all work and no play causes ulcers. So, make sure you relax and play a little. studying hte first day of class seems silly to me. what, are you gonna get quizzed on the sylabus? relax, try'n absorb what the teacher's telling you, take the most copious notes you can, 'cuz THIS is the stuff the prof things is important. I'm not big on book-reading, 'cuz I haven't had a class yet where the prof didn't feed us what he wanted to hear, but it does have its points, esp in science classes where you deal in fundamental truths, not opinions. good luck, and ooooh, here's a freebee: DON'T BE AFRAID TO SWITCH MAJORS IF YOU FIND ENGINEERING ISN'T WHAT YOU WANT. Seriously. it's okay to change your mind!!

Nimbletoe

Make sure and take breaks too. I find a 10 minute break for every hour of studying helps me stay focused. You may have to change that depending on your personal focus.

krwlz

Im in the same boat for 2 weeks man. As long as I dont put stuff off, it doesnt seem all that hard to keep up. Then again its only been 2 weeks...

Randerolf

I crammed for a math final by making a CD of equasions and brainwashing myself by listening to them ALL THE TIME. It's worked well.

I used the same technique to memorize a three and a half page presentation for work.