How does one make good grades in college?

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LW07

Golden Member
Feb 16, 2006
1,537
2
81
So what about stuff the professor doesn't write on the board?

Even in high school i find that board notes are insufficient.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,332
14,746
146
Originally posted by: LW07
So what about stuff the professor doesn't write on the board?

Even in high school i find that board notes are insufficient.

I never said they were the ONLY thing...:roll:

LISTEN to what the professor tells you. Some will tell you, "This will be on the test...know it." others may use body language to signify how important they believe some part of the lecture is.
Then, there's study, study, study.

People learn in different ways. Some learn better by reading something, others by doing it, yet others just by hearing it...Figure out what works best for you and improve on it.

If need be, take a study skills class your first semester to help improve your study habits and skills.

I hadn't been to school in almost 40 years...I needed help learning how to learn again.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Originally posted by: BoomerD
One bit of advice that's helped me is that if the professor feels it's important enough to write it on the board...it's important enough to be in my notes. Formulas, equations, accounting terms and journal entries, etc.

This is very important to understand. If it's on the board, write it down.

Also, this varies from professor to professor if they'll allow you to but if you're not good or not fast at taking notes, take in a voice recorder in class. You will miss nothing.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,332
14,746
146
Since I don't have a tablet pc type of laptop, I find I always have to write diagrams and such by hand, so I just take all my notes by hand. Besides, I type like shit on a laptop...big hands, small keys...half the time, I can't read what the fuck I just typed, or capitalization is wierd...
 

looker001

Banned
Jun 25, 2007
603
0
0
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Originally posted by: LW07
Should i take a laptop into class?

laptop = recipe for failure. Assume you have no self control and leave it home.

If it's straight lecture class, laptop can be life saver. If it's class that requires student to draw bunch of graphs, laptop will be a failure.
 
Oct 27, 2007
17,009
5
0
Originally posted by: jman19
Originally posted by: Deeko
Don't worry about it - grades don't matter.

Wrong.

Grades aren't everything, that's for sure, but to say they don't matter is silly - how do you know what this guy wants out of college?

The fact that you would even say this tells me you're not as intelligent as you think you are.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,866
31,364
146
Originally posted by: looker001
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Originally posted by: LW07
Should i take a laptop into class?

laptop = recipe for failure. Assume you have no self control and leave it home.

If it's straight lecture class, laptop can be life saver. If it's class that requires student to draw bunch of graphs, laptop will be a failure.

WTF?

-couple sheets of paper

-pen

-textbook (maybe)

if you need anything more than that during class then you suck at learning.

Seriously...how the hell did we get this far with only having laptops for a mere 20 years now? ....and only half that time with people bringing them to class? It boggles the Mind!!!!!!
 

jman19

Lifer
Nov 3, 2000
11,225
664
126
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: jman19
Originally posted by: Deeko
Don't worry about it - grades don't matter.

Wrong.

Grades aren't everything, that's for sure, but to say they don't matter is silly - how do you know what this guy wants out of college?

Grades only matter if your post-college plans require it - generally, law school, med school, etc.

I graduated with a 2.87 - and I've done much better than most. Hell, only one company even asked me for my GPA - and they're the one I ended up working for!

Yeah, that's my point. I'm not saying you need grades to be successful, but there are certain things you might want post-graduation that you'll need good grades for. Graduate education is a good example. Also, some companies are pretty strict about grade screening - not that I agree with that necessarily.
 

jman19

Lifer
Nov 3, 2000
11,225
664
126
Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Originally posted by: jman19
Originally posted by: Deeko
Don't worry about it - grades don't matter.

Wrong.

Grades aren't everything, that's for sure, but to say they don't matter is silly - how do you know what this guy wants out of college?

The fact that you would even say this tells me you're not as intelligent as you think you are.

Wow, an insult and no argument - a double whammy.
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
23
81
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Best advice is to study in a library away from the distractions. If you're diligent you'll find that your study time will count more when you can concentrate on the work. If you're in a dorm around roommates and video games and the internet, you'll end up in a dead-end job that allows you to post on ATOT during the day.

i have to say, this is quite true. keep focused and disciplined, go to class everyday, study study study and do your homework/papers. the classes i was most successful in, were the ones i actually used this strategy on, the ones i failed to get a mark of b or better, it was obvious i didn't try as hard.

for added motivation, i'm on the fifteen year college plan. don't be like me. finish school and enjoy it while you can. otherwise, you'll just end up surfing or playing basketball for 10 years and regretting it.

btw, thanks, as you've helped me decide my career path.
 

looker001

Banned
Jun 25, 2007
603
0
0
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: looker001
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Originally posted by: LW07
Should i take a laptop into class?

laptop = recipe for failure. Assume you have no self control and leave it home.

If it's straight lecture class, laptop can be life saver. If it's class that requires student to draw bunch of graphs, laptop will be a failure.

WTF?

-couple sheets of paper

-pen

-textbook (maybe)

if you need anything more than that during class then you suck at learning.

Seriously...how the hell did we get this far with only having laptops for a mere 20 years now? ....and only half that time with people bringing them to class? It boggles the Mind!!!!!!
Yes, you can take notes using paper and pen like it been done by millions of people or you can move in to 21century. I can type double or even triple the speed that i can write. When took time to study for the test, having typed text, vs handnotes couldn't not been compared. It's so much easier to read type notes when comparing to handwritten notes.
 

ghostman

Golden Member
Jul 12, 2000
1,819
1
76
OP, be honest with yourself - you already know the answers to most of the questions you ask. High school is not really all that different from college, except you have a lot more freedom to do what you want. Sounds good, but that freedom means you're also free to slack off and fail your classes. No one will be calling your parents to tell them you missed class. No one will be warning you that you need to pull in better grades. No one will be checking to make sure you did your homework. So your entire semester can be fun and games... up until the final exam and you realize you don't understand the material.
 

SupaDupaPan

Golden Member
Jun 1, 2004
1,071
0
76
Pen and paper along with textbook works wonders. Even though you can type quickly and handwritten notes can get messy, writing the notes out yourself helps you retain a bit of the information that you are taking down. That of course unless you're zombie note taking...
 

looker001

Banned
Jun 25, 2007
603
0
0
Originally posted by: SupaDupaPan
Pen and paper along with textbook works wonders. Even though you can type quickly and handwritten notes can get messy, writing the notes out yourself helps you retain a bit of the information that you are taking down. That of course unless you're zombie note taking...

That might be true for many people but not all. Writting notes never helped me retain information. I am more visual person so that might be the reason. Either way, he will see many people in college taking notes on laptop.
 

SupaDupaPan

Golden Member
Jun 1, 2004
1,071
0
76
I can never seem to remember anything that I do when I take in a laptop and type down my notes (I zombie it). However, if I record the lecture and then write it down by hand, or take notes manually and then just clean them up later, it's always helped me a great deal. Everyone is different though /shrug
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,332
14,746
146
I find that taking notes by hand, then typing them up helps in some subjects.

There's that "synergy" thing going on...I read my handwritten notes, then type them...

PLUS, as I go through them, I organize them better than the way they were in the handwritten format.

Too often, professors will jump all over different subjects, sometimes to make a point, sometimes not...but being able to organize them helps me with studying.

Of course, some classes, my notes seem to end up more as doodles and scribbles than anything else...
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
if you are of low IQ you will have difficult. I barely studied...science major.

 

evident

Lifer
Apr 5, 2005
12,136
761
126
Originally posted by: LW07
Should i take a laptop into class?

NO NO NO NO NO NO

every time i took my laptop to class i ended up playing diablo II or worms world party, rofl
 

evident

Lifer
Apr 5, 2005
12,136
761
126
Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Originally posted by: jman19
Originally posted by: Deeko
Don't worry about it - grades don't matter.

Wrong.

Grades aren't everything, that's for sure, but to say they don't matter is silly - how do you know what this guy wants out of college?

The fact that you would even say this tells me you're not as intelligent as you think you are.

what the hell are you talking about?

he's absolutely right. It's going to be a hell of a lot harder getting interviews if you have a 2.0 GPA vs a 3 or 3.5. it doesn't mean everything but it sure makes things alot easier. you could at least back up your personal attack with a reason instead of trolling.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
Originally posted by: jman19
Originally posted by: Deeko
Originally posted by: jman19
Originally posted by: Deeko
Don't worry about it - grades don't matter.

Wrong.

Grades aren't everything, that's for sure, but to say they don't matter is silly - how do you know what this guy wants out of college?

Grades only matter if your post-college plans require it - generally, law school, med school, etc.

I graduated with a 2.87 - and I've done much better than most. Hell, only one company even asked me for my GPA - and they're the one I ended up working for!

Yeah, that's my point. I'm not saying you need grades to be successful, but there are certain things you might want post-graduation that you'll need good grades for. Graduate education is a good example. Also, some companies are pretty strict about grade screening - not that I agree with that necessarily.

While there are some companies that are - there are so many that aren't, it really isn't going to hurt you.
 

cheezy321

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2003
6,218
2
0
Originally posted by: dbk
Originally posted by: Crusty
Originally posted by: wkabel23
If you only follow one rule, make it this: go to class!
QFT

yeah this is the most important part.. you gotta go to class - especially in your 3rd, 4th year

LISTEN TO THEM. Just show up to class and you will be fine.