I've got memory problems. How can I get through college?

[Coldkilla]

I'm loaded with ailments. My brothers got Auspergers and I'm convinced I've got at least 1% of what he's got. My psychiatrist played a 'game' with me and told me three names to remember. He said them one after another and I couldn't remember the first name. He also talked about someone at length at the beginning of our one hour discussion and asked at the end "What was the persons name that I was talking about an hour ago"? I couldn't remember.

I'm someone who has to study for 20 hours in order to remember something that takes an average person 4. I have to have things repeated over and over and over in order to slightly grasp any sort of material. I've been in college for about 2 years now, but I keep getting burned out working 7+ hours a day studying just to make a C, which ends up making me try less - forcing my grades to literally tank.. To give you an idea: GPA went from 3.5 1 semester to a 0.8 the next. I transfered to a different school. GPA went from a 3.6 one semester to a 2.3 (current). I don't party/drink/do drugs, and live a pretty unsociable life style. It seems I start out ok, but then cannot continue to maintain the constant pressure thrown at me to work so damned hard that I just want to quit.

I want to get my bachelors in no more than 3 more years, so I don't want to restrict my classes. I don't have a job and I (sadly) live upstairs in my parents house, 20 years old. I was wondering if anyone here has had similar memory issues and made it through college. I'd be interested in knowing how you got through it and any routines you may have gotten yourself into.

-I already sit in the front in all my classes.
-I am a furious note-taker. Color coding with 4-5 pens, can't listen a a teacher speak when I'm writing.
-I go in for extra help daily (30 minute session with professor(s)).
-I have a bad habit (8+ years) of rewriting my notes on a PC so its formatted and easy to understand. It may be something I need to cut out in order to save some time. The notes end up being a perfect little packet that could be used as a guide by all for understanding the material by thus eliminating the use for the book...heh.
-Also easily distracted if I've been working for long periods and feel like I'm accomplishing nothing. Then even the simplest thing distracts me. (esp. pc [ie. news websites, games, game news websites, etc]).

 

[Codewiz]

Pick a degree that doesn't require memorization. Pick a degree where you have to figure out problems not regurgitate memorized answers. Math and Computer Science are good places to start. Very little actual memorization. Just problem solving.

 

[imported_Jdo]

"rewriting my notes on a PC" - that has to stop to give you more time to actually study. Also distance yourself from things that distract you. The best way would be to study in a library and have nothing on you that can distract you (psp, cell phone etc.). If you are at home, go to the nearest municipal library.

Do you exercise? A little bit of exercise daily improves memory, guaranteed.

Try to be more selective in what you study, i.e. spend less time studying what accounts for less in the course. This is KEY to succeeding in college with a lot of workload.

What's your undergrad program? I'm suspecting it's engineering. Well whatever it is, you don't HAVE to do it. You can take an easier undergrad if all you want is a decent job. Really depends on your interests and what you want to do as a professional. However, this is a decision that is best made early in the interest of time.

My second post and I'm already lecturing.

 

[Coldkilla]

Interesting. I love math (well I love math with the professor I have now). Last semester I dropped out of my math class because the teacher gave us a test the first day and I got 39 of the 50 wrong and he said "If you don't get at least 40 of these right, you'll be in hell with what I expect you to already know".

I've always wanted to do something in ether Business or CS but don't think I have the mental capacity to program.

 

[destrekor]

get diagnosed and find out treatment options for any faults you may have.

and start taking 2x daily doses of Ginkgo Biloba and maybe even fish oil. Ginkgo for memory, and i've been reading that after a couple months of daily fish oil supplements, ADD symptoms tend to improve. I'm gonna start myself on that here soon, see if I can get any improvement for about finals week of this quarter (if I start now, I might get lucky to see improvement by then), and especially for next school year. However, it could all be bullshit and some people just imagine they start to see changes over time and rather it's merely them learning how to better manage ADD.
but definitely take Ginkgo. It's proven to help with memory, so it may be a big help for you.

+

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
Interesting. I love math (well I love math with the professor I have now). Last semester I dropped out of my math class because the teacher gave us a test the first day and I got 39 of the 50 wrong and he said "If you don't get at least 40 of these right, you'll be in hell with what I expect you to already know".

I've always wanted to do something in ether Business or CS but don't think I have the mental capacity to program.

How about accounting? Alot of it is done by practice, its simple arithmetic with a few accounting rules (e.g. debits=credits). It opens the door for future management positions later on. I would know, I am an accountant.

 

[Coldkilla]

@Jdo
-My undergrad program: Yet to be decided. I've been doing just general courses.
-I don't exercise, but may start running very soon.
-I'd like to get a well paid job, but for someone in my position I'm starting to think I'll never find a well paid career..

@desktrekor
-*Noted. I'll pick some up!

@Obama
-I've never looked into accounting. Isn't that just pencil pushing in a cramped up, hot smelly office for 9 hours a day? Or can accountants move around at all? I'd like to talk to an accountant actually and see if its worth exploring.

edit: I reread your post Obama. Hehe, speak of the devil, hello mr. accountant! Do you like your job? What duties does it entail? How much do you make and how long have you been an accountant? Do you get a full nights sleep every night? Are the hours predictable? What degree do you have from school? Bachelors/Masters?

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
I'm loaded with ailments. My brothers got Auspergers and I'm convinced I've got at least 1% of what he's got. My psychiatrist played a 'game' with me and told me three names to remember. He said them one after another and I couldn't remember the first name. He also talked about someone at length at the beginning of our one hour discussion and asked at the end "What was the persons name that I was talking about an hour ago"? I couldn't remember.

I'm someone who has to study for 20 hours in order to remember something that takes an average person 4. I have to have things repeated over and over and over in order to slightly grasp any sort of material. I've been in college for about 2 years now, but I keep getting burned out working 7+ hours a day studying just to make a C, which ends up making me try less - forcing my grades to literally tank.. To give you an idea: GPA went from 3.5 1 semester to a 0.8 the next. I transfered to a different school. GPA went from a 3.6 one semester to a 2.3 (current). I don't party/drink/do drugs, and live a pretty unsociable life style. It seems I start out ok, but then cannot continue to maintain the constant pressure thrown at me to work so damned hard that I just want to quit.

I want to get my bachelors in no more than 3 more years, so I don't want to restrict my classes. I don't have a job and I (sadly) live upstairs in my parents house, 20 years old. I was wondering if anyone here has had similar memory issues and made it through college. I'd be interested in knowing how you got through it and any routines you may have gotten yourself into.

-I already sit in the front in all my classes.
-I am a furious note-taker. Color coding with 4-5 pens, can't listen a a teacher speak when I'm writing.
-I go in for extra help daily (30 minute session with professor(s)).
-I have a bad habit (8+ years) of rewriting my notes on a PC so its formatted and easy to understand. It may be something I need to cut out in order to save some time. The notes end up being a perfect little packet that could be used as a guide by all for understanding the material by thus eliminating the use for the book...heh.
-Also easily distracted if I've been working for long periods and feel like I'm accomplishing nothing. Then even the simplest thing distracts me. (esp. pc [ie. news websites, games, game news websites, etc]).

Isolate yourself from all that stuff. That's what the library is for when you live on campus, but in your situation.... maybe the attic?

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
@Jdo
-My undergrad program: Yet to be decided. I've been doing just general courses.
-I don't exercise, but may start running very soon.
-I'd like to get a well paid job, but for someone in my position I'm starting to think I'll never find a well paid career..

@desktrekor
-*Noted. I'll pick some up!

@Obama
-I've never looked into accounting. Isn't that just pencil pushing in a cramped up, hot smelly office for 9 hours a day? Or can accountants move around at all? I'd like to talk to an accountant actually and see if its worth exploring.

edit: I reread your post Obama. Hehe, speak of the devil, hello mr. accountant! Do you like your job? What duties does it entail? How much do you make and how long have you been an accountant?

Accounting, if you get into a decent sized firm, provides a good career. I won't deny that the first 1-3 years will be largely data entry/repetitive (think along the lines of massive spreadsheets, checking through, merging, analysing, etc), but many, many accountants move up to senior management positions. This is because accounting deals with the key numbers and performance measures for an organisation's success and reports directly to management.

I love my job, but it would be a biased opinion cause I am an accountant

The office is well-air conditioned, theres a good work-life balance and theres quite a few hotties as well. My pay is/will be very good (I am graduating this year and will work in a firm then - ive already signed the contracts) and is in the mid 60s AUD (Aussie Dollars cause I am in Australia).

The point of caution is that not all accounting jobs are as I have described. If you get stuck in a smaller company, and most accountants do, then the job is alot of pencil pushing, although you would still make input into management decisions. I advise you speak to some accountants in the states.

My advice, if you are smart and can get decent grades, then accounting offers a great profession. But if you are just passing, then I'd advise against it cause you'd probaly be in a dead-beat job "pencil pushing".

Hope that helps.

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: Jdo

My second post and I'm already lecturing.

And stealing my avatar!

 

[IceBergSLiM]

if you are doing all that and still struggling you should look into cheating.

 

[Electric Amish]

Have you tried NOT taking notes? Maybe concentrating on the notes causes you to lose focus on the topic....

I find that I do much better if I just pay attention to the teacher and comprehend things as they are discussed. I never took notes.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Barack Obama

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
Interesting. I love math (well I love math with the professor I have now). Last semester I dropped out of my math class because the teacher gave us a test the first day and I got 39 of the 50 wrong and he said "If you don't get at least 40 of these right, you'll be in hell with what I expect you to already know".

I've always wanted to do something in ether Business or CS but don't think I have the mental capacity to program.

How about accounting? Alot of it is done by practice, its simple arithmetic with a few accounting rules (e.g. debits=credits). It opens the door for future management positions later on. I would know, I am an accountant.

lol, you know nothing about accounting sir

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The exercise thing is important. It improves memory, it gives you energy, and it gives you a break from studying for a while. If you do anything to excess you will experience diminishing returns, so it is important to take study breaks; might as well do something productive.

Ginkgo Biloba is an interesting idea. Personally, it sounds about as effective as voodoo, but hey, even placebos can have a positive effect if you believe in them strongly enough.

Get diagnosed by a doctor and see if you aren't suffering from a treatable condition.

If your memory performance is still inadequate, you may need to raise your voltages to take advantage of faster clocks.

 

[zinfamous]

fix your memory problems with alcohol consumption. didn't you know that's why so many people drink heavily while in college? sheeesh..

 

[HammerCurl]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Have you tried NOT taking notes? Maybe concentrating on the notes causes you to lose focus on the topic....

I find that I do much better if I just pay attention to the teacher and comprehend things as they are discussed. I never took notes.

A lot of college is effective filtering. People who go into panick mode are generally the ones to do bad, you gotta calm down and think about how to do things effectively and better. If it doesn't work, try something different. Also, maybe being isolated is hurting you. Ask people if they want to study, maybe get a tutor. The prof isn't in you're shoes so you might learn better from someone who's also just learning and get their perspective. Also maybe what you're studying isnt something you want to do. If you're watching a movie that you really really enjoy, can you talk about the plot easily right after it's done?

And, What classes are you taking that you're so overwhelmed with also?

 

[nanette1985]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
I'm loaded with ailments.

What do you mean by "loaded with ailments"? There are a lot of ailments that impact memory. Have you had a stroke - have you been tested? You can have a stroke without really knowing it. This is the first thing that comes to mind. Have you been tested for diabetes? Have you been tested for seizures? High blood pressure?

Are you on any kind of medication, or have you been? It is a common enough side effect, and it can be permanent.

Have you always been that way, or did it appear? Can you remember when it began to be such a huge problem?

Have you been tested for learning disabilities by a thorough, respected professional? That psych you refer to sounds like a clown, but what was the diagnosis and recommendations? My son, for example, tests in the 99th percentile for visual acuity and 5th percentile for visual memory - test mismatches like this are devastating. What is your PIQ/VIQ match? And so on. What type of memory problem do you have - there's longterm memory, short-term memory, working memory, visual memory, audio memory, sense memory, and lots more.

Your memory problem is typical of post-traumatic stress. Have you spoken to a PTSD specialist?

There are tons of memory-improvement programs, books, games etc. A little bit here, a little bit there, and it adds up.

Best to you - hope something helps.

 

[Insomniator]

Sell your GTX and put a tnt2 in there, that should cut out the gaming distractions.