College, Studying, Motivation, Etc

[YoHoJo]

Semi related to this thread I made a while ago:
http://villavu.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54255

Lots of blabber, scroll down to the red marker for less reading for you lazies :D, otherwise read it all).

Anyways, lets blabber about my life a little bit.
I did fine in school up to around my sophomore year (11th Grade) in high school. Stated slacking a bit, and my As and Bs turned into Bs and Cs, and for some reason, I seemed to just be ok with that, and made seem acceptable to me :duh:.

So of course in America it is competitive as hell to get into a good University/College, and based on how I did in high school (not HORRIBLY, but not well either), I didn't get into any decent Universities that I wanted to.

Fortunately, we have community colleges (Crappy, not prestigious colleges MAINLY for older people returning to school for some reason or another, and failures BUT many people also either go here on purpose or because lack of motivation/maturity). It's pretty much a regular college, except CHEAP AS HELL and (for general education at least) the same.

Units cost about $26 each and most people take about 12-18 units a semester. There is no on campus living/dining plans, so pretty much tuition and books are you only expenses. This is DIRT CHEAP compared to anywhere from 5,000-13,000 at a University/State College and even 30,000+ at Private Universities!

Anyways, many people like me who screwed up in high school or even many who did well and just wish to save money go to community colleges for 2-3 years, and then transfer to a 'real' University. Universities are MUCH easier to get into from a Community College due to special transfer programs/plans.

Basically, all I need to do is take X classes at my community college based on my major told to me by the University of my choice and get X GPA based on how competitive my major is. Do these two things and you are GUARANTEED into the University!

In a couple weeks I have my finals, and will have completed my first of two years at community college. I'm doing fairly well with a ~3.6+ GPA not too many hardships or struggles.

LAZIES START READING HERE

So, the point of the entire thread is. Although I'm doing fine and well in school, I feel like I'm just going though the motions just because I need to (Not sure how to describe). I love school and learning and many of my classes are interesting, but many times I find myself procrastinating, or slacking a bit in my classes, getting high Bs when I could have gotten As, and just not doing my BEST. I seem to just be doing enough to get my Bs and some As, but I know I can do better.

I know many people study at home/school for hours daily, on a regular basis and become 'masters' or at least very efficient at their studies and get good grades. It just seems too hard for me to be so focused when especially in this day and age there are so many distractions all around.

I want to be able to actually sit, and study for hour chunks daily (when necessary at least) and 'get better at school!'. I know right now since I'm taking mostly general classes I can get by like this, but in once year once I transfer to a real University and start taking more upper level and dedicated classes for my major these types of study habits will not be sufficient.

Everyone wants to be well educated, rich, and successful, but of course that is way easier said than done. And even though there is loads of motivation our there to become great, there are just too many distractions/not caringness at the time until it's too late!

So, I guess basically, how can I get more motivated, study harder even tough I'm doing fine right now (but could do better), even though I know though many people around me that pretty much a good university is they key to a well off life, why can't I seem to understand this enough to actually work harder?! I seem to have the drive, and a goal in mind, but am too stupid to work harder!

Yeah, I know a lot of this is just personal understanding, awareness, and motivation, but maybe someone's words of wisdom/words from more experienced people might just help me out.

[pini3000]

Hi YoHoJo,

I might be a good person to try and help you get motivated. I was just like you bit lazy could have achieved much higher grades but lacked motivation. Now however, I am studying Medicine at Imperial College London.

The key is to discover what is holding you back and how can you overcome these barriers.

For me, the first item I needed to get straight on my agenda was; "What do I want to get out of life".

This, naturally, was the hardest part to overcome. But what is it in life that you want? What do you want to do to earn money? What gives you enjoyment? What can you see yourself doing? Once you know what skills you have, you can determine what you want life to give you.

Yeah, I know this slightly edges towards a rant and you already acknowledge that it is "a lot of this is just personal understanding, awareness, and motivation." But just remember It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

Now... Get some space! By this I mean create some area that you can work in. A small quiet area that you can keep your books and files neatly and work. Next, and I know they are annoying, but make a study timetable. Even if your weekly schedule is blank but holds two hours a day broken up into two sessions (fifteen minutes break in between) that covers two or three subjects, then the benefits you will reap will amaze you.

Think about your scripting. You must have written some amazing scripts during your time here, what motivated you to write them? Improve them? Bug fix them? Try and see if you can channel that motivation into your studying.

It is the morning here and I may not be typing what I intend clearly, but you need to cut the distractions. Whether they be watching the tv, listening to music of even coming onto the forums it all has to go. I am not saying stop altogether but you need to remember that what is happening now is only now, a short spell. Your future is the most important aspect and unless you change now you will regret why you never pulled your finger out and knuckled down.

“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing-that's why we recommend it daily.”

And if all else fails, then cute puppies will die unless you pass your exams and get distinctions :D

[Tim0suprem0]

Adderall.

I'll come back with a more heartfelt answer tomorrow :) Although pini did a pretty damn good job.

[cycrosism]

tl;dr

Lol, jk. Set some personal goals and if you can go through with "self punishment" for example, if I don't finish this prac report then I can't watch tv tomorrow

[Naum]

I might be a good person to try and help you get motivated. I was just like you bit lazy could have achieved much higher grades but lacked motivation. Now however, I am studying Medicine at Imperial College London.


Woo.. that's pretty awesome :).

YoHo: What I do to revise, as pini said, is to make a proper timetable. Then I set an alarm on my watch regarding what time my 'sessions' finish and end. And I try and keep to it; usually at the end of the day I go over and recap regarding what I studied, or get my harsh 'dundaa' wielding parents to test me :p.
Also, I find group studying is pretty applicable for me. When you have 3 or more friends in a group who have a goal to reach then it motivates you to reach it as well, and not let your friends down.


PINI: Nayhi meh pakistani hoo ;)

[pini3000]

Woo.. that's pretty awesome :).

dundaa' wielding parents to test me :p.


Aapse Hindustani hai Bhaiya?

sorry to go off-topic :p

[YoHoJo]

Ure baap re! Pini ko bi Hindi aati hain?! :D!

[HyperSecret]

Also, I find group studying is pretty applicable for me. When you have 3 or more friends in a group who have a goal to reach then it motivates you to reach it as well, and not let your friends down.


I find this to be very helpful also. Especially in my physics classes. My lab group will usually meet up once a week and go to starbucks for 2hrs or so and talk about what we went over in physics.

Also one of them and myself get a 'study room' in the library once a week for 2 hrs and study all of our subjects we have in common together (physics, calc, and chemistry). It is so beneficial to have someone to bounce/throw ideas/questions to and see if you can work through them, especially if you don't understand. You have to make sure when studying with groups that you have things planned out before hand about what you want to go over and study while you are with your group.


My calculus teacher once told me, 'Learn for the fact of gaining the knowledge, not for getting the grade. Grades will come with the knowledge.' That quote from him really put things into perspective for me. I was like you exactly. I really disliked reading through chapters in my chemistry and physics books because they were long and tedious. Now I thoroughly enjoy them (at least physics).

Before I even start reading any of my texts, I always pre-read. A quick overview to figure out what I will be learning. Takes maybe 10 minutes. While I am reading I have 2 different highlighters and a pencil, one for 'important' things, one for 'notes/hints', and the pencil for things I don't fully grasp while reading (these are the things I ask when I talk with a teacher or study in a group [A little arrow or mark to identify it, so it can be erased after it is answered]).

I personally don't go into studying with the attitude of 'I have to study for the next 6 hours'. I will studying in small sessions (like everyone else). Though I don't do it in two hour increments. I use my pre-read to 'split up' the chapter I am reading. I tell myself I will get to this point and fully understand it, then take a break to do something for 15-30 minutes. Then I will try to learn the next section, etc...

[pini3000]

Ure baap re! Pini ko bi Hindi aati hain?! :D!

Actually I am Gujarati, we put the 'G' in 'Genius' :sasmokin:


I find this to be very helpful also. Especially in my physics classes. My lab group will usually meet up once a week and go to starbucks for 2hrs or so and talk about what we went over in physics.

Personally, I am a self studier but that is just my style of learning. But the oddity in this is that I enjoy teaching to a group just not learning/studying with one lol.



My calculus teacher once told me, 'Learn for the fact of gaining the knowledge, not for getting the grade. Grades will come with the knowledge.'

Ditto that, Take note of this!!

Before I even start reading any of my texts, I always pre-read. A quick overview to figure out what I will be learning. Takes maybe 10 minutes. While I am reading I have 2 different highlighters and a pencil, one for 'important' things, one for 'notes/hints', and the pencil for things I don't fully grasp while reading (these are the things I ask when I talk with a teacher or study in a group [A little arrow or mark to identify it, so it can be erased after it is answered]).

Take note of this additionally. A fantastic way prior to class to get your brain rolling. It is also a reason why many examiners advise that you read your exam paper beforehand. Your brain will subconsciously attempt to deduce an answer to questions later on in the paper and you will be surprised as to what you actually know and understand


A final note that will always be reiterated is to always take breaks. I study 1 hour take 10 break to get a glass of water then study a different subject for the next hour. and a third subject for the last hour. Three and a half hours a day I need to do, but that is my subject I cannot fall behind or you are kicked!

[x[Warrior]x3500]

hey jw, what college are you plannin on going to after JC?

[mrpickle]

Motivation. TBH, jealousy is a great motivator. Just compare yourself with some smarta** in your class. I get motivation that way, however, i'm unsure if that's the best way to get motivated.

[Nava2]

I try to create an area where I JUST study. For me, this is one of the many libraries on my university campus. I just go, turn off all MSN, VillaVu, etc and just do work. I work for an hour, then take a break for ~15 minutes, rinse and repeat. It works for me, but its what ever works for you.

Now, for subjects where there isn't problems and other such tasks (subjects that aren't science pretty much..) I like to work in groups and move through lecture material discussing points, and really reiterating what we covered.

These strategies worked for me, and I got on the Dean's list first year. Best of luck, you will learn how to study.

[noidea]

Thank you for this thread. I am in the same boat, study-wise, at the moment. Thanks all :)

[YoHoJo]

Thanks a lot guys, keep it coming. Although a lot of this may seem obvious to many of you, good study habits and motivation aren't as transparent as they seem to many people. This is all helping a bit here and there, thanks for the insight everyone :].
@x[Warrior]x3500, my TAG (Transfer Agreement Guarantee) is going to be with UC Davis, and I'm most likely going to get in and go there, but I will also be applying to some other UCs and seeing what happens.

[pini3000]

“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing-that's why we recommend it daily.”


So what course(s) you planning to study? If I am honest, my only knowledge of the American Education system is from sitcoms :D

An example of the British University system I can give that might be the same in America are work placements. For example, a mate of mine is studying Accountancy, he spent two years at uni and is now taking a year out where he is working for IBM (paid of course), next September he will return for his final year.

Try to see if you can get experience like that and incorporate it into your college choices, if he shows good aptitude in this placement year IBM will take him on once he graduates.

[YoHoJo]

Going towards the business field, for now my major is called 'Managerial Economics'
http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/academics/major_view.cfm?major=apme

[HyperSecret]

What CC you at? I currently am at Fullerton JC, persuing a Computer Engineering degree. I have a friend from physics class that is going to try to do a TAG agreement with some UCs.

I think I will plan to transfer to CSU: Fullerton, I'm going to apply at Cal Poly: Pomona, CSU: Long Beach, and maybe some others (for the fun of seeing if I can get accepted).