I think we're all familiar with the sense of our brains being stretched uncomfortably and also sometimes struggling to retain information from previous weeks. It's all about repetition. It takes as many hours as it takes. Maybe keep a math journal where you devote a page to each big concept. Include formulae, derivations, sketches, example problems, your insights and confusions, etc.
Maybe also pick out 5 or so problems from the current section that are the most difficult and most representative of what you've just learned. Keep an ongoing list of these problems on a separate sheet. Add to them with each new section. Every day, start with your list of old problems and work through them. Then start on the new stuff. If it comes down to it, right the formulae/concepts out like you did your multiplication tables. Always work everything out with pencil and paper. You can probably recite the pythagorean theorem and quadratic formula by heart. It's because you've written those out many times over in the past.
This is incredibly insightful. I have a book I’ve been using so far in th semester and write absolutely everything but looking back looks like a maniac was there. I’m going to try out keep a journal as an overview of the topic. Thank you!
Haha! You're welcome. When I was younger, my handwriting was atrocious. I don't know how my history/english profs didn't dock me 5 points on every exam looking back.
I went back for a second BS in ME when I was several years older. I would do so many things differently if I had it to do over. I would keep a running list of problems, like I mentioned, and I would try to keep a journal for each subject. Statics, fluids, etc. To be honest though, once things get really cranking in your upper level classes, I'm not sure a full-blown journal would be realistic. Maybe an abbreviated one? I would keep a running list of bad tendencies that I had when working/solving problems. We all have them. If you take note of them, there are things you can do to mitigate the problems. For instance, making liberal use of parentheses in algebra problems to keep things grouped so that you don't lose track of signs, etc.
I would also try to be more diligent about being proactive. Reading the text before every lecture, visiting office hours more often, joining/creating more study groups, etc. Those are all things that will help you stay ahead of the ball when things really get busy in the later years of your degree.
It's really good that you're stepping outside yourself and being objective about your study habits. I would say build as many relationships as you can. Profs, TAs, classmates, tutoring center (if there is one), etc. You will gain insights that you might miss on your own by talking to and studying with others. You will also learn some study habits that you can incorporate into your schedule that will make you more efficient.
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u/slides_galore New User 18h ago edited 18h ago
I think we're all familiar with the sense of our brains being stretched uncomfortably and also sometimes struggling to retain information from previous weeks. It's all about repetition. It takes as many hours as it takes. Maybe keep a math journal where you devote a page to each big concept. Include formulae, derivations, sketches, example problems, your insights and confusions, etc.
Maybe also pick out 5 or so problems from the current section that are the most difficult and most representative of what you've just learned. Keep an ongoing list of these problems on a separate sheet. Add to them with each new section. Every day, start with your list of old problems and work through them. Then start on the new stuff. If it comes down to it, right the formulae/concepts out like you did your multiplication tables. Always work everything out with pencil and paper. You can probably recite the pythagorean theorem and quadratic formula by heart. It's because you've written those out many times over in the past.