Thursday, July 31, 2008

Helpful Hints

First, two important links:





We asked some of the other majors what they wish they would have known on their first day. Here’s a bit of what they said:

  • Read the book. Don’t expect college to be like high school. There is a lot of information you need to know, and reading the book helps a lot.
  • Don’t be shy. Ask for help, especially from the upper classmen. If you aren’t sure if you are doing something right, why not ask someone who’s done it wrong before.
  • Try not to work alone. Go to the physics lounge (Room 2144) and/or talk to your classmates. Working with others helps you learn so much more quickly. There’s almost always someone in there - day, night or weekend. It’s our main hang-out for the year; take advantage of it. If you don’t like to study in the lounge, there are always classrooms open. Your JACard accesses a lot of them.
  • Just about all the computers on the floor are hooked up to the S: drive, and a lot of them have helpful programs that you can use.
  • You don’t always need to wait until office hours to ask a professor a question; they are all really nice and willing to help. Just drop in if the door is open. Due to the new engineering major, classes are going to be a lot larger than normal. So, this year it’s extra important to make sure you build a rapport your professors. All the professors teaching 240 this semester are really nice and they are always willing to help.
  • Getting a professor’s help is the easiest way to get a better grade. A lot of people pay good money for one-on-one help for physics from students, by talking to your professor you get it for free from someone with a doctorate.
  • Don’t wait until you are completely lost to ask questions. If you wait till a week before the final to ask for help, you’re sunk.
  • Ask questions in class! Chances are, if you are lost and confused in a class of 90, there are others lost with you.
  • Do the homework. Tests reflect homework problems. If you understand the homework, you’ll be fine on all the tests.

That’s about all, if you have anymore advice (or questions), feel free to post a comment. Good luck and have fun!

1 comment:

Steve Whisnant said...

This is all very good advice. The critical parts are to find study partners and talk with faculty early and often. The departmental resources (students, faculty, classrooms and computers) are all here for you. Use them!