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Month: November 2020

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This part focuses on struggles pertaining to academics and your future career.

Q: I knew classes at Dartmouth would be challenging, but I didn’t realize how hard they would be until I got here! I’m struggling to keep up. What should I do? 

A: You should make an appointment with an Academic Coach at the Academic Skills Center! Visit the ASC website for more information. They’ll help you figure out the study strategies that will best help you adjust to the rigor of college academics. You should also go to your professors’ and TAs’ office hours with prepared questions. Plan ahead for the winter, and consider joining a Tutoring Group at the beginning of the term!  

 

Q: I feel that I’m constantly behind while everyone else has their stuff together. Is this normal? 

A: Yes, this is normal! Many students at Dartmouth experience Imposter Syndrome, which is the idea that you aren’t good enough or don’t belong here because it seems like everyone else is on a level that you feel you can’t reach. Many students also experience Floating Duck Syndrome: when you wear a cool, collected exterior, but under the surface, you’re frantically paddling to keep yourself from sinking. If you’re here, it’s because you belong here (everyone else is not as put-together as you think). If you want help sorting through the reasons you’re struggling and finding healthy coping strategies, you should book an appointment with the Wellness Center professionals.


Q: I feel like I’ll be behind my peers if I don’t do an internship during winterim or my freshman summer. What should I do? 

A: You’re still a first year student! You have plenty of time to pad your resume. I recommend enjoying your youth while you can, but if you’re really worried about it, please make an appointment with the Center for Professional Development by clicking “Dartboard Student Login” and clicking “Coaching Appointments” on the left side of the screen. 

 

Q: My professor seems to think that the 24 hours in my day are only for their class. What should I do?

A: If your professor is assigning 2000 pages of reading, and 27 lectures in a week, you should make an appointment with an Academic Coach. They’ll help you with reading strategies, time management, and figuring out what material is necessary. 

 

Q: What can I do when I’m so lost that I don’t know what questions to ask?

A: Check that you did the correct reading for the class period, review the professor’s notes to figure out where you are, ask a friend, or talk to your professor to clarify. If you’re lost because you’ve fallen behind on your work, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: make an appointment with an Academic Coach at the Academic Skills Center!

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The Course’s Weekly Structure

  • 3-6 recorded lectures
  • 0-1 podcasts
  • A lot of readings 
  • 1 discussion board
  • 1 500-1000 word essay 

I attempted to tackle this course a few different ways.

Approach 1

I watched all of the videos, did all of the readings more or less start-to-finish, then I did the assignments. This worked when there were only 3 recorded lectures, but in the next few weeks, it became unfeasible.

Approach 2

I watched all of the videos on 1.5x speed, took notes on them as if they were all equally important, and I skimmed the readings. Still super time-consuming. 

Approach 3

After a few weeks, I realized that only two or three of the videos and readings were relevant to each assignment. So, I used the assignments to figure out what my professor wanted me to take away from the module, and I approached the module in a 5-step process.

  1. Skim the assignments for the week (with the goal of understanding what your professor wants you to take away from this week’s material). 
  2. Watch every recorded lecture on your preferred speed, paying more attention to ones relevant to the assignment and taking notes. 
  3. Skim the introductions, conclusions, and headings of each reading to see if they are necessary for the assignments.
  4. Open relevant readings in Adobe Acrobat and take notes on them, spending more time on sections that will help with the assignments
  5. Do the assignments.

This was my favorite approach because it wasn’t time-consuming and I was able to gain a decent understanding of the material. However, for courses in a similar format, you probably don’t need to do even that much work to be successful in the class... On super busy weeks, I could have only watched two recorded lectures, done zero readings, and still completed the assignment, receiving the same grade I would have if I had used the approach outlined above. 

The main takeaway? Learn with a goal in mind. If you don't have one of your own, figure out what your professor's learning goal for you is and remember it while you're watching lectures and doing readings.