For the past weeks since the beginning of the semester, us freshmen have had the experience of general education classes. For many of us, gen ed classes are dreadful and we can’t wait to get them over with. No matter your opinion on them, they’re inevitable during the college experience. Besides complaining about them, there are some things that can be done to make tough gen eds easier to get through.
Believe it or not, going to class makes a difference! Even if your professor doesn’t take attendance and all of the lecture notes are online, nothing can replace the classroom experience. Even if you sit in the back and spend most of the class time on Stumble Upon or Tumblr, you’ll still pick up and retain more information than if you spent that class time in your dorm.
It’s incredibly tempting to just sit in the back of the lecture hall watch Glee every class period. While Glee (or your show of choice) is obviously important, motivate yourself to move closer towards the front of the class. Studies have shown that students who sit in the first 1/3 of seats in a lecture hall will do better in that class. Even better, if you can help it, don’t bring your computer with you to class. This way, you’ll be forced to at least try to pay attention to what the professor is saying.
Two words: Office Hours. Yes, it can be incredibly daunting going to see the professor of your 800-person philosophy class because he or she has no clue who you are, but it’s always totally worth it. If your professor gets to know who you are, they’ll be more inclined to help you out with things you don’t understand. If you have a class during their office hours, most professors are more than willing to make appointments to help students.
Two more words: Study Groups. In most gen ed classes, there will always be one student who puts together a class-wide study group that meets weekly or bi-weekly. Take advantage of these! They’re free, short, informative, and if you’re a person who tends to not pay attention (or go to class, for that matter), these groups can save you come exam day. The same holds true for study sessions put on by your professor or TA. If you go to those regularly, you can bet you’ll be acing the class without a problem.
Lastly, choose classes that interest or intrigue you. One of the best things about being at the U of A is that the class options are truly endless! Always wanted to know about the history of the French-speaking world? There’s a class for that. Perhaps you’re interested in Erotica in the Middle Ages? Don’t worry, the U of A has you covered. If you choose gen ed courses that are relevant to your interests, you’ll be that much more inclined and motivated to work hard and do well in them. Keep studying!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Arizona chapter.