To me, the greatest divide here at Williams is not between the athletes and the nonners, but between the Div 3s and everyone else. The mere mention of a p-set or exam is enough to strike fear into the hearts of many of those who never venture near the science quad, but we must all take at least those three classes at some point. As a Div 2 student taking my Div 3 classes, here are my five best tips on how to survive and thrive once you cross Route 2.
-
Do your p-sets early (NOT the night before they are due)
Whether you take math or science, there is likely some form of p-set in your future. While it is very tempting to hold off on completing these assignments until the night before they are due, this can only lead to heartache. This method was the primary cause of my downfall in Math 151, and lead to many miserable Thursday nights. Even if you only do a problem or two a day, this makes the entire set much more manageable and gives you time to seek help if you need it.
-
Go to office hours, for your prof or TAs
While this can seem intimidating, there is actually always someone else with the same question. This isn’t just something they say to make us feel less lost. The prof is always your best bet, because often times they will end up telling you exactly what they expect, if they don’t just help you do it themselves. TA hours are also helpful, because even if they don’t have the answer, another student at the session probably will.
-
Make a friend in the major
If you already have a friend in the class who is a major (or just really good) in that field, USE THEM. Of course, this is not to say that you should bother them all the time or copy off of them, but it can really help to go to someone that you feel comfortable with when you just can’t grasp a certain concept. Talking it out with a peer can make things much clearer than a textbook ever could. If you don’t have a preexisting friend, make one! You don’t have to go to snar with them, but even just talking to them before or after class or at TA hours can give you the chance to ask any questions that you just can’t figure out.
-
Keep up with the readings if you have any
While this should be second nature to a Div 1 or 2, there is a huge difference between reading a historical primary source and reading a college chem or bio textbook. This being said, it is super important to not get behind on the readings for these classes, because they are dense and can be hard to understand. If you are being tested on things that the book says, but that aren’t explicitly taught in class, this is a great thing to go to your professor’s office hours about. Most of them will be more than glad to help explain a textbook concept to you, especially since it shows that you are actually doing the reading!