Strategies to Fulfill Challenging College Requirements

Sometimes, there are several sections of the same required class (e.g., Introduction to Statistics). Do some research to find the best option for you. In his book, Winning at Math, expert Paul Nolting suggests getting copies of the syllabi from different sections of the same math class and speaking to professors who teach them so that you can get a sense of what skills and topics they emphasize and which section will be the best fit for you.

You can also use sites where students rate their professors, but be careful about what you take away from them. Focus on what the comments say about professors’ teaching style, and bear in mind that some students will criticize professors if they didn’t get the grade they wanted. Try to focus your research on questions such as whether your grade will be based mostly on exams or papers. You can also try asking your academic advisor whether she or he has gotten any feedback from other students regarding professors’ teaching styles.

Inquire whether your college will grant you degree credit if you take a required course at the local community college, and whether you need to have this approved in advance. Many students like this option because they find that the teaching style and pace at a community college suit them better. If your college approves this, make sure you get the appropriate person or people (maybe your advisor and/or someone at the registrar’s office) to put it in writing or an email that the specific class you plan to take will be accepted for credit toward your degree and what degree requirements it will cover. (Save this letter or message until you receive your degree – just in case.)

One way to cope with a tough class without getting too stressed is to take it pass/fail; ask your advisor who you should talk to about this. Make sure that if you do this, the class will still count toward your degree requirements. Again, it’s a good idea to get someone to confirm this in writing.

One way to tackle a challenging course is to take it during a summer or winter break when you aren’t taking any other classes. Doing this offers the benefit of only having one class on which you have to focus and work. And since these classes tend to meet more frequently than they might during the regular term, you may benefit being immersed in the subject you’re studying. Also, if the class is in a subject you dislike, you won’t have to be focused on it for that long.

Keep in mind, though, that the pace of these shortened terms can be a problem for some students. Often, professors are trying to cover the same amount of content that they typically cover over several more weeks. Also, if you miss class even once, you may find yourself very far behind. And classes tend to run all day, which may be a challenge to your attention span.

If fast-paced classes aren’t a good match for you, you may be better off taking challenging classes during the regular term. Try to do this in a semester when you’re taking a lighter courseload or taking some classes that play to your strengths, so you’ll have more time and energy to devote to your challenging class.

I have seen students take all of the required classes they find challenging in one semester, under the theory that they will just “get it over with.” It doesn’t usually end well. These students tend to get overwhelmed, and the resulting anxiety can make it even harder for them to complete their work; some end up taking an Incomplete. At the start of freshman year (or as soon as you read this), work with your advisor to make a list of required courses and then plan to spread them out over a few semesters.

In planning out when you’ll take classes in an area that challenges you, consider Nolting’s advice about taking math courses back-to back without a break (i.e., without a semester or year off in-between) if the subject is one where knowledge builds over time. Nolting notes that in a subject like math, part of the way to be successful is to keep the information you in your head. Taking classes two semesters in a row will help to prevent you from forgetting what you learned in the first math class when you take the second one. The same idea applies to foreign language, too.

As soon as freshman year, it’s a good idea to plan out when you’ll take your required classes. Ask your advisor to help you map this out.

Aside from the strategies offered here, the most effective way to be successful in challenging classes is to keep up with readings and assignments on a weekly basis (so that you don’t get lost while the class moves on), and seek help whenever necessary. Bring questions to professors’ and TAs’ office hours, go to the tutoring center or math help room, and ask classmates to form a study group. To help yourself stay on track, try creating a study schedule to make sure you keep up with assignments weekly. The most proactive you are, the more likely it is that you’ll be successful.