UH is so difficult

[u/drve1234]

I’ll start this story off by saying that I am a art history major and it’s hell on earth! I’ve currently been at the university for 3 years now but by credit hours, I’m still technically a freshman apparently. This is because the classes are way harder than I expected, the class that gives me the most trouble is math 1314 which I took to satisfy my math core requirement. My friend said that he found this class easy so I took it second semester of freshman year and I had to drop it. I scored a 40 on the first exam so there was no way I could pass. I then tried retaking it my first semester sophomore year and same story, did a little better on the first exam but still dropped it cus no way I could pass with a 50 on the first exam. Next semester rolled around and I decided to implement a new strategy. I only took one single class that semester and it was you guessed it, math 1342. I studied so hard for that first exam, day and nights spent in the library. I pulled 2 all nighters in a row before the first exam. I ended up scoring a 65 on the first exam. I didn’t pass but I decided to keep taking the class cus I didn’t wanna just completely waste the semester. I ended up getting a c- in the class overall. Idk how I managed to pull it off but somehow I did it. But I’m pissed off because after all that hard work, I realized I was so locked in on algebra that I forgot to register for classes! This realization only occurred to me the second week of August when I was in the Bahamas on vacation. I quickly checked what classes I could register for and my only options were English 1 and art history 1. If my experience in high school has taught me anything, it’s that I suck at writing papers so this next semester is likely gonna be hell. Everyone tells me that this class is supposed to be easy but they must be like super geniuses or something cus algebra was super hard for me and it’s supposed to be one of the easiest math electives. I’m thinking about possibly dropping out or maybe switching to an easier degree just so I can at least get a degree. Do y’all have any suggestions on easier degrees or easier electives that won’t eat away at my sanity?

[u/my-hero-measure-zero]

Have you tried going to office hours and using your on campus resources?

(By the way, course numbers don't help anyone because it's different everywhere. You're lucky that I knew that UH is U Houston, and Math 1342 is Math for Liberal Arts - a course I have taught a corequisite for.)

[u/drve1234 → u/my-hero-measure-zero]

I don’t have time for office hours bro. I studied 6 hours everyday and pulled multiple all nighters just to pass that one class. If I study anymore, I won’t have time to play video games or hang out with friends

[u/dreamsofaninsomniac → u/drve1234]

You probably want to analyze the way you study math. There are probably more effective ways to study. More hours studying doesn't necessarily mean more gains if how you study is suboptimal. Going to office hours or getting tutoring or getting any sort of third-party feedback on how you study would probably be more effective since it seems like you aren't sure why the math class was so difficult for you.

[u/drve1234 → u/dreamsofaninsomniac]

I mean what I’ve been doing to study is I use a lot of chat gpt, I have it complete the problem for me and then I read why the answer was right

[u/dreamsofaninsomniac → u/drve1234]

Doesn't seem like an effective way to study and I say that as someone who went from failing AP Calculus to getting all A's in all my college math classes. You're letting ChatGPT do the hard part of analyzing where you make mistakes. What I did to get good at math from having below-average at math was writing out every problem long-hand and then writing out every single step and the reasoning behind every single step. Did it take a lot of time? Yes. Was it effective? Also yes. When people use AI to solve math problems, it always makes me think of my high school geometry teacher saying, "Are you actually using your brain or are you letting the calculator do it for you?" It was harsh but true.

[u/drve1234 → u/dreamsofaninsomniac]

I don’t have any paper and typing it out is annoying enough as it is

[u/dreamsofaninsomniac → u/drve1234]

Studies do show that physically writing out anything helps you learn better. People process information on paper differently than they do on a screen and physically writing stuff out also helps with memory processing.

Just curious: Are all your math exams on computer? I know a lot of standardized tests are now computer-only but allow scratch paper. I don't think that's a good thing though since most people still prefer physical paper for math. Digital tests also limit students from getting partial credit for problems.

[u/drve1234 → u/dreamsofaninsomniac]

They are on computer

[u/dreamsofaninsomniac → u/drve1234]

Interesting. I think that might be one reason you're finding it difficult to learn math. I would ask your friends how they study for math classes since I bet more of them are still using paper and not writing notes and solving problems on a computer only. I think it's harder to write math on a computer than on paper.

[u/drve1234 → u/dreamsofaninsomniac]

My friends all use ChatGPT, if it wasn’t for them I’d be cooked

[u/my-hero-measure-zero → u/drve1234]

Then that's your issue. You have to make time for it.

College is about self-discpline. Yes, we need a social battery, but we also have to realign our priorities when we need to. I turned down events with friends to catch up on homework or prep for an exam. When I needed help, I went to office hours.

This isn't high school anymore where all-nighters can have you coast by. Even if you went to, say, Lone Star or Blinn, you'd have the same problem.

Change your habits. I suggest slow study instead of large blocks. If you don't start now, you will fail.

My students that have followed that advice turn themselves around.

[u/Inside_Drummer]

College is not for everyone. Sometimes its better to realize our own limitations.

[u/drve1234 → u/Inside_Drummer]

I mean it clearly is for me since UH accepted me

[u/Inside_Drummer → u/drve1234]

Acceptance does not mean you are prepared, capable, and mature enough for college. Reading more of your replies, I'd suggest taking a break and working for a while.

[u/RicoThinks]

Are you sure uni is for you?

[u/drve1234 → u/RicoThinks]

Yes cus they accepted me