The Top Ten Methods for
Doing Well in 251
Doing Well in 251
10. Make sure you lead your recitation group some of the time. DON"T be the "calculator guy."
9. Work in 1-2 hour shifts once or twice per day. NO CRAMMING! Your weekly total should be at least 8 hours
8. Always work with the variable names. DO NOT put in numbers for variables, constants, etc. until the last line of your solution.
7. Learn to check your answers. The crucial methods are to make sure the
units are correct, and to check "limiting cases."
6. Form study groups. The quickest way to learn is to discuss new material
with others, and the surest test of understanding is your ability to explain
to others.
5. Work to understand the subject. Getting an answer (even a correct one)
isn't the end of your job. Try to figure out why your method worked and
what other problems that method would be good for.
4. Always stay at least one week ahead in reading the text. If possible,
get one class ahead in the homework.
3. Come to all of the lectures and recitations. Even on a bad professor
will usually say something important.
2. Ask questions: Come to visit faculty if you are confused, ask questions if you don't understand something in lecture, and make sure that your fellow students explain their methods to you in recitation (see #6).
...and the Number One method for doing well in 251...