Comments on: How to Save a Disasterous Semester http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/ Decoding Patterns of Success Tue, 22 May 2012 11:52:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Toni http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8228 Toni Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:23:50 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8228 6 units is considered part time status. I'm in a distance ed program, so I don't have to attend on campus classes. 6 units is considered part time status. I’m in a distance ed program, so I don’t have to attend on campus classes.

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8211 Study Hacks Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:37:02 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8211 <blockquote>’m a fairly new grad student (2nd semester), co-habitating with half a mortgage, work a full time job and trying to keep up with my 6 units.</blockquote> Is 6 units a full course load? If so, we should start with a reality check: is it practical to imagine you can balance a full-time job and a full course load?

’m a fairly new grad student (2nd semester), co-habitating with half a mortgage, work a full time job and trying to keep up with my 6 units.

Is 6 units a full course load? If so, we should start with a reality check: is it practical to imagine you can balance a full-time job and a full course load?

]]> By: Toni http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8210 Toni Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:46:09 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8210 Hello, Been enjoying your blog and your book How to Become a Straight A Student! However my situation is a little different so sometimes I have difficulty trying to adapt your advice to my particular lifestyle. I'm a fairly new grad student (2nd semester), co-habitating with half a mortgage, work a full time job and trying to keep up with my 6 units. And I'm way past my twenties, so staying up late isn't an option for me. In short, I'm a full grown adult with adult responsibilities. Any way to tweak your system? Thanks for all the great posts - Toni Hello,
Been enjoying your blog and your book How to Become a Straight A Student! However my situation is a little different so sometimes I have difficulty trying to adapt your advice to my particular lifestyle. I’m a fairly new grad student (2nd semester), co-habitating with half a mortgage, work a full time job and trying to keep up with my 6 units. And I’m way past my twenties, so staying up late isn’t an option for me. In short, I’m a full grown adult with adult responsibilities.

Any way to tweak your system?

Thanks for all the great posts – Toni

]]> By: DutchSchoolKid http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8141 DutchSchoolKid Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:53:16 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8141 I think it is really important to see study as a skill. When you have accepted that, you can allow yourself to train that skill, and become better in it. And when I compare studying with skills/sports I get really motivated. <em>'I have to train math'</em> it just works for me. I think it is really important to see study as a skill. When you have accepted that, you can allow yourself to train that skill, and become better in it.
And when I compare studying with skills/sports I get really motivated. ‘I have to train math’ it just works for me.

]]> By: Siva http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8138 Siva Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:03:33 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8138 Hey Cal! Haz.. Been lurking without commenting for too long :D. I think that the quarantine method is absolutely brilliant. And if your quiet spots become too crowded or noisy nearer the exams, find new places or bring along ear plugs :D (yes, i have seen people do that). Q and A methods are great too :}!! Hey Cal! Haz.. Been lurking without commenting for too long :D . I think that the quarantine method is absolutely brilliant. And if your quiet spots become too crowded or noisy nearer the exams, find new places or bring along ear plugs :D (yes, i have seen people do that). Q and A methods are great too :}!!

]]> By: Bill http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8134 Bill Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:53:34 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8134 Pseudowork tip is great. I killed myself several semesters by larding my schedule up with fake work that I told myself was helping me academically, when it really just was an avoidance strategy. P.S. Sorry to be pedantic, but it's "disastrous." Though disasterous sounds like an awesome webapp (posterous for people in crisis). Pseudowork tip is great. I killed myself several semesters by larding my schedule up with fake work that I told myself was helping me academically, when it really just was an avoidance strategy.

P.S. Sorry to be pedantic, but it’s “disastrous.” Though disasterous sounds like an awesome webapp (posterous for people in crisis).

]]> By: Sara http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8131 Sara Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:52:41 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8131 Aas kind of a regular I really appreciate your hacks and tips, but there's something missing (at least for me): how to integrate a part-time job into a student's schedule. I rely heavily on a job to pay for my bills and although I play around with different methods it would be nice to hear how others cope with the same things. Aas kind of a regular I really appreciate your hacks and tips, but there’s something missing (at least for me): how to integrate a part-time job into a student’s schedule. I rely heavily on a job to pay for my bills and although I play around with different methods it would be nice to hear how others cope with the same things.

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8129 Study Hacks Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:52:40 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8129 <blockquote>After “post-mortems”, I often went back to ask about questions or papers I honestly don’t know how I got wrong (don’t go back as the whiny student that’s just mad about their grades).</blockquote> Good point. I think you nailed it with your warning about not being a whiny student. They key to professor chatting, as you note, is coming armed with specific, knowledge-seeking questions.

After “post-mortems”, I often went back to ask about questions or papers I honestly don’t know how I got wrong (don’t go back as the whiny student that’s just mad about their grades).

Good point. I think you nailed it with your warning about not being a whiny student. They key to professor chatting, as you note, is coming armed with specific, knowledge-seeking questions.

]]> By: Mary http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8122 Mary Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:33:41 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8122 This comes at a great time. I have been having the worst semester, and really need to buckle down. Thanks for the advice. This comes at a great time. I have been having the worst semester, and really need to buckle down. Thanks for the advice.

]]> By: ZCL Featured Posts: 2.25.09 | Zen College Life http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8121 ZCL Featured Posts: 2.25.09 | Zen College Life Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:23:22 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/02/25/how-to-save-a-disasterous-semester/#comment-8121 [...] Study Hacks: How to Save a Disasterous Semester [...]

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