Surviving a Quarter Schedule!? Help!

[bigdreams01]

Hello everyone,

I attend a nursing school that follows the quarter schedule. This means that our academic school year is divided into four parts unlike the semester system which is divided into two. Our "syllabus week", midterms, and finals all occur in just 10 weeks. Even though I'm currently a freshman, I've already received 32 credits and I'm currently working on 17 credits now. By June, I will have 49 credits under my belt!

As you can imagine, everything is fast paced here and it's kind of annoying. I went to a high school with lots of grade inflation, so I looked really good on my college apps, but I lack the proper study skills most students here have.

Since my high school was so easy, I aced 5 AP classes, held leadership positions in clubs all while having tons of time to goof off. It kind of backfired on me now because I feel swamped and lost.

I'm getting A's in my 3 credit courses, but I struggle with the 5 credit ones. I end up with B's and B+ grades in my 5 credit courses.

Any tips on dealing with a quarter schedule? Any advice is appreciated!

Thank you!

[amoLucia]

If you're working, might you cut back your hours? Can you seek tutoring? Cut back some hours of class to carry a lighter load? Join a study group for those 5 credit courses? Are there social activities that are taking up some time that you might have to eliminate? Can you bribe a kid brother to take over some household chores for you (being silly with this one)? Have you talked with your instructors?

I know I'm prob NOT telling you anything new.

There could prob have been no way to have known in advance that the intense curriculum might prove too ambitious for you. I have heard of 'study tutors'. The only thing I can see is to eliminate something somewhere - either school or personal lifestyle, to free up study time. If you're really seeing your grades as too low, the only other option is to extend your program.

Good luck.