[transience.]

Hi, I'm a college freshman and I was wondering, how can I be a better science student? I'm sure (for now, at least) that I want to go into a health-related field, and doing very well in your chemistry/biology/physics classes is obviously required for admission into medical/pharmacy school. So other than reading your textbook content material twice and going over your notes, does anyone have any tips?
I'm actually asking this because my chemistry teacher held a seminar on how to be a better science student last week, but I couldn't go
He was talking about how he regularly used to be a student who scored low in his science classes (he wasn't a slacker though), but he said that once he learned to better retain the material, he became a "genius," hahaha. That pretty much intrigued me.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[THEmerryJANE]

I tend to dissect the examples given to us in class. Memorize the information given, what type is given, and what is needed to solve it. That way, even if the situation or the numbers change, for the most part, I have some idea of how to start the problem. Once you start, the rest is easy.

But that only works for problem-oriented science classes like physics and sometimes chemistry.

Biology seems to be memorization of key concepts, no other way around it.

[5.mystline]

Seek out a tutor? I'm sure their are plenty of good ones out there.

[crescendoll]

for chemistry and physics, it's a matter of practice. i guess if you want to do really well, you'd have to do all the exercises corresponding with the lesson. if you know how to do them all, then you definitely have the concept down and can probably solve any other one.

biology is really just memorizing. words, ideas, graphs, etc. for that, i guess it's up to your own kind of style of studying. i personally write my own notes out, and then write index cards. :]

[PoooBear]

Hey! I'm in the same position as you! =D

For chem, I usually don't study very much because I'm in general right now and it's a review from what I learned in high school. (not trying to sound cocky! >_<)
I just know to memorize the formulas and how to solve the problems since chem is more about mathematical problems and that's usually where the points matter on the tests. Then I look in the textbook for questions/problems and figure out how I would solve it and how to start it.

For bio, it's all about memorization. @_@ but my teacher actually told us a plan schedule for how to study.
Which is basically studying the class material of the day's lecture and the lecture before that, so when you get into lecture the next time you already know the material pretty well, and you just have to add on an so forth for the next night. So when it comes to test time, you've already gone over the material at least 5-6 times. So that eliminates last minute studying. It's worked pretty well for me so far. at least for bio.

But yeah, tutors can help, I dunno about your school but we have free tutors at my school so that's always handy. :]
and flash cards, but those never help me, because I just end up getting tired of writing them down... >.> hahaha.

Good luck :]

[7:45am]

^ What innisfree said, it's all about practice! In grade 11, I could only get a B, but in grade 12 I got my mark up to an A. It may be obvious, but I didn't do this in grade 11, when you get notes or problems in class, try to really understand it (don't just memorise the stuff teachers give you).. go a step further and try to make conclusions about it. By doing this you'll eventually understand the concept which will allow you to do better on the Reasoning part of exams. Also, it also helps to have an interest in the subject; if you don't, studying may become a chore.

Lastly, if you don't understand/know something, go ask the teacher! It's their job to help you!

[transience.]

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

[mp.ARK]

I recommend reading this:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Straight-...l/dp/0767922719

Very good book and taught me some things that changed the way I study.