The Study Bootcamp helped my transition back to school. I didn’t feel as overwhelmed the first week, and I was able to study more during that first week than in the past. However, with just a two-week bootcamp, I didn’t get much ahead of schedule.
My Differential Equations class is faster paced than the online lectures I watched to prepare. I had the syllabus, but still I found the pace brisk. The bootcamp was especially helpful. I’m not ahead, but I feel confident that I will be able to keep up.
I am continuing my review of topics from Organic Chemistry I. The beginning topics overlap with ones I studied during bootcamp, namely substitution and elimination reactions. I am still preparing the study schedule that I will share online for this class, but it will include reading/reviewing articles from organic chemistry journals. I don’t expect to fully understand the articles that I read; but I find it’s good practice and it’s nice to feel the sense of understanding (or should I say recognition?) grow across the semester. Also, reading journals may lead to good questions to ask the professor. I haven’t met with my organic chemistry professor, yet. I plan to as he has additional notes and information for chemistry majors. The professor suggested three hours of study time for every one hour of lecture, so I will start my study minutes goal there.
I am a week ahead for my Mechanics class despite having spent a little less time on this class during the bootcamp. I believe that I can stay ahead.
Overall, the bootcamp helped me more than I expected. I was more relaxed during the first lectures, and it got me into the habit of putting in study time at home. I worried that I would feel class time was the equivalent of my bootcamp minutes, but the two were separate. When I got home from school, I still had a desire to get in my study minutes.
Check back next week for more updates on getting the magazine up and running.
