Feeling Stuck in My 3rd Year – Any Tips?
I’m in my second quarter as a third-year computer science major, and I can’t shake the feeling that I haven’t gained any real skills. Although my GPA is solid at 3.7 and I usually grasp the class material well, I find that once a quarter ends, I forget most of what I learned. When I try to apply that knowledge later on, it feels completely brand new, and I struggle to recall how to do things.
I’ve relied on ChatGPT more than I should have for certain classes, which hasn’t helped my retention. Has anyone else experienced this and successfully turned things around? I’m looking for strategies or insights into why I might be forgetting information so quickly and how I can learn in a way that stays with me. I appreciate any advice!
TL;DR: I keep forgetting course material just weeks after classes finish, making it feel like I never learned it. I need tips on effective learning strategies to improve retention.
It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about your learning progress, especially in a demanding field like computer science. Here are some strategies to help solidify your understanding and skills:
Active Learning Techniques: Instead of passively consuming information, engage with it actively. Try explaining concepts in your own words, teaching a peer, or creating mind maps. Teaching forces you to clarify your understanding.
Practice, Practice, Practice: The best way to retain knowledge in computer science is through practical application. Work on personal projects, contribute to open source, or solve problems on coding platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Building real projects can help reinforce what you’ve learned.
Revisit Your Notes and Content: Review your notes from previous classes periodically. Set aside a little time each week to go over what you’ve learned. Spaced repetition can significantly aid memory retention.
Utilize Online Resources: Sometimes a different explanation can make things click. Websites like Coursera, edX, and YouTube have many resources and tutorials that might present the material in a new way.
Join Study Groups: Collaborate with peers to study and work through challenging concepts together. Discussing topics with others often helps reinforce your learning and allows you to gain new perspectives.
Set Learning Goals: Break your learning into manageable goals. Instead of trying to understand everything, focus on small topics or concepts and build from there.
Reflect on Your Learning Process: After completing a course or project, take some time to reflect on what you learned. Write it down, think about how it connects to other concepts, and explore where you might apply it next.
Limit Dependency on Tools: While tools like ChatGPT can be helpful, try to limit their use to not become reliant on them. Challenge yourself to solve problems on your own first, and then use tools as a supplement.
Consider Internships or Co-ops: Real-world experience can drastically improve your skills and understanding. It also reinforces what you learn in your classes.
Stay Positive and Patient: Learning is a process, and it’s okay to feel like you’re not retaining everything immediately. Celebrate the progress you do make and stay persistent.
Many students experience similar feelings at some point in their studies. The important part is to tweak your study habits and find what works best for you. It’s never too late to turn things around!