Individualized Study Form - North Carolina School Of Science And: Fill & Download for Free

There's so much advice to give. I'll try to be organized, but it will probably end up being some haphazard musings.First and Foremost: You Get Out What You Put InOr you reap what you sow, etc. I find that NCSSM is essentially giving you a unique opportunity to be placed in a college-like setting. The possibilities are endless! The classes and areas of interests that you can pursue, the vital connections that you can make through networking and shared experiences, the independence, it's all at your fingertips.This is the time to reach out and grasp the opportunity that is dangling above you. Take the classes that interest you the most, that will challenge you the most. Meet with and develop bonds with your teachers. Try your hand at research, or initiate/get plugged into something that moves you. Make friends with anyone and everyone who interests you, and put down that homework to spend time with them. Form these bonds with people who you otherwise would have never talked to/met, who will challenge you to grow and become a better person. You'll be a part of a cohort who will do and already are doing extraordinary things, it's magical, enjoy it.Find A BalanceWith so many avenues to explore at once, it is easy to focus too intently on one aspect of NCSSM life and neglect the others. There is more to life than studying and getting top marks. You don't have to sacrifice a social life to get good grades. But at the same time, $50,000+ has been invested in you by the state of North Carolina (and even more if the tuition grants really are coming back). With this, make sure you do take your classes seriously. There are hundreds of (just as capable) students across the state that would die to have the exposure to the courses and professors that you will have, and would undoubtedly utilize that chance to the fullest. Make sure you do the same.Don't be overwhelmed by the daunting reality of the school, of the challenges, and hard times. It takes true hardship to grow into a stronger, more versatile and impressive individual. Embrace the challenges; they will make you a better person. There is a quote that goes something along lines of: "Thank God for obstacles, it keeps out the people who did not want it enough." You will stumble academically/socially/emotionally/etc. while you're at NCSSM, but take it in stride, learn and grow, and keep on improving. If you really want it you'll keep working at it.Do and Pursue What You LoveMany people enter NCSSM with the perception that they need to make it to an Ivy League school, and their happiness/satisfaction with the experience is contingent upon the schools that accepted them and the scholarships they received. This is a questionable mindset that will likely leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth. For a decent number of students, they actually had a better chance of achieving those goals at their old school despite becoming better prepared for college since attending NCSSM.You'll find that the most successful and satisfied people usually look at every stage of their life with the following framework: "I just pursue my passions, I pursue what I love, and I put in the work and effort necessary to achieve it." Don't worry about what society/others deem is the "right path to follow." If you genuinely follow and realize your passions and dreams (despite reservations and fears), you'll never be disappointed.(Now that I am looking at your question, you might have been looking for a more focused, less general response)- Make friends with people your hall/sister hall/people from other halls- Go to Happy Half, and all major events and dances- Explore 9th Street and Durham- Try to take Dr. Teague and Dr. Miller (I found many more teachers to be great but they consistently come up as inspirational and great)Advice to ace your classes:1. Learn how to teach yourself through textbook reading.A lot of the teachers at Science and Math don't really do much teaching at all, but expect you to come to class already understanding the material through readings. Class time is more about exploration, investigation and application. Even though this is easy for some people, it was very difficult for me.2. Don't be afraid/ashamed/too proud to ask questions, and receive help from peers/teachers. (And go to tutorials)I know that many bright people hate looking/feeling stupid, which causes them to not ask for help when they need it. The teachers at NCSSM are generally very willing to help you if you just ask, even if they are intimidating. Teachers also recognize students who care about their grade, and that are actively trying to grasp the topics covered in class. This can often be the difference maker when you are teetering between a C+/B-, or a B+/A- in a class.Working with classmates is also a great help. It can make large assignments easier to tackle, and it is a great way to have fun while working. It is also a great way to meet/make friends who are very smart, and who care about their future. Everyone has an affinity for a particular subject, and an aversion to other subjects. Often times, geniuses/skilled students in a particular subject can be much better teachers than your actual teachers.Meet with your teachers regularly, and you will be rewarded.3. TIME MANAGEMENTThis could possibly be the most important one. For very active students who are very ambitious, it is hard to manage your three S's. (sleep, study, and socialize) And that doesn't even count extra-curriculars. This is such a vital tool that is often times overlooked. I cannot stress enough how important this is. It is also important to get ahead, because work tends to pile up.4. Actually do the homework/textbook readings with real intentAt Science and Math, and most universities, homework is assigned, but almost never collected. If you do not read the textbook readings, or complete homework assignments to actually grasp the topic at hand, you are bound to fall behind. This seems to be pretty intuitive, but with a lack of discipline, it is easy to be lazy and not do the required work, especially when it adds an extra couple of hours to your daily load.I would also suggest doing extra textbook problems on your own time in each of your textbooks. (If you can ever find time to)5. Learn to understand things conceptuallyThis is such a big thing. I would say that I could count on my fingers the number of tests/exams that had multiple choice questions on them. Departments at Science and Math want you to focus on the concepts behind different subjects, rather than simple methodical plug and chug stuff. This is an excellent way to learn, but it is so much harder to grasp.You can "think" you understand a certain topic, and then on the test, you have to use the topic you learned to extrapolate and make sense of an entirely different topic that you've never seen before. It means that you have to get the purpose behind the labs and investigations you do in class, and you have to do more than just memorize the equations that you have to use for the test.6. Pay attention in classAnother obvious one. But when you can use your laptop to take notes, and Facebook is just one click away, it is easy to get distracted and miss something important.7. Know how to adaptIf you are struggling in a class. Find out what you are doing wrong, and improve. Figure out what type of teacher you have. Figure out what kinds of questions they like to ask on tests. Look to the successful people in your classes and on your hall. They often times have great tips.I could go on forever and ever and ever, but these are definitely the biggest ones. These can apply to any school, but it applies even more for residential schools and colleges, because you live on campus, and teacher accessibility is a lot easier.I'm so excited for you. My time at NCSSM was two of the happiest years of my life and was a springboard for everything that I do today.Let me know if you ever have questions about anything.