I have always been the type of student inclined to make things difficult for myself. Many subjects in school did not “come naturally” to me, but I was intent on signing up for a broad range of classes and achieving top grades in each one. When my middle school teacher suggested I was finding my advanced math coursework more difficult than in previous years, I doubled down on my studying, determined to not only stay in the class but to be among the highest-scoring students. When choosing which courses to take at a “higher level” in my high school IB program, I selected Biology, Literature, and of course the most difficult of all: higher-level Math. These were all classes I knew I’d struggle with, however I wanted to prove to colleges and myself that I could succeed no matter the discipline.
In my senior year at Yale, I decided to take two rigorous classes in departments entirely unfamiliar to me. Getting A’s in both turned out to be no small feat. And I can hardly forget the disastrous first Ethics paper I submitted in college — it is not much of an exaggeration to say it took blood, sweat, and tears to make a full recovery in that course. In retrospect, these experiences, despite inauspicious beginnings, represent some of the proudest accomplishments of my academic career. Today I am still in the process of proving to myself and others that I can master subjects unfamiliar to me — I likely will never give it up.
Whether you end up in a class you are struggling in by choice, by accident, or by a regrettable stroke of curricular fate, here are some tips on how to still end up with a great final grade.
1. Over-communicate
Unfortunately, it’s time to be the annoying person in class who never misses an opportunity to ask a clarifying question, especially in a lecture-style setting. Okay, it is possible to overdo it, but you want to be asking many more questions in class than you typically would. Put every office hours into your calendar and force yourself to attend. Send emails to your professor, your teaching assistant, and your student peer tutor inquiring about assignment guidelines, confusing topics, and the grading scheme. If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with a subject, teaching staff may explain things in a way that is not intuitive to you. It is important you get them to explain and re-explain, so you can eventually revise on your own. Stressing alone in your room because you do not understand something will make the class even more daunting. Instead, keep track of everything you need to ask about and make a plan to get help. Remember that the more questions you ask, the more insight you will get into assignments and exams that other students might miss. Try to view these extra measures as requirements of the course for you to meet your goal.
2. Give yourself extra time
You may be able to get a great grade on a last-minute paper in your other subjects but do not expect that to be the case with a class outside your comfort zone. Start planning your papers as soon as you get the assignment. Give yourself enough time to make several rounds of edits and get advice from multiple proofreaders when possible. Revise all content you will be tested on each week, so you don’t have to teach yourself everything at the last minute. Make yourself a special study schedule just for this course to keep track of the extra studying and revising you’ll do. The more you minimize undue stress in these ways, the more capacity you’ll have to manage all the demands of a challenging course.
3. Find the part of the subject you enjoy
It’s not fun to feel like you’re struggling in a class — especially if you’re putting pressure on yourself to get top marks. These steps for meeting your goal may not sound very enjoyable thus far, but it is incredibly gratifying to be able to master a class outside of your area of expertise. In addition, there is likely an aspect of the discipline you can connect with. Be intentional with your chosen topic for written assignments by truly looking for something you’ll be motivated to write and research about. If you don’t have much choice in that regard, find interesting and entertaining ways of revising. Play games to reward yourself after you get a certain number of questions correct in a row. Watch videos and listen to podcasts about the subject. Study in different settings where you can be comfortable but focused. Make fun notes and study guides. You’re going to dedicate much more time to this class than you’re used to, so make sure it’s not entirely a slog. Trust that you’ll be successful no matter how the first assignment or two might have gone, try to push aside the anxiety you may be associating with the course, and take the time to find moments of enjoyment. If all else fails, press play on your most amped-up playlist and go full steam ahead.
Know that anyone who has stuck around long enough to be very successful in academia has failed at something. If you’re able to conjure up a little extra dedication and willpower to get through, you’ll likely end up surprising even yourself with how well you do.
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