Physics Student Struggling in Canada: Ideas? Advice?

[Salviati]

Well -- not good.

Hear me out: Studying physics in Canada, in my second year, almost finished the semester, and my marks are ****. I've hovered around class average (a range from D to C+) in most of my classes since year one and I don't feel like I can improve - rather it seems like the subjects are becoming more and more difficult and my marks are progressively getting lower and lower as a result. So the thing they (people) told me about school getting easier after first year turned out to be horse manure in my case, unfortunately. I was hoping to have a high enough mark by the end of school so as to at least keep the option of a master's degree open. I'm losing motivation to study, and fast, since it seems like no matter how much I study, I get rewarded with C's or D's on tests. That's basically it. Thanks for reading my little story. Ideas? Advice?

 

[Choppy]

I'm not sure who "they" are, but whoever told you things got easier after first year failed to recognize a distinct pattern of school getting progressively more challenging with each year of advancement right from kindergarten all the way up the senior high school. It could be argued perhaps that in second year you've adapted to university life more, you've got the hardcore partying out of your system, and maybe you've lightened your course load and limited your extra-cirricular activities - but the key word here is "adapted."

It's not uncommon to run into the wall in first or second year university. Lots of people hit it because high school wasn't that much of a challenge - you could coast by with minimal effort. But in university you really need to hit the books hard and eficiently.

At this point it sounds like you really need to take a hard look at you chosen field. Do you really want to pursue it? And you also have to have an honest conversation with yourself and decide if you feel you're capable of being successfully pursuing it. If so, then you need to take a hard look at your study habits and figure out how to improve them.

 

[Mene]

First of all, I want to say that I understand your frustration and disappointment in your academic performance. It can be incredibly disheartening when you put in a lot of effort and don't see the results you were hoping for. However, I want to encourage you to not give up and to keep pushing forward.

One piece of advice I have is to seek help from your professors and teaching assistants. They are there to support and guide you, so don't be afraid to ask for clarification or additional resources to help you better understand the material. Additionally, consider joining a study group or finding a tutor who can provide you with personalized help and support.

It's also important to assess your study habits and make sure you are using effective techniques. This could include breaking down material into smaller chunks, practicing problems regularly, and seeking out additional resources such as textbooks or online tutorials.

Furthermore, don't be afraid to reach out to your classmates and form study groups. Collaborating with others can help you gain new perspectives and approaches to the material.

Lastly, it's important to remember that grades are not everything. While they are important, they do not define your worth or potential as a scientist. Keep your passion for physics alive and keep working hard, and I have no doubt that you will see improvement in your academic performance. Don't give up and keep pushing forward. Best of luck to you.