Summer Session

Summer school is starting for many high school and college students, so let’s go over a few tips for getting the most out of your summer calculus experience. Starting out on the right foot is important!

• Read the syllabus. There’s probably important information on it. What will you expected to do to pass the class? How will your grade be calculated? When are the exams? When is homework due? Are there quizzes? Make sure you don’t schedule a vacation the same time as the final exam. Make sure you know the teacher’s email address and office location. If you have questions about anything, ask.
• Meet a few of your classmates. Find out their names, what they’re studying, and where they’re from. Later, you can copy their notes if you miss class. You might ask them for help on tough homework problems. You might even make a friend. Knowing even one or two people in your class will give you a huge advantage over people who don’t know anybody.
• Get a head start on your studying. Getting behind is one of the leading causes of bad grades, so stay ahead. The material in calculus is like a skyscraper — topics build on each other, and if you don’t understand the material this week, you certainly won’t understand the material next week. Remember: the beginning of a class always seems a bit slow, and the end seems fast. If you can stay ahead for as long as possible, you’ll have more time to deal with the tough stuff.

Best wishes for a great summer semester!