If you are failing courses, then I'd be worried. If you're not, then I would focus on finding some extra help. Perhaps getting some peer tutoring offered by your university or studying/going over work with your friends. I find that most of my difficulties in understanding can be helped by talking to someone else, whether it be a friend or a tutor. I am sure you have critical thinking skills – you might just need to practice them more. And I do think working with friends and tutors can really help that. Good luck!

Sonia.

1) I think you can only do that by reading/learning more, but also by thinking about what you read. Ask questions about what you're reading, and try and answer them. And if you can't figure out the answer, research it.

2) Anything – join clubs, sports, music, etc. Just try to find things you are interested in and get involved. There's no magic formula.

3.) I've heard of it, and it's well-known. If you think it sounds cool, go for it!

1) I know I need to truly know science,but how can I do that and where should I start? How can I get a deeper knowledge of science?

2) I volunteer at the local hospital but what else can I do to better my application for university?

3) Have you heard of the Duke of Edinburgh's award? Is it worth while and recognized at all?

Thanks so much,

Sonia

I don't know much about the IB program to be honest, but I would assume that it's more challenging than normal high school programs, so if you're doing well there, you'll probably do well in university too.

Raghav: I got 85 on my first chemistry test if I remember right.

Quick question lol..do u remember what you got on ur first test in undergrad for chemistry??? Its random but did you get a low mark?

I was just wondering, does this blog entry (the jump from high school to university) apply to International Baccalaureate students? I'm not sure if you're familiar with this program, but I achieved a 7/7 in Standard Level Biology last year, and I am currently taking High Level Chemistry, English, and History, and Standard Level Math and French.

Since the IB program is so rigorous and is internationally-marked, have you seen a correlation between high achievement in this program and high achievement in university?

I'm really nervous about doing well in university next year (I'm applying to Health Sciences @ McMaster, Medical Sciences @ UWO and Life Sciences @ Queens).

And I definitely agree with you – expecting themselves to score lower could definitely contribute to them actually scoring lower.

With regards to the notorious "university grade drop", I'd like to add in the pyschological factor contributes to this "phenoma" as well. Some highschool students may already harbour the pre-conceived notion of the grade drop, I think these students subconciously lower their own personal expectations, and become more easily statisfied with a mark below their normal standards. It's always easier to shift the blame to "the harder curriculum" as the source of poor grades than realizing it is ultimately the individual's poor learning habits that negatively hinders his/her marks. The self-fulfilling prophecy.