Hey Arhar,
My studying years are now quite a while ago and I guess th eapproach depends a lot on what you are studying.
I actually kind of failed my first 3 years, then when to an engineering school where I ended up being major of my promotion and
continued with a successful Master of science.
Mr. Pestilence is right, most of it is not on how much you work, but more on HOW you learn.
Actually what you learn in college will help very little in everyday life. The most important thing Higher education brings you is how to
approach and solve problems (well at least in engineering, might be different in Law school or medicine)
You can work your ass off for many hours without success, or in less hours with the rigtht approach.
The most important is UNDERSTANDING the stuff you have to learn. If you understood, then it will be much easierto remember and apply.
If you understand what the teacher is doing DURING the class, the hoemwork will only be to put it rightly into place into your brain.
Most importantly, it will be more fun and you will have more motivation. It is then a virtuous circle that will make you better abd better all the time
without having to work more.
The tric is to be able to prepare IN ADVANCE for the next lecture. I know it is hard, especially if you are already trying to catch up but it is worth it.
Go through the material that will be used in the next lectures the night before. Then you will be able to catch right away what the teacher is talking about.
You will know what is important and will be able to concentrate on it. Your note taking will be more efficient. And the homework more quick and easy,
as you will not have to understand first what it is about.
A trick to know if you really know what you think you know (followed that ??). If you can explain to someone else, then you know your stuff.
If you find out that you cant explain to someone else, then it means you didnt catch it completely. Believe me, if you are able to explain ONCE to a
third party, you wont have to learn it more.
What else to say.. if you have something to do, then do it straight away, dont wait 'til the last minute. Work first and have fun after.
Work on the lectures as long as they are fresh in your mind. Dont hesitate in asking better students or the teacher if something is unclear.
Work in group with other. They might help you and you might be able to help them.
For sure, if you went through high school without having to learn, you are intelligent. So it is probably just that you lack the right methods.
MOTIVATION is the most important. And leave the booze for the week ends, as a reward (if you are old enough
) and drop the WEED.
That is definitively necessary.
Whatever bad happens to you, there are people with even less luck. Think about them and not about the people who have it better. That helps.
"Listen to an old man'words of cheap Wisdom"