The Numbers Game

I often hear myself telling friends that university is a numbers game. Some weeks it is simply impossible to finish all the required readings and assignments. Often, we're forced to choose one task over another. The equations and ratios that are constantly swirling through my mind are migraine inducing. I am not a natural mathematician. I am always trying to figure out of which assignments will weigh more weigh more heavily towards my GPA, and which assignments I can afford to let fall below my normal standards. For example, last week I had a midterm for a H1F class that was worth 10% of my grade in the class. On the same day I had a twelve page paper due for a Y1Y course that was worth 30% of my grade. Simply mathematics  proved that I designate more time for the essay than studying for the midterm. The morning of the midterm, I was just finishing up my essay, so I never had the opportunity to study for the midterm. As I was writing this midterm, that I didn't study for, I was mildly panicked that I would earn a mark in the 20-30% range. However, I somehow pulled off a B+. I'm not sure if this was just dumb luck or if it was because I always attend the lectures and tutorials for the class. I was able to work my way through the test in a jigsaw pattern, starting with the dates and events that I remembered from lecture and then guessing my way through the rest of the test. In a perfect world I would have had time to write the paper and study for the test, but as the end of March approaches and time starts speeding away I think we are all finding ourselves in these situations. Don't even get me started on the cruel reality of daylight savings time and how it has robbed me of a needed hour of schoolwork! If you need to pick and choose between assignments and studying then make sure you're picking the right item to concentrate on. It is easier to recover from a loss of 10% than a loss of 30%. Don't forget that Y classes count more heavily towards your GPA than half classes and try to spend the most time on the assignments that matter most. It really is a numbers game and understanding how to spread your efforts in the most pragmatic manner possible will save you time and stress! Lori