Hey everyone! I'm considering taking a break from my college studies to focus on self-learning some topics that my college doesn't cover well, like calculus, probability, statistics, and linear algebra. Right now, I'm working towards an associate's degree in information technology and I've bookmarked some great MIT OpenCourseWare courses for this. I'm wondering if anyone has advice on study techniques or things I should be careful about while doing this. What do you all think?
3 Answers
How good are you at independent study? A lot of students go to college for the support, like help from teachers and peers. It's tough to learn everything on your own! Have you actually dived into those saved courses or just bookmarked them?
Have you thought about why you can't just study during summer? Most people who take time off often find it hard to return to college afterward based on what I've seen. But if you really think you need full focus, that's understandable. Just be prepared for the possibility that this break could change your path.
I get that! But with my job taking up most of my summer, I wouldn't have the time to delve into everything properly. I feel if I take a solid break, I can really focus on these subjects before moving on.
From my experience with MIT OCW, don't underestimate the challenges of self-study. Without a solid feedback system to evaluate your work, it can get tough. Plus, when motivation dips, it’s all too easy to slide into light reading rather than tackling those problem sets, which is crucial for mastering math. It might be worth questioning why you want to learn these topics now—would they help with your current programming path? Maybe consider saving them until after your degree instead.
I managed to prepare well for the SAT using resources like Khan Academy and YouTube. I also picked up English on my own. I've started the Single Variable Calculus course, but realized I need precalculus first, which I'm working on at Khan Academy right now.