apparentlyIntj Power-studying

[AntimonyLegault]

I'm an intj, but I also have been diagnosed with adhd. I know myself as well as anyone (naturally) and I feel its in my ability to learn 2 semesters of math in about 15 days. What I need to know is general study tips etc, I can grasp the concept easily,but it usually needs serious discretion and review on my part due to quickly jumping to conclusions and getting half the idea, or making answers overly complex.

So I was wondering if anyone else has experience pertaining to this issue, and if so could they share some expertise? :-?.

[Rei]

Two semesters of math in 15 days?
I do that! Sit in the library for 20 hours a day and work through question after question after question... read examples if you're stuck (but defiantly do not work through the questions while looking at examples). You can probably get through the two semesters in about 3 days. :thumbsup:

Though I must say it's definitely better to do assigned questions at a spread out over your whole study period. That way you see a lot of patterns in certain questions, and know what you can skip and what... you shouldn't.

The key is patience... though I really shouldn't be giving any advice... :-X

[biased]

I do very well with clearcut deadlines.

I've achieved my only A this way. Bio 100

[Max T]

Any INTJ who has read your introduction post, Antimony, should help if they can by contributing here.

First off (sorry to be repetitive to others) go to the library and hire Tony Buzan's mindmapping book (examples: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.). * Combining this with Buzan's speedreading book will help hugely.

You truly remember the academic subjects by revisiting a few times- mindmapping helps you to refresh whole semester subjects in 20 minutes.
Speedreading will clearly compress time taken to digest a core text from say 10 days to 3 days.

Learn to trick your mind into thinking a subject, however seemingly useless, is the grail to your life and therefore absolutely critical. * This enthusiastic mindset will open the flood gates to learning and make the understanding of a subject very easy.

Study smart- determine the % of the exam that the semester's topics are tested. *E.g. Business studies exam (I dunno sciences)- supply chains 10% in exam, operations strategy 30%, industry economics 40%, human resources 5% etc. * Focus on the 30+% areas.
Same 'study smart' goes to allocating your precious resource time. * Some subjects you know you'll fly through- concentrate on the tough stuff.

Perhaps ignore this next bit- it may not apply to you, but if referencing of original work in books (e.g. Porter, 1996) is required in your essays, get good at making reference to other's thinking in your work- it immediately shows your well founded understanding of the topic. *Many are lazy with referencing but it matters a lot when grading.

Carefully read the grading sheet that tells what is expected of students getting A, B C and D grades. * A grade will likely require a bit of original thought. * Give the teacher what they want- something that is correct but also interesting to read. * And if the teacher loves a certain aspect of the subject, pour on effort on that certain aspect in your coursework/ exams.

Write your answers/ essays in a very logical, structured manner. * INTJs risk missing the step-by-step and going straight for the conclusion. * Step-by-step helps the marker to their job.

Look after yourself physically- no late nights or heavy, repeated drinking/ other drugs. * *Do a bit of exercise as it de-stresses brilliantly and increases oxygen to the brain.

This all sounds logical but my previous fellow students were av. age 32 yrs and lacked any such basis for disciplined learning. * The above also sounds a little cynical and even machiavellian (sp?) in parts- purists might argue that the above isn't real learning and instead we should learn for the future application of the learning. * INTJs say jump through these initial hoops fast and go deep on the more important stuff later on.

The above worked for one INTJ- got 3 'D' grades at 18 yrs and 'A' at postgrad. 9 yrs later, the latter certainly not due to raw IQ (sadly!) but working a little smarter than others. * *Good luck.

[patobrocks]

I know it might sound crazy, but what I learned about succeeding as math student, I passed on in tutoring seesions, and helped theatre and art majors pass college Algebra.

I found that most smart people can work a lot of math problems in their head, but don't always know how they arrived at the solution. *So, when they face a copmplex problem that needs pencil and paper, they run into trouble.

My solution seems like it takes extra time, but only at first. *I found that in the beginning of the chapter when a concept is being explained, I used to skim it and start working on the problems. *The first problems went fast, but as I got towards the end of the assignmment, I got more confused, pissed off and frustrated.

Solution:


When I study the examples, I write down every step and number it. *Then when I begin the problems, I rewrite the problem (I am dyslesic, so I don't work from the book. *I once worked the wrong problem on a Trig Final, but the professor saw that I worked a different problem and gave me full credit.), I write down every little step and number it and maybe even label it. *As I go further along, my logical understanding of the problems increases, so I start to combine steps. *For example if I combined steps 3, 4, and 5 as one operation, then I would still number that line as "3-4-5." *As I go further along through the problems, I notoce that I am spending less time on them, even though they are theoretically harder, thus mastery.

Not long after I masterd how to do math, I got bored with it.

I just joined and haven't had much time for an intro, but maybe soon. *Just reading the INTJ posts has helped me to appreciate traits that I thought were wrong.

[Rei]

I know it might sound crazy, but what I learned about succeeding as math student, I passed on in tutoring seesions, and helped theatre and art majors pass college Algebra.

I found that most smart people can work a lot of math problems in their head, but don't always know how they arrived at the solution. *So, when they face a copmplex problem that needs pencil and paper, they run into trouble.

My solution seems like it takes extra time, but only at first. *I found that in the beginning of the chapter when a concept is being explained, I used to skim it and start working on the problems. *The first problems went fast, but as I got towards the end of the assignmment, I got more confused, pissed off and frustrated.

Solution:


When I study the examples, I write down every step and number it. *Then when I begin the problems, I rewrite the problem (I am dyslesic, so I don't work from the book. *I once worked the wrong problem on a Trig Final, but the professor saw that I worked a different problem and gave me full credit.), I write down every little step and number it and maybe even label it. *As I go further along, my logical understanding of the problems increases, so I start to combine steps. *For example if I combined steps 3, 4, and 5 as one operation, then I would still number that line as "3-4-5." *As I go further along through the problems, I notoce that I am spending less time on them, even though they are theoretically harder, thus mastery.

Not long after I masterd how to do math, I got bored with it.

I just joined and haven't had much time for an intro, but maybe soon. *Just reading the INTJ posts has helped me to appreciate traits that I thought were wrong.

That's definately a good way. *My tutor taught me to do that when I was younger. *I always used to make small mistakes because I worked too fast and skipped steps. *I don't do this anymore, but the training definately made me a lot more proficient in math so i didn't lose marks for a question I clearly know how to do. *The more you write down steps, the more marks you are guarenteed *:thumbsup:

Besides, you can easily refer to "line 3, calculation one" when you're going multi step calculations.

[Ijz]

Learn to trick your mind into thinking a subject, however seemingly useless, is the grail to your life and therefore absolutely critical. This enthusiastic mindset will open the flood gates to learning and make the understanding of a subject very easy.



I too found mindmapping and preparation before studying very useful. However I never found a proper way of convincing myself that the subject was absolutely critical. I tend to view everything as relative rather than absolute. Do you have any tips for me?

[Max T]

Learn to trick your mind into thinking a subject, however seemingly useless, is the grail to your life and therefore absolutely critical. * This enthusiastic mindset will open the flood gates to learning and make the understanding of a subject very easy.


I too found mindmapping and preparation before studying very useful. However I never found a proper way of convincing myself that the subject was absolutely critical. I tend to view everything as relative rather than absolute. Do you have any tips for me?

Sure.
1. before studying the seemingly useless subject, identify it's important contribution to passing the overall level or degree. *This helps switch the dull subject from 'dull relative to others' to 'important for achieving the absolute aim of passing the level/ degree'.

2. to get the ball rolling and start studying, find the one part to the dull subject that contributes to your understanding of more interesting topics. * INTJ's should be able to find a connection no matter how tenuous. *
Example dull subject: gardening. *interesting bit- planning a garden for different plants to flourish at different times of the year.

3. and to really get involved, covering the whole subject matter, do what INTJs mentally enjoy doing- structuring the dull subject into a coherent whole. * Or finding patterns/ underlying themes within the subject. * Or examining how different parts interrelate with one another.
In other words, apply your typical thought processes to the dull subject.
Gardening example- all plants can be categorised by degree of sunlight they need (structuring), conifers perhaps grow well with perennials but not with evergreens (patterns), when landscaping, balancing plant colour and height is critical (interrelate).

Mmm, gardening suddenly sounds quite interesting *:scared: ;)

[Ijz]

Learn to trick your mind into thinking a subject, however seemingly useless, is the grail to your life and therefore absolutely critical. This enthusiastic mindset will open the flood gates to learning and make the understanding of a subject very easy.


I too found mindmapping and preparation before studying very useful. However I never found a proper way of convincing myself that the subject was absolutely critical. I tend to view everything as relative rather than absolute. Do you have any tips for me?

Sure.
1. before studying the seemingly useless subject, identify it's important contribution to passing the overall level or degree. This helps switch the dull subject from 'dull relative to others' to 'important for achieving the absolute aim of passing the level/ degree'.

2. to get the ball rolling and start studying, find the one part to the dull subject that contributes to your understanding of more interesting topics. INTJ's should be able to find a connection no matter how tenuous.
Example dull subject: gardening. interesting bit- planning a garden for different plants to flourish at different times of the year.

3. and to really get involved, covering the whole subject matter, do what INTJs mentally enjoy doing- structuring the dull subject into a coherent whole. Or finding patterns/ underlying themes within the subject. Or examining how different parts interrelate with one another.
In other words, apply your typical thought processes to the dull subject.
Gardening example- all plants can be categorised by degree of sunlight they need (structuring), conifers perhaps grow well with perennials but not with evergreens (patterns), when landscaping, balancing plant colour and height is critical (interrelate).

Mmm, gardening suddenly sounds quite interesting :scared: ;)



<Homer Simpson>Hhhmmmmmmmmmm garderning........</Homer Simpson> [smiley=smart.gif]

I'm gonne give it a try the first opportunity I get, Thanks Max!

[Max T]

Mmmmmmmmmm....... low fat, high fibre breakfast cereal....... D'OH! ;D

[deicruxified]

if a subject arouses my interest i binge on reading... one time a bought a book on html, studied it for a week and created a website in 1 day (i never went out of the room)...

...i binge on science related subjects... i always get a 4.0 so everyone's wondering why i didn't took up physics or bio etc... answer: parents

as for other subjects i.e. literature... my mind wanders off.. it depends on what i'm reading... preparing a tight schedule helped me a lot on this one and a little mind mapping... pissed off too when i get "over reading coments on my essay" so sometimes i just "repeat what the teacher says"...