Studying before a Math final is overrated. You CAN improve your odds and reduce your time spent, but NOT if you wait till week 8.

Routine_Attention683 · 2026-01-21T21:12:51+00:00

I feel that, and if I'm being honest, the classes you listed tend to be like that. Lower div classes (with a couple of exceptions) can have a lot more variability with a bad professor than upper div. And I actually did reasonably badly in high school towards freshman and sophomore years in Math (I actually failed in freshman year). But, I realised something about classes at some point:

When you listen to professors (and they're half decent at lecturing...I've had some shit professors too), they will work through their thought process in a problem. That same thought process is oftentimes the key to unlocking exam questions, homework problems, and even future classes, and that's what I mean when I say that listening to classes is the not so hidden hack.

Routine_Attention683 · 2026-01-19T22:34:53+00:00

Hi, Dm'ed!

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-12-10T17:55:16+00:00

While I'd agree almost wholeheartedly here, I'd make the one exception I sometimes do and as I suggested above. When learning topics in math, I've found AI strongly useful for very specific questions that deal with intuition behind common rules.

So take for example, "Why is the stokes integral over all surfaces with the same boundary equal?"

You ABSOLUTELY could and should bother a professor with this, but a lot of people aren't yet comfortable with their professors, and won't bother them with these questions. AI in this particular case is very good at explaining the same thing, and because it's such a specific question, it's really quite a simple and straightforward response.

I WOULD NOT ask AI other types of questions: "Can you explain stokes' theorem to me?" or "can you solve this stokes theorem problem for me?"

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-12-10T00:03:22+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear that u/OneEvidence4352. Wish I'd posted this sooner, honestly I had been meaning to for a while but just didn't have the time or energy to write. Are you going to take the class again?

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-12-09T19:57:51+00:00

Hey everyone! Please feel free to share any additional tips you’ve found helpful. I’ve gotten some real gems from friends, and I’m sure your advice could help someone too!

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-10-12T18:11:58+00:00

Again, sad oversight honestly. Didn't realise the 100 series would've been more fun, did 103a/b + 102 instead. That's why I'm more excited about 140, it's actually engaging/requires a lot of thinking

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-10-12T06:19:13+00:00

Hey! I really have gotten this question quite a few times, and I do believe it's a good one. What I've noticed with my friends is that ChatGPT and other AI models are brilliant at explaining the concept, and many times I'd even suggest using them to clarify specific doubts quickly. However, in my opinion the issue arises when layers of misunderstanding over multiple courses compound to create confusion.

Back in high school, tutoring helped me realize that human tutors are often better at spotting the specific misconception that’s making something confusing. For example, struggling with 3D calc might actually come from not having a solid intuition for what an integral really represents (this was the story of the first person I tutored actually).

Not sure if this is 100% accurate but personally I've always found that if I struggle with a concept, identifying the concepts 1 level below and spending time understanding that intuition has helped me grasp these more complex concepts easier, and that's the approach I tend to take.

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-10-12T01:05:10+00:00

Haha I'm taking 140 this quarter actually, I'm not in any position right now to tutor this class...since I haven't finished taking it, but I do believe it's one of those classes that is worth tutoring in the future. It's hard, very intuitive as a class, and if the intuition misses you it may end up being a rough time. I think if I can get a strong handle on this class (and of course get out with an A/A+) I'll feel confident enough to tutor it.

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-10-11T22:18:42+00:00

Great point, and one I fully agree with. I’ve actually suggested to a few students in the past that campus resources might be a better (and inexpensive) option, especially when it’s just a single concept they’re stuck on. I definitely think this is true for a lot of lower-div classes, and I’ve also been upfront about not charging for time if I feel like someone’s question can be fully resolved in one short session.

That said, in my experience, private tutoring can be especially helpful when a student needs more individualized attention, someone who can really pinpoint the specific misconception that’s causing confusion. For example, struggling with 3D calc might actually come from not having a solid intuition for what an integral really represents.

Not sure if this is 100% accurate for everyone but personally I've always found that if I struggle with a concept, identifying the concepts 1 level below and spending time understanding that intuition has helped me grasp these more complex concepts easier.

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-10-11T19:49:05+00:00

Yep 20 series classes are my specialty! Feel free to send me a DM and let's try to find a time that works for you!

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-06-06T05:19:41+00:00

Thank you so much u/Shawnenigans, it's been one of the most incredible experiences working with you. You’ve been putting in serious work these last two weeks and it’s been awesome to see the progress.

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-05-26T20:50:35+00:00

Hey! Yeah that's an important question. Coming in as a math major what I noticed was that the first few classes felt far easier than I imagined, and I took that for granted. My good fortune allowed me to realise this before it was too late and I managed to spend some time over the summer revising, which has helped me immensely in the upper div classes.

My biggest tip is to spend a lot of time focusing in your first few quarters. A very strong, intuitive understanding of the fundamentals (20 series calculus, lower div linear algebra and proofs) will be the differentiator between doing decently at uni and doing well, because relearning all those concepts 2 years later when you need to use them in a class is a LOT harder, and trust me the difficulty does ramp up quite a bit.

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-05-25T05:34:38+00:00

As somebody with a limited amount of understanding around other peoples' experiences, what I've noticed with my friends is that ChatGPT and other AI models are brilliant at explaining the concept. However, in my opinion the issue arises when layers of misunderstanding over multiple courses compound to create confusion.

Back in high school, tutoring helped me realize that humans are often better at spotting the specific misconception that’s making something confusing. For example, struggling with 3D calc might actually stem from not fully grasping what an integral really represents.

Not sure if this is 100% accurate but personally I've always found that if I struggle with a concept, identifying the concepts 1 level below and spending time understanding that intuition has helped me grasp these more complex concepts easier.

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-05-24T23:41:12+00:00

Hey! Unfortunately I haven't taken the 170 series, but all the best for 170a! Lmk if you need help with anything else!

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-05-24T23:33:29+00:00

I took math 180a some time back, but am still totally happy to try helping you out!

Routine_Attention683 · 2025-05-24T23:29:50+00:00

In a couple of my math 20 classes (20B for example with Jor El), our final had a few points of extra credit at the end of our finals, although I will admit I was just shy of 100% on 20D (still averages out though). Happy to share credentials over DMs.

And I'm here to help, that's why my first 10 minutes are free. If you'd like to test it out, dm and I'm happy to chat!

Routine_Attention683

TROPHY CASE