How I Went From Struggling to Acing My Assignments as an International Student!
When I started my master’s program, I quickly realized that assignments in the US are quite different from those I did during my undergrad in India. Back in India, most of my assignments were theoretical.
Here, I had to apply concepts from different lectures to complete weekly assignments. Here are some tips that helped me get my assignments on track:
Carefully Read the Assignment Instructions:
↳ Go back and read the assignment instructions again. Make sure you understand what’s being asked. Highlight key points and break them into smaller bits. Writing things down helps you better understand and ensures you’re on the right track.
Find a Supportive Peer Group:
↳ Connect with a group of peers who can help and offer valuable insights. Collaborative learning can make a huge difference.
Reach Out to Your Professor:
↳ Don’t hesitate to contact your professor if you’re struggling to understand the assignment. Here’s what I did: I would write down and email my approach to solving the assignment with actionable steps.
Professors usually pointed me in the right direction or confirmed my understanding and shared tips to help me get started.
Ask Your Classmates:
↳ While not everyone may respond, some classmates might have already solved the assignment and can help. It’s a two-way street; sometimes you help, and sometimes you get help.
Rewatch Lectures and Read Class PPTs:
↳ Most assignments can be tackled by rewatching lectures and thoroughly reading the class PPTs. The key is to find how you would apply the lecture material to solve the assignment. (Yes, ChatGPT is popular among students, but relying solely on it can diminish the value of your degree and affect your critical thinking skills.)
Utilize Teaching Assistants:
↳ If there’s a teaching assistant for the course, set up a meeting with them. TAs are there to help you succeed and often grade your assignments, so they know what’s expected and can offer great advice.
These tips helped me transition from struggling with assignments to confidently completing them. Have you tried any of these strategies? What worked for you?