Imran

The structure at uni as most of first years know(despite not having experienced it) is free for all-whether you turn up to lectures or not it doesn't really matter. The uni doesn't care-however it could be detrimental to you. There are many approaches you can take to lectures-see some of the posts in the forum-you can not turn up, you can turn up and write nothing(people call it absorption) or you can write everything down or you can selectively write things.

When I first began, I saw around me people frantically jotting down every syllable the lecturer uttered and naturally I felt pressured and obliged to do the same. So I too began to write things down I knew and understood, things which I did not think were all that important. But it all looked nice in my new glossy lecture pad, writing in the fluid dark ink that is found in some of the fast writing pens(I'll get back to this). So I felt good after the lecture-"Wow got stuff down-book looks really nice, I feel organised". Then as the lectures went by I became more and more exhausted and joined the ranks of the absorbers. I started sleeping through the lectures, playing noughts and crosses on the table(in carslaw there are noughts and crosses carved into the table among other perhaps rude statements made by forlorn students of the past, drowning in the monotonous downpour of lectures).

So that's the process that many fall into, from absorber I went into the non-turning up type. But to be honest I was never a lecture person-I preferred to learn by myself and at my own pace-some parts of the lecture I would understand quickly and the lecturer I felt was going too slowly and vice versa. Studying by myself via textbooks and lecture notes(free and available) allowed me to address my weaknesses.

So when you turn up, it's your choice to join the ranks of the certain groups of people I have spoken of. But if you are the note taking type-choose your pens wisely. Write at home using slow heavy pens and bring fast flowing pens to the lecture-it helps a lot and builds your speed and stamina for examinations which is vital in some of the biology related examinations.

Just on a random note-keep pets and interact with them. It'll help you relax and freshen up. I'll try and write more regarding how to get the best out of lectures. Pigeons make great pets.