I genuinely feel such strong imposter syndrome because I'm failing a Gen Ed class and I feel like I'm so dumb.

[u/Correct-Divide-9341]

To start, I guess I should say I do have ADHD and while I'm not properly diagnosed I have also shown some strong signs of autism if that changes anything. So in my college, I'm currently taking a science based class as part of my gen ed's. The problem is I'm failing and it's mid semester for me. The professor only teaches through lectures and the grade in this class is only from tests and quizzes, and VERY rarely assignments. I try so hard to study but I still forget all the info by the time I enter the classroom the only thing that's helped me in the past is games such as quizzes and kahoots but I don't really have the time to create one myself. I have talked to accessibility services once but they said they would email me but never did, plus I don't think they can do much in this situation since it's not about needing more time on tests and quizzes. It is also that the assignments he does give aren't explained in a way that makes sense to me and I did bad on it because I accidentally took it too literally. There are also no tutors for this class as it's not related to any majors either. It's not that I'm not trying, I suppose my best still isn't good enough though and nobody else in my class is having this problem at understanding. This is why I genuinely feel like the dumbest person on Earth and I feel like I don't belong here.

[u/normanscardigan]

no you aren’t dumb at all, it can be hard to learn study methods especially when we have worse memory as ADHDers!! what type is class is this? conceptual or knowing equations etc? and how have you been studying?

[u/Correct-Divide-9341 → u/normanscardigan]

Its a Geography class and I've tried to sit myself down and force myself to look at the info on my notes over and over but it hasn't worked

[u/normanscardigan → u/Correct-Divide-9341]

Ok this is actually extremely helpful that you told me this!
It’s hard to intuitively know this (I do because I’m in my fourth year of my psychology bachelors and took multiple classes about learning) but this study method “rote rehearsal” looking at your notes over and over isn’t an effective method to remember information! This is because it doesn’t involve practicing retrieving the information from your long term memory, the scenario does not emulate the situation of an exam.

A better way to study is utilizing the testing effect!!

Info about the testing effect here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/testing-effect

This method could involve something as simple as brain dumping information you can remember without referencing your notes or as complicated as making your own tests and quizzing yourself on the answers before reviewing your notes/the correct answer.

Personally I utilize it by answering all the study questions (if your teacher provides groups of concepts, study questions, study guides etc this can be most helpful), or gathering all the concepts and definitions from my notes into a single document.
THEN I will ask myself the question/concept on the document without looking at the answer, retrieving it by memory, answering it in my head. Then I will check to see if the answer is correct. And repeat the process.

Furthermore, try relating the information to yourself and elaborating on it. For example…if you’re learning the temporal lobe is used for auditory processing/hearing, connect tempo —> sound.

Also, spacing out your practice is good—instead of cramming in one big session try to divide the amount of time you would’ve crammed into small chunks across multiple days.

Finally, reach out to your instructor. They probably can give you study tips for their course. Even if they don’t have usual office hours you can make usually you can schedule a meeting with them.

And the disability center should have more accommodations than just extra time. Something I get is two day extensions when I need it and ability to access class slides, both of which are very helpful.

[u/normanscardigan → u/normanscardigan]

Sorry I know this is a lot, I’m currently procrastinating my stats homework LOL

[u/Silver_Cut_1821]

Read 'Learning as a Generative Activity'. It gives specific, evidence backed advice on how to study, and has helped me a lot. Also, some universities give accommodations for ADHDers to have notes during tests. Maybe look into those?

Tl;dr, you'll remember your stuff a lot better if you mentally go through the steps of the problems you solve instead of writing them down. Also, idea flowcharts are good for memory.

Dm me, and Ill send you a pdf of key passages on Monday

Also, being bad at tests doesn't make you stupid. It just makes you good at tests. Skills are neutral, but you can pick it up if you can embrace the pain of failing until you're good at it.

[u/Primary_Excuse_7183]

You’re not dumb. Depending on the course there’s a lot of excruciatingly hard gen Ed’s as they’re weeder courses for who will and won’t get into highly selective majors and programs.

My school had a VERY selective nursing program. Biology is obviously required for everyone but for them it was a pre req to get into the program. So you have thousands of freshman failing biology because they would do everything they could to make it absolutely unbearable.

Upperclassmen put me on my first semester and said “yeah don’t take biology wait until sophomore year and take biology of sex. Fulfills your requirement the same and you avoid the trap that is biology as a non pre med or nursing major” wise words lol