Perfectionist: How do you meet deadlines?

Page 1 of 1 [ 5 posts ] 

Stefan10
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 18 Nov 2011
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Posts: 61

26 Mar 2012, 8:13 pm

So this last month has been a bit annoying. The inconsistency in pacing of my classes has left me a little unsettled and has slightly affected my grades for the worse, although nothing too big. I am a sort of a perfectionist in terms of how I learn something. I need to know every detail before I feel confident with the information. Unfortunately, in some of my classes -- the teachers have been picking up the pace and only brush upon the material and move on rather than go in to the depth I like. For example, in my AP Biology class - we are speeding through about 5 different chapters at once in a college textbook with about 50 pages per chapter. I usually read the whole chapter, watch a video on the process, memorize terms, and then answer questions. Then I work on the homework. Unfortunately, my teacher gives us these really long packets as substitutes for tests, and we need to finish them in very short periods of time. In effect, I don't learn anything at the depth I want, and all other students seem to resort to a method by which they just use repetitive but efficient motions, in which they don't pay attention, to quickly finish the worksheets. I don't learn anything through this method, and have formed a sort of defiant mindset to finish the packets after the deadlines, which of course affects my grade detrimentally, but I am learning more. It has become quite irritating, because I wan't to learn the material at the suitable depth with a maintained longevity so that I don't forget the material. I don't want to just blaze through the worksheets, and not learn. At the same time, I don't want my grade affected, even if it is minimal. I choose these advanced courses because they challenging and add depth, but unfortunately I find that the classes are quite inefficient in pacing, or rather not enough information is gathered in the suitable amount of time opposed to covering, superficially all the topics in less of a time frame.

So I have a few questions.

- Is college different or more along these lines in terms of pacing? This is specifically for science and mathematics courses. Will I have enough time, as long as I don't procrastinate, to complete the work with any degree of depth I wish for?

- How might I find a balance between striving for perfection in my knowledge or the quality of my work and working at a manageable pace to meet the approval of my teachers(or in the future -- bosses?)


_________________
Your Aspie score: 157 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 47 of 200
You scored 112 aloof, 112 rigid and 115 pragmatic


jedaustin
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 25 Dec 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 310
Location: Apache Junction, Arizona

26 Mar 2012, 11:17 pm

I generally do three passes on homework.. After skimming the material I work backwards from the questions usually. When I'm done I do a second pass to find mistakes.
After I've completed the assignment I do a 3rd pass if I have time to fill in any gaps.
I seek to understand concepts before trying to memorize anything because most times you'll get some credit if you can sum up a concept even if you use the wrong words.

A late assignment doesn't count; make a system to cover the material efficiently.
The point is you need to make a system that works for you.
Perfection is a goal no one can meet; just try to improve continually and do the best you can.



OddDuckNash99
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,562

27 Mar 2012, 8:57 am

If you are somebody who can teach yourself and can read ahead without getting confused, I'd recommend doing this. I'm a VERY slow reader, because my OCD makes me have to understand every single word and detail before I'm able to move on to the next sentence. When I had semesters in college where I had an overwhelming amount of reading for multiple classes, I read ahead whenever I could so as to get everything read at my slow pace but not be rushed and fall behind. The good thing about college is there aren't often packets and worksheets that you have to mindlessly fill out and waste your time, especially in upper-level classes. College really does focuses mostly on reading the textbook, doing speeches/presentations, and writing papers. There are less assignments that are actually graded, but they count more for your grade as far as percentage goes.


_________________
Helinger: Now, what do you see, John?
Nash: Recognition...
Helinger: Well, try seeing accomplishment!
Nash: Is there a difference?


jedaustin
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 25 Dec 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 310
Location: Apache Junction, Arizona

27 Mar 2012, 9:18 am

OddDuckNash99 wrote:
If you are somebody who can teach yourself and can read ahead without getting confused, I'd recommend doing this. I'm a VERY slow reader, because my OCD makes me have to understand every single word and detail before I'm able to move on to the next sentence. When I had semesters in college where I had an overwhelming amount of reading for multiple classes, I read ahead whenever I could so as to get everything read at my slow pace but not be rushed and fall behind. The good thing about college is there aren't often packets and worksheets that you have to mindlessly fill out and waste your time, especially in upper-level classes. College really does focuses mostly on reading the textbook, doing speeches/presentations, and writing papers. There are less assignments that are actually graded, but they count more for your grade as far as percentage goes.

That is what I have to do; I have trouble paying attention in class (they go WAY too slow!) so I do homework while in class usually. Most classes I end up teaching myself the material mostly and get a little out of the class lecture. I record important lectures so I can rewind/etc since my attention span is a bit iffy.



LaurenceB
Hummingbird
Hummingbird

User avatar

Joined: 23 Apr 2012
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Posts: 22

06 May 2012, 1:20 pm

I often do not, if I may put it tersely. It is the bane of my performance in examinations.


_________________
'It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'