Pushing Past Anonymity and Succeeding in Your Auditorium Classes

Most freshmen wandering into their basic courses for the first time will find themselves in a sea of other underclassmen. A far cry from the 20-student classes of high school, freshmen often must spend their first year in university in packed auditorium classes. This can be a daunting experience, especially as you strain to hear what the professor is saying from the very back of the lecture hall, which can be difficult over the snores of the students who managed to trek all the way to class only to fall asleep in the chairs next to you. Pushing past all of the obstacles and succeeding in a lecture hall environment can be difficult, but luckily, it is not impossible.

The key to succeeding in a large class is to treat it like any other class. This means that despite the lack of mandatory attendance, you need to make it a point to attend class regularly and on time. Do not give in to the temptation of simply not showing up because you "don't need to." You always need to attend class, no matter what the attendance policy may be, so that you do not miss out on important information and lecture material. However, just like any other class as well, simply showing up is not enough. No doubt you have witnessed the presence of fellow students in your auditorium classes who seem to only show up to sleep, socialize, or stalk other students on Facebook. These students might as well have not showed up at all because their physical presence in the classroom alone is not enough to effectively learn. You must show up, pay attention, and take good notes as your professor speaks.

Sitting closer to the front of the classroom is another good way to succeed in auditorium classes. Try to make it a point to establish a line of communication with your professor by sitting close enough to where your instructor can begin to recognize your face. It also helps if you actively participate in class. This means that you should keep up with your readings and assignments so that you are prepared to answer any questions that the professor may pose to the class. When you are engaged in the class, you will more likely succeed than if you remain anonymous. As an added benefit, many professors are more likely to give you a better grade on objective assignments like essays if they are familiar with your name and face.

The most important thing to keep in mind when you are looking for success in your huge auditorium class is that you must push past anonymity and make yourself known to your instructors. Show them that you are not one of the snoozers in the back and your grades will reflect your hard work.