I am in my junior year of college, and I am having problems staying motivated in one of my classes. All of the classes I am taking are upper level classes, except one. I took this one class because I figured it would be an easy A and provide a break from my more difficult coursework. This plan backfired because I find this class boring and difficult to take seriously compared to my more challenging classes, and I am falling behind as a result. Does anyone who has found themselves in a similar situation have any tips or ideas on how I can become more motivated to do my work for this class?

I have the same problem this semester with one of my classes.  The only thing I can say is to just keep plugging along.  I'm on week 14 of sixteen so I feel like I'm home free now.  I've also got another "A" to go on my transcript!

I am in my junior year of college, and I am having problems staying motivated in one of my classes. All of the classes I am taking are upper level classes, except one. I took this one class because I figured it would be an easy A and provide a break from my more difficult coursework. This plan backfired because I find this class boring and difficult to take seriously compared to my more challenging classes, and I am falling behind as a result. Does anyone who has found themselves in a similar situation have any tips or ideas on how I can become more motivated to do my work for this class?

Hard, physical labor 6 days a week in a brick plant the summer between my freshman and soph. years was all the motivation I needed to take college seriously.  These were the types of job opportunities available w/o an education in small-town NE Ohio.  That said, I still had a lot of fun in college.  As my Aunt sagely said: work hard, play hard.

I have your problem for about all my classes actually. I absolutely hate studying. In fact, I really can't sit down and study. I've found that as long as I go to every class and actually pay attention I do somewhat alright without studying. When I absolutely do have to study, I leave my apartment and go to the library away from the TV and computer. I am completely opposite than you in that I always try harder in my easier classes. I will get blasted for this, but in reality all that really matters is that you get that little piece of paper saying you graduated. Don't stress it. Remember this quote: "Many people have done it before you, and many people will do it after you."

I was just like davis in college. I absolutely hated to study and I very rarely did any studying unless I knew I had a test coming up. I would for the most part do my homework and contribute to the group projects. When I took my myers briggs test mine said that I wasn't the prototypical college student. My motto for college was C's get degrees. My degree got me a good job and I will be able to continue to get jobs because I have that little piece of paper.

 I may not be in the norm but I've checked a lot of applications and degrees over the years and I always look at the GPA. There are a lot of ways to look at it but I rather hire someone who did well not skated by. I also tend to think C's are party boys probably who are going to approach their job the same way.

  Afterall the point of going to college is to learn something. One would assume a large pat of that is the tools that you will use in your job after college.

I'm old school I know but my .02 anyway

f-f-i,  That is the exact way I think also.  (time for a plug for me)  Luckily, I'm just over halfway through and have a 3.94 GPA!  

If it is one of your major classes then buckle down.  In hiring an intern right now and looking at resumes, transcripts, etc.  I could care less what an accounting or finance major did in South American History.  But if it is one of their major classes and I see a C I look much harder.  I did not care about any of those classes that would do little for me in the future and in turn I can see why someone would slack off in a non-major course and focus on what they are going to do for the next 30 years.

I may an exception to the norm, but I had problems with one class in college.  Failed it twice, same professor with the same curriculum.  I also didn't finish college due to other obstacles.

What I have found is most employers look at real world experience against a college degree.  I majored in Business Management and Marketing with a minor in Economics.  What do I do now?  I am an IP Network Engineer purely based on real world experience and knowledge.

If the course is not in your course of major, don't sweat the small stuff.  You probably won't end up doing work related to your major, unless you are going to be a school teacher.  

If it is one of your major classes then buckle down. In hiring an intern right now and looking at resumes, transcripts, etc. I could care less what an accounting or finance major did in South American History. But if it is one of their major classes and I see a C I look much harder. I did not care about any of those classes that would do little for me in the future and in turn I can see why someone would slack off in a non-major course and focus on what they are going to do for the next 30 years.

You just described my academic attitude.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Since I plan on going to grad school, I'm pretty sure they will be looking at my transcript to see what kind of grades I have. I do well in most of my classes and have a 3.22 GPA right now. I go to class and pay attention, study when I feel like I need to, and do well on tests. My problem is only with one class, and only with work assigned outside of class (my term paper). I hate to admit it because it makes me sound like an arrogant *****, but the best way to describe why I am having trouble buckling down and getting my work done for this class is because after taking more advanced classes in this subject area, I feel as though this class, which should be my easiest (people in my major usually take it as a second semester freshman or first semester sophomore. I am a 2nd semester junior and have enough credits to graduate a semester early), is beneath me. As a result I find it hard to take seriously even though it is a class within my major and is directly related to the field I wish to go into. I guess I just need to get over myself and write the paper. I would just much rather do work for my other classes which I find interesting and challenging, even though it is due much later in the semester.

I may not be in the norm but I've checked a lot of applications and degrees over the years and I always look at the GPA. There are a lot of ways to look at it but I rather hire someone who did well not skated by. I also tend to think C's are party boys probably who are going to approach their job the same way.

Afterall the point of going to college is to learn something. One would assume a large pat of that is the tools that you will use in your job after college.

I'm old school I know but my .02 anyway

Don't take offense to this, but just because some students got C's and D's doesn't mean they skated by. I would hope if your the one doing the hiring you would also judge them by their character. I can remember some interview questions I had to answer that would give the employer some insight on my character/ethics. I think that is better to go by then grades. Just my opinion.

I may not be in the norm but I've checked a lot of applications and degrees over the years and I always look at the GPA. There are a lot of ways to look at it but I rather hire someone who did well not skated by. I also tend to think C's are party boys probably who are going to approach their job the same way.

Afterall the point of going to college is to learn something. One would assume a large pat of that is the tools that you will use in your job after college.

I'm old school I know but my .02 anyway

Don't take offense to this, but just because some students got C's and D's doesn't mean they skated by. I would hope if your the one doing the hiring you would also judge them by their character. I can remember some interview questions I had to answer that would give the employer some insight on my character/ethics. I think that is better to go by then grades. Just my opinion.

X2. I would bet money that half the football players have better grades than I do.  :

Different grades mean more from different colleges too.

I may not be in the norm but I've checked a lot of applications and degrees over the years and I always look at the GPA. There are a lot of ways to look at it but I rather hire someone who did well not skated by. I also tend to think C's are party boys probably who are going to approach their job the same way.

After all the point of going to college is to learn something. One would assume a large pat of that is the tools that you will use in your job after college.

I'm old school I know but my .02 anyway

Don't take offense to this, but just because some students got C's and D's doesn't mean they skated by. I would hope if your the one doing the hiring you would also judge them by their character. I can remember some interview questions I had to answer that would give the employer some insight on my character/ethics. I think that is better to go by then grades. Just my opinion.

No offense taken and good point. No I wouldn't base anything on GPA alone but it is definitely an important factor. I hear everyone on the core class focus but you only get so much attention on a resume or an application. Every application I can remember not only asks degree but also has a place for GPA. I'm in a little more white collar industry than normal maybe but not exec stuff.

Very good point about the athletes Davis; def something to watch for. I'm confident that I would know if their grades were completely bogus.

Goods diverse points guys

Hey have we hi-jacked this thread or what?

Shaner, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you took this class cuz you thought it would be easy. Easy is often boring. I made the same mistake during my first two years of college. Science courses were required, but thinking we liberal arts students were too stupid to handle real science, the school had science-for-poets courses in big lecture halls to allow us to fulfill our science requirements. After two of these, I decided to take ornithology and botany alongside students majoring in these areas. Sure it was more work, but it was both a lot more fun and lot more challenging, and I remember a lot of what I learned there, long after I've forgotten the content of those easy courses.

My daughter, who's in high school, has the same problem. Some teachers, unfortunately, are boring and not very good teachers, and she's most disengaged with school when she's most bored. Ask around for who the best teachers are and pick teachers as much as courses. Look for teachers whose teaching style matches your learning style.

Keep those grades up. You won't be sorry.

You want motivation?

You are paying for the class.

Done.

Shaner, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you took this class cuz you thought it would be easy. Easy is often boring. I made the same mistake during my first two years of college. Science courses were required, but thinking we liberal arts students were too stupid to handle real science, the school had science-for-poets courses in big lecture halls to allow us to fulfill our science requirements. After two of these, I decided to take ornithology and botany alongside students majoring in these areas. Sure it was more work, but it was both a lot more fun and lot more challenging, and I remember a lot of what I learned there, long after I've forgotten the content of those easy courses.

My daughter, who's in high school, has the same problem. Some teachers, unfortunately, are boring and not very good teachers, and she's most disengaged with school when she's most bored. Ask around for who the best teachers are and pick teachers as much as courses. Look for teachers whose teaching style matches your learning style.

Keep those grades up. You won't be sorry.

That's exactly what my problem is, It's boring because it's not challenging or engaging. I talked to my girlfriend about it and she had an excellent point. Just because the class itself isn't challenging doesn't mean I can't challenge myself by going above and beyond the expectations. Looking at it from this perspective makes doing the work much more bearable.