MCAT and Organic Chemistry Study Guides, Videos, Cheat Sheets, tutoring and more

  • Tutoring
  • Organic Chem
    • Organic Chemistry Tutoring
    • Organic Chemistry Videos
    • Study Hall – Membership Site
  • MCAT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Tutoring
  • Organic Chem
    • Organic Chemistry Tutoring
    • Organic Chemistry Videos
    • Study Hall – Membership Site
  • MCAT
  • About
  • Contact

Where you Sit MATTERS

August 24, 2012 By Leah4sci 13 Comments

where you sit mattersWhen it comes to high school or college seating arrangements, students can usually choose their own seats. Chances are you don’t give it a second thought and slide into the closest empty seat or perhaps a seat near your friend. While you are not confined to this seat, you likely wind up in the same spot lecture after lecture. But I am here to tell you that where you sit actually does matter. Choosing the right seat from day one will increase your chances of academic success.

Why Not to Sit Towards the BACK!!

Sitting in the back of the classroom means you are more likely to be distracted. Distractions include anything from the chatter bugs in front of you to the smell of the your friends’ breakfasts as they munch away. Even if the these are small, you may find your mind wandering for 5 or 10 minutes, and before you know it, you’ve missed a crucial point in the lesson. Sitting toward the back can also make it difficult for you to follow the actual lecture. You may not catch every word and can have difficulty seeing the presentation. Missing a small factor here and there slowly adds up, and you can find yourself at a disadvantage on exam day.

Then Where SHOULD You Sit?

My experience has shown that the ideal seat is in the front of the classroom, and slightly off-center. You don’t want to sit right in the teacher’s face, yet want to ensure you are close enough to hear what is being taught and follow along with the lecture. If you are off to the side, check that you can still see the blackboard or projection screen so you don’t find yourself craning to copy notes.

Sitting in the front ensures that all the annoying distractions are behind you, leaving your only focus the actual lecture in progress. This seat also prevents YOU from creating a distraction. You are less likely to engage in whispered conversations, text your friends, or even take a nap (yes this does happen) if you know the professor is about three feet away. Even if they don’t object, the thought of being disrespectful should keep your extracurricular activities in check.

What if your class has assigned seating? Approach your teacher and be sincere in your request. “Would it be ok if I switched seats? I know I am more attentive and learn better if I sit up front.” Your teacher will be hard-pressed to deny your academically driven request. Don’t let that A slip away due to habit! Show up early the first day of class and pick your ideal seat. Starting the semester with this driven mindset will propel you on your way to academic success.

What do YOU think?

I want to hear from you. What has motivated your choice of seat in the past? Do you think where you sit makes a difference? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Filed Under: Study Tips Blog Tagged With: academic success, seating, study tips

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    September 22, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    I always sit front & center. I would be very distracted if I sat in the back.

    Reply
    • Leah4sci says

      September 28, 2016 at 4:39 pm

      Great, Kristen! Love to hear that!

      Reply
  2. Brittany says

    June 16, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    I’ve always sat in the front. My maiden name starts Abda. so even in assigned seating I was generally in the front. If I sit anywhere but the front I am thoroughly thrown off my game!

    Reply
    • Leah4sci says

      June 21, 2015 at 12:47 am

      Too funny Brittany. My last name starts with an ‘F’ but I somehow managed to be first or second in the second row. If I was ever ‘assigned’ a far seat I explained to the teacher that I ‘tend to tune out so I need to sit in the front’. They are surprised and so typically agreed

      Reply
  3. Bernice says

    January 29, 2015 at 11:39 pm

    I’ve started sitting in the from this semester and I’m definitely seeing a difference. (:

    Reply
    • Leah4sci says

      January 30, 2015 at 1:27 pm

      That’s awesome Bernice. Do you find you hear better, see better, or are simply less distracted?

      Reply
  4. vanessa anosike says

    January 19, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    This Is so true. I find I’m more attentive in the front

    Reply
    • Leah4sci says

      January 19, 2015 at 7:33 pm

      So much less distracting in the front

      Reply
  5. Rick says

    September 2, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Have sat everywhere. Prefer the back. Have a 4.0 sciGPA.

    Sitting somewhere specific does not make anyone more or less intelligent.

    Reply
    • Leah4sci says

      September 9, 2014 at 8:50 am

      It’s not about making students more or less intelligent, it’s about maximizing the learning potential and minimizing distractions while in class.

      Reply
  6. thariq aziz says

    November 8, 2012 at 11:50 am

    thank you very much…extreemly useful…

    Reply
  7. Kathryn Kistner says

    October 19, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    Yes, I have noticed that sitting on the front row makes a huge difference. I have ADD traits, and this helps me immensely from getting distracted. In many non-school lectures and presentations, almost NO ONE sits on the first row; I love that they save a place for me there! I always sit on the front row, now.

    Reply
  8. Jasmine says

    October 10, 2012 at 5:34 am

    This is really useful!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 Month MCAT Plan

What does a 3-month MCAT Study Plan entail? Click to Read/Download

3 month mcat study plan leah4sci

Can I help you find a topic?

Download my Free Organic Chemistry Cheat Sheets by clicking on the image below



MCAT Tutorials, Videos & More

MCAT Home Page
Scroll down for orgo resources
MCAT Math Without a Calculator
MCAT Physics
MCAT Chemistry
MCAT Biology
MCAT Biochemistry
MCAT CARS / Critical Reading
MCAT Resources, Tips & More

Organic Chemistry Tutorials & Videos

Orgo Syllabus Companion
- Gen Chem Foundation for Orgo
- Orgo Basics Foundation
- Resonance Structures
- Naming Organic Compounds
- Acids and Bases
- Newman Projections
- Chair Conformations
- Chirality and Stereochemistry
- Fischer Projections
- Intro to Mechanisms
- Alkene Reactions
- Alkyne Reactions
- Free Radical Reactions
- Substitution Elimination Reactions
- Diels Alder
- Aromaticity & Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS)
- Alcohols
- Oxidation and Reduction
- Acetal / Ketal
- Enolate Reactions
- Proton NMR Spectroscopy

Organic Chemistry Study Guide Cheat Sheets

2023 MCAT Test Dates

Click image below for test + score release dates and more

Radicals: Reactions, Stability Hybridization+

Click for New Tutorial: All about Free Radicals

Free Radicals in Organic Chemistry - Hybridization, Stability, Resonance, Reactions and Mechanism Videos

MCAT Students Come Work With Me

Work with me to figure out exactly what YOU need to ace your MCAT

Option 1: Strategy, tutorials, my help every step of the way in the MCAT Study Hall
[click for details]

Option 2 One-on-one Private MCAT Tutoring

Orgo Students: Come Work With Me

Work with me to ace your Organic Chemistry Course
Option 1: Join me for bimonthly live review/Q & A Sessions, 50+ Hours of Topic-Specific review/practice sessions, direct access to me and so much more... [click for details]

Option 2 One-on-one Private Tutoring

Organic Chemistry Reference Material and Cheat Sheets

Alkene Reactions Overview Cheat Sheet – Organic Chemistry

The true key to successful mastery of alkene reactions lies in practice practice practice. However, … [Read More...]

Click for additional cheat sheets

MCAT Tutorials

mcat math without a calculator 1 play

Introduction To MCAT Math Without A Calculator

While the pre-2015 MCAT only tests you on science and verbal, you are still required to perform … [Read More...]

Click for additional MCAT tutorials

Organic Chemistry Tutorial Videos

KET Keto enol tautomerization reaction and mechanism leah4sci

Keto Enol Tautomerization Reaction and Mechanism

Keto Enol Tautomerization or KET, is an organic chemistry reaction in which ketone and enol … [Read More...]

Click for additional orgo tutorial videos

Copyright © 2023 · Leah4Sci - All Rights Reserved. · Sitemap · Log in