Is it common to feel completely lost in intermediate Accounting?
I took an introductory financial Accounting course last semester and ended up with a 92% average, so I thought I had a good grasp of the material. However, this intermediate Accounting class has me feeling overwhelmed. Even though I’m an active participant in class—asking and answering questions, building a good rapport with my professor, and working through all the practice problems—I still feel like I’m not retaining anything. It’s akin to trying to make sense of a complicated Foucault philosophy text.
Now I’m quite anxious about the final, especially since it encompasses the entire course content and I’m allowed only one reference sheet.
If anyone has tips or strategies for studying effectively for this type of class, I would really appreciate your advice!
One response
It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed by intermediate Accounting, especially if you excelled in the introductory course. Intermediate Accounting dives deeper into complex concepts and requires a different level of understanding and application. Here are some tips that might help you grasp the material better:
Break It Down: Try to break down the chapters into smaller, manageable sections. Focus on understanding one concept at a time before moving on to the next.
Use Multiple Resources: Sometimes the textbook alone may not be enough. Look for supplementary materials like online lectures, YouTube videos, or alternative textbooks that explain the concepts in a way that resonates with you.
Practice, Practice, Practice: Continue doing practice questions, but focus on understanding the “why” behind each answer. Make sure you review not just the problems you get wrong, but also the ones you get right.
Study Groups: Consider forming a study group with classmates. It can be helpful to explain concepts to each other and tackle challenging topics together.
Office Hours: Take advantage of your professor’s office hours to discuss specific areas where you’re struggling. They can provide clarity and might offer invaluable insights.
Visual Aids: Create visual aids like charts or mind maps to map out the relationships between concepts. This can help in retaining information.
Summarize Notes: After each lecture, take some time to summarize your notes in your own words. This can reinforce your understanding and help you retain information better.
Practice Exams: If your professor provides past exams or practice finals, make sure to work through those. They can give you a feel for the format and types of questions you might encounter.
Stay Positive: It’s easy to get discouraged, but remember that feeling confused at this stage is a part of the learning process. Be patient with yourself, and keep pushing forward.
Good luck with your studying! You’ve got this!