On the last day of classes in Fall, 2002, I asked all of my students to write advice to next semester's student on how to succeed on Calculus I. Here are their responses. A summary of the responses can be found in summary.

• My advice for this course is to read the material before going over it in class. You will be lost and not learning it if you can't follow the instructor. I also suggest not to get behind in any of the work. Take time out each day and use it for calculus.
• Do all of the homework and don't be afraid to ask questions!
  Form a study group to go over homework or tests with. What you are confused on someone else may be able to teach you and vice versa.
  Go over tests and look at solutions until you know what you did wrong and understand the solution.
• *Do all homework, and take it seriously.
  *Always come to class and take good notes.
  *Ask questions if unclear.
  *See the professor if more assistance is required.
• I recommend keeping up with the material.
  Learn why things are the way they are rather than just memorizing how they are used.
  Memorize the derivative and indefinite integral tables. Better yet, learn how to derive them. If you can memorize (d/dx)sinx=cosx and (d/dx)cosx=-sinx, the rest of the trig functions on the tables are easy.
  I often hear people say that a concept "does not make sense." Math is COMPLETELY logical, and therefore makes perfect sense. If you study the concept, it will eventually make sense to you.
• Keep up with the homework and study hard.
• Sit up front and stay awake. Don't fall behind. Make friends with fellow students.
• Make sure your schedule leaves ample time for calculus! Don't underestimate how much time calculus can take.
• Overall just stay ahead at all times and if you get stuck never ever ever wait to the last minute to ask for help. The best advice I would give to the students would be to pay attention in class and practice the problems in the book. Algebra is a vital part of calculus and it should be practiced. Before the test, go to the academic skills center and look at old exams, look at what is on those tests and concentrate on that when studying.
• GROUP HOMEWORK:
  *Make sure you start it as soon as possible.
  *Get your group members' phone numbers and email addresses.
  *Make sure you leave a day to check over your entire project (don't wait until the last minute).
  HOMEWORK:
  *If you have homework due right before a test make sure you copy it before you turn it in so you can study from it.
• 1. Homework is crucial to learning concepts. I didn't learn tough concepts in class; I learned them while doing homework.
  2. If Schmidt goes over a similar problem a couple of times, says something is important, or emphasizes something, LEARN IT! It will probably be on a test.
• -Read material before class.
  -Do your assignments while the material is fresh in your head.
  -Try to learn material on your own.
  -Use class to ask questions not to learn material.
  -Hope for a curve.
• 1. Do homework.
  2. Go to class.
  3. Learn limits.
  4. Prepare for the hardest tests possible.
  5. Learn to read graphs.
  6. Learn to live without your calculator.
  7. Do not fall behind.
  8. Read the book.
  9. Hope for a curve.
• Students should always read ahead in the text. Even after a year of calculus in high school I soon found out that I didn't remember the little details. At such a fast pace, getting a little extra jump on the information is highly beneficial.
• -Do the homework.
  -Read the book-daily reading assignments.
  -When you do group homework get the problems done right. Ask Prof Schmidt for help if you're stuck.
  -Study for the exams-reread.
  -Listen & take notes.
• -Do all homework.
  -Be prepared for anything.
  -Do homework over a few days, not all at once.
  -Ask questions.
• *Be regular in HW. That really helps.
  *Go to the Academic Skills Center. You've paid for it after all.
  *Feel free to ask questions. Don't be shy because if you don't understand you won't be able to concentrate ahead.
  *All the best!
• *Do all the homework and review homework after you get it back.
  *Use the skills center to get a feel of the tests.
  *Go over old tests and see what you did wrong.
  *If you don't understand, ask!
  *Start group homework as early as possible and meet often with the group.
• One thing students should be aware of is that doing homework can really help. Even if homework is not regularly collected, it is still very valuable in learning calculus. Students should review trig functions and precalc terms.
• -Attend the week in review.
  -When doing homework, write everything out and use this homework to help you study.
  -When the book gives a definition, learn that definition.
  -Make sure you understand the group homework-problems like this show up on tests.
• *Actually look over the chapter before or directly after class-that way you can understand or remember it better.
  *Use the ASC to look over old exams. They help a lot.
  *Do your own homework.
  *For group homework, figure out everyone's schedules and work around them.
• Stay current. Keep up with homework. Head up in class. Be able to think sideways, backwards, and upside-down. Get some sleep. Don't wait till the last minute. Talk to the professor. He will help you with hard to understand problems.
• To do well, you must not fall behind and not take things lightly. The course got tougher as time goes along. Study hard, take advantage of office hours, week in review, don't be afraid to ask questions.
• -read all chapters before lecture every time
  -always doing HW promptly goes without saying
  -if you're confused, ask questions
• Try not to miss any classes. If you do, you will probably fall behind. Reading the section before class will help.
• Don't ever get behind because you won't get caught up. Make sure you do the homework the day it is assigned or you won't do it or you won't take the time needed to do it properly. Study hard for tests and start early.
• Do not get behind in HW!
  I had 100% attendance, you should too.
  It is a fast paced class; you can miss a lot in one day.