[simantel]

To add to your point about going slower: You can also attend your professors' office hours and dig deeper into the subjects your classmates are forcing you to learn so slowly. Depending on the course, they'll often have additional reading you can do on any given subject being covered. As a bonus, your professors will love you.

[future_grad]

Great point. As someone who was more of an introvert until recently, my relationships with professors and students helped propel me outside of my social fears. Both of those relationships are outstanding for future opportunities to any student that works for them.