Leave These Habits

10/02/2020

LEAVE THESE HABITS WHEN YOU ARE STILL IN SCHOOL

Today when we look around us, we are amazed and fascinated at the degree of talent, training and expertise that is available. And then, we ask ourselves, “If there are so many above-average people out there, why are so many getting below-average results in their college?” The problem lies in the practice of poor habits that we carried throughout our school and college, hoping that one day we’ll get a different result.
When transiting from school to college you are experiencing a lot of changes and bringing in a lot of changes in self too well, this is imperative. School is gone and so are the good old school days! That’s why you will have to change most of your high school habits too. Some of these habits will serve you well. But, making a hypothesis that they will perfectly fit into your college routine, would be a severe mistake. Well, now is the time to change, and the first step is to identify what is getting in your way.

The Previous Night Study Fever: College studies are nowhere near what and how you studied in school. In college, the subject matter is typically much more complex and you will have to be alert throughout the semester, making important notes and practicing the subject thoroughly rather than just studying a night before the exam. This will also help you to get your problems and queries resolved, as and when they arise, within adequate time, much before the exam days.

The Cramming Routines: Many of us are in a habit of cramming during school days which is a tried and tested method for getting good results. But this will not work in college at all, because here professors usually set question papers to determine whether or not the students have truly understood the subject. Cramming may get you passing scores, but good grades will be far off possibility!

Social Media Study Get Together: School days are comparatively fun days when one can afford to study while asking questions and sharing notes on social media. In college, most of the study material is more mentally challenging, and self-prepared notes, made with complete concentration will only get you good grades.

The Way You Chose Friends: Friendships in school are more fun and innocence based, the friendships and equations will see a shift in college. The friendships in college will not be all that unconditional. They will be based on Choice, Intentional Interaction and Definition. While you do not get to choose your friends in high school, in college you will have to be more careful while choosing friends. You will need to be careful about what kind of experiences you want in life, and based on that you will choose friends. Friends in College require more intentional interactions.

Faking in A Class: We all know that, we all did that! In college, you will have encounters with the professors who are way smarter than you anticipate. Smart enough to know the material they are teaching, and smart enough to know the people who are trying to fake their way through a class. If general statements based on a vague understanding of the material have been enough in a high school classroom, you’ll need to take up your knowledge deeper.

Treating finals week like any other week: In high school, most students step up their studies a little bit during the actual week of finals. In college, you need to start EARLY and cut out all unnecessary social activity to get the grades you want. Most first year college students fail some of their subjects in the first finals as they do not start early enough, and are then forced to cover them up. This rarely ends well.

Treating deadlines like they are optional: Many high school teachers are happy to accommodate a good student who needs an extra day to get the assignment done. College professors may not be as accommodating. Learn now that deadlines are real and non-negotiable. While high school teachers may have given you the benefit of the doubt, in college you’ll be treated like a responsible adult, which means adhering to due dates no matter what.

Being the quiet student: Participating in class is a great way to success. In fact, some colleges take class participation into account when determining final grades. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Be noticed and for the right things. College is the perfect place to discover who you are and take charge of your life.

Worrying about your social life: Hanging out with friends may have been your priority in high school, rather than your academics. However, college is a serious academic commitment, and it’s important to make sure your studies always come first.

Carefree Attitude: You will have to learn to sacrifice things to attain success. Many high school students are able to get good grades, be involved in many extracurricular activities and still have time to for an active social life. College is different. There are so many social activities in college, but you will have to make a sensible choice between studying and having fun. Turning down fun takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice. You will need to make that sacrifice on a daily basis if success is more important for you. The decision will be all yours.

If you were successful in high school, you are likely reasonably smart and figured out how to succeed in that environment. Make adjustments to be equally successful in the college environment — and there is no reason you cannot excel in this new more challenging environment. Now, the bottom line and a little candid one here! If the tips given above did not make you a little scared or a concerned for your future, you might need to read them again, a little more carefully this time. College success requires a set of skills that are not often required in high school. Therefore, change these habits and you would be way ahead your peers in your career path.