111 Tips for Becoming a Successful Student by Africa Publishing Company

111

Becoming a Successful Student

Your years as a student can be some of the best years of your life. This is a fun and fulfilling time when opportunities for intellectual growth and personal development abound. This book has been written to help you reap the full benefits of these opportunities. Recognizing that real academic success is about much more than grades, the author offers practical advice on: • • • • • • • •

Transitioning to university Choosing friends Improving your reading skills The art of taking notes Becoming a critical thinker Completing assignments Finding a mentor Preparing for tests and examinations

• Overcoming daily hassles • Dealing with disappointments • Managing your stress and test anxiety • Staying physically healthy • Roommate management • Campus romances • Financial matters

Africa

PUBLISHING CO.

Conrad S. Zygmont

Conrad S. Zygmont is the programme coordinator for the Psychology Department at Helderberg College in Somerset West, South Africa, and was in the process of completing his PhD when this book was written. He has a keen interest in helping students be all they can be and gladly shares the insights he has gained over his years of teaching, research, and being a student himself. He is happily married to Jesica and they are blessed with two daughters.

111 Tips for Becoming a Successful Student

Do you want to make the most of your academic experience? Do you want to turn your dreams of academic success into reality?

111

TIPS FOR

Conrad S. Zygmont

111

TIPS FOR

Becoming a Successful Student

Africa Publishing Company PO Box 111 Somerset Mall 7137, Western Cape, South Africa Tel: +27 (0)21 8527656 Cell: +27 (0)83 5704585 Fax: +27 (0)86 5022980 Email: info@africacopublishing.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise marked, all Scripture references taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. ISBN: 978-1-90579-33-3 Publisher: Marcos Cruz Editor: Lindy Kok Designer: Melanie Kriel Picture Editor: Melanie Kriel Published in South Africa Notice: The publisher offers this book to the public in the hope that it will provide information and guidance to the benefit of the reader. However, the reader should keep in mind the role of professional medical advisors who are authorised to analyse patients’ individual circumstances and qualified to provide the best possible advice in each case. The publisher declines all responsibility should a problem occur from the reader’s use of this book.

Table of contents Introduction

1. Set yourself up for success

2. Is this the right place for me?

3. Buy in or sell short

4. Develop an excellence mindset

5. Don't give up before you start

6. Know what you are in for

7. No one left behind

8. The art of transition

9. Campus reconnaissance

10. Change your habits

11. Be brave and battle Babel

12. Get comfortable with technology

13. Make use of training and workshops

14. Understand your instructors

15. The importance of reading

16. Today makes sense tomorrow

17. Be the change

18. Managing your time

19. War against procrastination

20. Timing is everything

21. Improving your reading skills

22. Do rather than just read

23. The library is your friend

24. Keeping your attention

25. The art of taking notesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Part 1

26. The art of taking notesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Part 2

27. Elaboration: Creating connections

28. The generation effect

29. The test before the test

30. Are you the next great mnemonist?

31. Music to my ears

32. Parrots can't write tests

33. Tips for last-minute revision

34. What to do just before your exam

35. Use test time effectively

36. Develop all your abilities

37. Outsource the professor

38. Being perfect has its flaws

39. Becoming a critical thinker

40. Finding valuable information

41. Producing good assignments

42. Giving a good presentation

43. Develop your test-taking skills

44. Understand where grades come from

45. Miss classâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;miss out

46. To whom credit is due

47. A creature of habit

48. Develop your character

49. Direct, don't explode; Manage, don't be owned

50. Forged in the fire

51. Express your soul

52. Overcome depression

53. Daily hassles

54. Dealing with disappointments

55. Visit the finish line

56. Manage your stress

57. Managing test anxiety

58. Learn to be optimistic

59. Laughter, the best medicine

60. Prevention is better than cure

61. Feed your brain

62. Dump the sugar, honey

63. Don't skip that breakfast

64. Exercise your body, develop your brain

65. Water out the coffee

66. Life-giving water

67. Temperance

68. Sleep to succeed

69. Wash your car before a trip

70. With all your mind, body, and soul

71. The bread of life and learning

72. God as the source of wisdom

73. Start the day right

74. Pray before doing assignments and entering the exam venue

75. Keep the connection

76. Adorned as a lily of the field

77. Success through service

78. Beating off bullying

79. Questions, answers and more questions

80. From first impression to friendship

81. Coffee and your nerves

82. Choose your friends

83. Join a club

84. Family responsibilities

85. Giving is the best receiving

86. Find a mentor

87. Room-mate management

88. Make the most of your vacations

89. How to handle conflict

90. Join an online community

91. Campus romances

92. Choosing consecrated intimate relationships

100

93. Drink from the fountain

101

94. Soak up some wisdom

102

95. Lead to succeed

103

96. Save to study

104

97. Find free money for your studies

105

98. Costs to avoid

106

99. Texts on a budget

107

100. Free software, anyone?

108

101. Cash in on being a student

109

102. Work in the field you are studying in

110

103. Work for yourself

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104. Don't be afraid to ask

112

105. Cheapen your college expenses

113

106. Don't count your chickens before they hatch

114

107. Choosing an appropriate referee

115

108. Writing up your curriculum vitae

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109. Preparing for job interviews

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110. Becoming an alumnus

118

111. Epilogue

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INTRODUCTION

or most students academic success means high grades. But it really is much more. Your academic grades and symbols do not tell the story of who you are; neither do they determine who you will become. You are not the grade on a test paper, or the letter scribbled on the cover of an assignment. Unfortunately, too many people have given up on their dreams of academic success either because they found school uninspiring, or because they received negative feedback from teachers or peers regarding their ability or potential to do well. Sometimes people simply fear the challenge of university. The good news is that hope is often carried on the shoulders of knowledge.

For example, did you know that Thomas Edison (who developed the electric light bulb), Albert Einstein (who won the Nobel prize in physics),and Bill Gates (who founded the Microsoft empire) were all at some point labelled academic failures? This book presents 111 tips to give hope to anyone who wants academic success, and the knowledge, methods, and encouragement to transfer that hope into an experienced reality. But this book is about more than study skills or improving test scores, it is geared towards guiding you in getting the most out of your academic experience. Real academic success is about much more than grades; it encompasses cognitive, emotional, physical, social and spiritual development. Not simply for the sake of learning itself, but to prepare us to be of use in an occupation, in society, and in the world to come. Happy studying!

1. SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

o be a successful student you have to choose success. No one has ever become successful by accident. Decide that you are going to do well and then implement effective strategies to help you succeed. This book suggests some strategies that, if implemented, will guarantee you success. But just reading them won't help; you must implement the strategies too. Success requires effort as well as spending less time doing other things you enjoy. Persistence and a desire to achieve are very important. Only about 40% of your freshman year will graduate with you. Research has shown that the motivation to succeed—more than intelligence, or any other factor to which students often attribute their success or failure—will determine whether you succeed or drop out. Besides having a good attitude, you will have to set priorities and goals with a clear vision on how to achieve those goals. Find out what the expected competencies are for admission into your chosen profession and make these your long-term goals. Then link your current course-related goals to those future abilities. For example, a psychologist must be able to diagnose mental illnesses (long-term goal); so doing well in “Psychopathology 101” becomes valuable (short-term goal) in order to develop the ability you want in the future. Aiming for success without deciding you'll do what is needed is pointless. All talk and no action is merely vanity, and action without a well thought-out plan is futile.

2. IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR ME?

work at a Christian College. I have dear Christian colleagues at large state universities, and I attained most of my qualifications at well-known secular universities. Based on these experiences I strongly favour Christian institutions over secular ones. Why? Firstly, and most importantly for me, at Christian institutions they'll help you make sense of your course content in light of the Bible. No matter how well-funded the University or well-equipped the laboratories, and no matter how prestigious the staff, if their “truth” is in conflict with God's truth, you're getting a second-rate education. Secondly, the values and norms at secular universities are antagonistic—sometimes subtly but often quite openly—to Christian values and beliefs. Being openly true to your Christian beliefs makes it very difficult to thrive in these environments.

Thirdly, Christian universities strive to create a moral, peaceful campus environment. I'm not naïve—Christian campuses are not immune to the influences of modern society; discrimination, theft, substance abuse, and even unwanted pregnancies may occur. But this is no reason to attend a secular institution where many of these negative societal ills are social norms, and, in some instances, may even be condoned. At one secular university my professor invited our research group to her house for gossip over cheese and wine; when I studied at a Christian institution my professors prayed with me, counselled me from Scripture, and taught me to value integrity and service. Which do you prefer?

3. BUY IN OR SELL SHORT

tudying at university is a huge investment. It can yield the highest return on investment you'll ever get, or be a colossal waste of time and money. It really depends on you. Do you want to learn? Will you internalise the information conveyed to you in lectures and tests so that it can be of use to you in the future? Are you determined to grow in all spheres during your studies? If your answer to these questions is yes, you've already completed the first crucial step towards success. Unfortunately, too many students enter college without a clear picture of who they are or what they want. They enrol because their parents want a better life for themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they don't want to see their children begging or working in a menial job their whole lives. Sometimes students think that by studying they will figure out what they want. The sad reality is that most of the time they sleep through lectures, scrape through exams, and get very little out of the experience. If you want to find yourself or figure out what you want to do with your life, there are better ways than spending a small fortune at university. Spend a year as a missionary, work for an organisation that helps people, or get professional career counsellingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the experience will be of benefit whatever you end up doing. When you choose to study, make sure it is something you buy into with all you've got!

4. DEVELOP AN EXCELLENCE MINDSET

on't be content with a ‘passing mindset’. This mindset has two characteristics: firstly, these students are content with mediocrity—they just want to pass; and secondly, these students avoid working hard—too much work and they freak out! If you want to be a successful student you must be motivated to achieve academic excellence; you need an ‘excellence mindset’. Braimoh Bello suggests a number of reasons why academic excellence should be something you are motivated to achieve: • Being at the top will bring you, and those close to you, more happiness • With academic excellence comes recognition, respect, and a sense of esteem that is important if you want to be all that you can be • Academic excellence makes it easier to secure scholarships, especially for students from poor backgrounds 12

• Companies prefer to employ students whose grades suggest the ability to work hard and excel • Top students have knowledge and skills that are valued in the job market, leading to faster promotion and advancement • Being a top student opens the doors to both national and international opportunities • Being an achiever gives you opportunities to help others and it gives you confidence that allows you to grow as a person • Achieving excellence opens doors in life, such as the possibility of admission to postgraduate or professional studies • Being an achiever makes you more attractive to members of the opposite sex

5. DON'T GIVE UP BEFORE YOU START

ar too many people give up on their studies before they even begin; some because they underestimate their ability—possibly because no one else seems to believe they can do it. Some people don't even try because they have exaggerated views about what their course of study requires. And others feel overwhelmed by the huge challenge facing them and are unable to see the small individual tasks that make up the whole experience. If you start your academic journey thinking, “I have to write hundreds of tests, complete a multitude of assignments, and read thousands of pages”, then it is easy to get discouraged. The reality is that when you start you are not expected to be able to read lots of complicated books, perform complex calculations, or produce scholarly presentations. It’s the university’s job to teach you those abilities. And by the time you develop the skills and knowledge, the things you initially thought were impossible will come easily. But don't expect to learn all these things at once—you have to take it one test at a time, one lecture at a time, and one page at a time. University or college is like completing a puzzle—you can't take all the pieces in your hands and hope to know how they'll all fit together. You start with the corners and edges, and this gives you enough familiarity to keep going. Then you can work on some of the middle sections, one piece at a time, until the whole picture is complete.

6. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE IN FOR

efore going on a long trip you should pack enough supplies to ensure that you reach your destination successfully. You don't fill your petrol tank only half way. And knowing that you must walk a long way on a hot day, you take extra water along. So, too, you should know what you will need in order to complete your academic journey successfully, and decide that you will take them with you when you start your journey. So what are the things you will need if you want to be a top student? • A decision and commitment to succeed • The willingness to prioritise your learning over other interests and activities you enjoy • A passion for what you are studying and dedication to stick with it even when the going gets tough 14

• A commitment to pour in your will, energy and thought for at least three hours a day outside of class • The discipline to persist in working hard and avoid those things that derail your efforts at success • The knowledge that you will at times fail or under-perform and that when this happens you will persevere and try to learn from your mistakes • Not being willing to settle with your last performance—even when you do well—but always striving to improve on the next round

If you strive to have these “items” ready at all times during your academic journey, I guarantee you will complete it with excellence.

7. NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

esus's parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30) describes a man distributing his wealth to his servants, to each as they have ability to use it. It shares some important educational principles. Firstly, God is generous. We don’t deserve the gifts He gives us, and rarely use them to their full potential. For example, He gives us the ability to choose, to act on our own will—an ability so powerful we can even choose against the will of our creator. Also, through the Holy Spirit, He gives us the opportunity to gain a knowledge of His workings that we simply can't discover using our senses. Secondly, depending on the way in which we use these gifts, we are blessed with opportunities to grow through our abilities. Learning is based on an important principle: use it well (and you will gain more) or lose it (even if you had only a little). For example, neuroscientists know that looking after the body and brain increases the production of new neurons, which become stronger and more easily activated with use, whereas with neglect, neural connections tend to fade away. We enter the classroom with different abilities, but we can all leave enriched if we use what has been given to us. One may resolve conflicts easily, another excels at critical thinking, another has the drive to work hard—all have diverse abilities they can utilise towards their and others’ success. With all that God has given us, no one needs to be left behind.

8. THE ART OF TRANSITION

ntering university from high school is a major transition, socially and academically. Like a caterpillar entering its chrysalis, you're entering a new phase during which you're no longer the same as you were before, but you haven't yet fully developed into who you will be. It’s difficult—you miss the familiarity of the past, but can't yet fill the role you are growing into, which can lead to feelings of doubt, anxiety, and isolation. These feelings are normal, and moving past initial feelings of trepidation with constructive action is part of the art of transition. The first stage is realising that changes need to take place. University is different to high school: there's a greater diversity of people and ideas; you're expected to take responsibility for your own learning; you have to read and study more; the work is more complex; and you've got a lot more freedom—and consequently, your choices are more important. 16

The next stage is adaptation: coming up with plans for the changes and then implementing them. How will you adapt your study techniques to handle greater volumes of more challenging work? How can you be sensitive to differences between yourself and others but still focus on things that unite you? How can you manage your budget so that you meet your financial responsibilities? How will you maintain a healthy diet and get sufficient exercise? Allow family, friends, and student support services—such as academic advisers, counselling centres, student organisations, and tutoring centres—to guide and support you as you implement your plans.

9. CAMPUS RECONNAISSANCE

studied at a large state university for all of my post-graduate degrees, and for the first two or three years the only places I knew on campus were the faculty building where my lectures were held, my office, the library, the student centre where I often bought food, and the gymnasium. I hadn't attended orientation or gone on a campus tour and so I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aware of the many really interesting places I could have enjoyed during those years. The university was spread across the entire town and it was only much later that I discovered the music conservatorium where I could listen to students' recitals, the botanical garden where I could watch birds playing in the water features while eating my lunch, or the many mountain bike trails through nature reserves and wine farms surrounding the university. If I had to do it again, on my first day I would go on all the tours and orientation talks that I could, and that evening I would check Google Earth to see what interesting markers people had put down in the local community. I am sure it would have enhanced my enjoyment of my time studying at that university.

10. CHANGE YOUR HABITS

recently listened to an interview with a high school pupil who had just finished his final exams. He had been provisionally accepted for a scholarship to study medicine because of his good performance in maths and science. He achieved this despite living alone in a shack since his mother passed away a few years earlier. How did he do it? According to him it took hard work and he had to make sacrifices. Are you willing to make sacrifices to get where you want to be in life, at least for the moment? Television and video games are two of the things that steal students’ time and stifle their achievement. Research findings suggest that excessive television watching: • Makes people prone to low-level learning by weakening their imagination and ability to form visual images independently;

• Stifles reasoning and problem-solving abilities by presenting a plethora of problems with quick, superficial solutions that viewers don't really have to think about; and • Fosters inappropriate behaviour, isolation and poor interpersonal skills through the depiction of stereotyped interactions, explicit aggression and violence, overly sexualised nuances, and surrealistic romances and role models.

Similarly, video games have been linked with heightened aggressive thoughts and feelings, lowered levels of empathy, and weakened inhibitions against antisocial behaviour. On the flip side, watching television and playing games in moderation, and judiciously choosing content that is uplifting or educational, can have a positive effect. However, if you want to succeed at university you will have to prioritise your academic work, and this may include sacrificing much of your television watching and videogame time. Make the sacrifice—you won't regret it.

111

Becoming a Successful Student

Africa

PUBLISHING CO.

Conrad S. Zygmont

111 Tips for Becoming a Successful Student

Do you want to make the most of your academic experience? Do you want to turn your dreams of academic success into reality?

111

TIPS FOR