How to graduate with a first-class degree in university: 10 secrets from successful students from the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria, etc.
Choosing the right university and major can make or break your academic future. If you’re going to devote four years of your life (and possibly more in some cases) to higher education, it pays to be smart about it and have a solid plan of attack to make sure you graduate with first-class standing or at least some valuable skills for getting a job after you graduate that will actually pay the bills. Here are 10 secrets from successful students on how to graduate with first-class standing in university.
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How to graduate with first class in university
Find your passion
Find your passion, and you’ll be on your way to a fulfilling career. And it doesn’t take long for that passion to become contagious. Once you start doing what you love, it’s impossible not to have fun and enjoy the work. What’s more, when you’re passionate about your work, it shows; people notice and want in on the action because they can tell that you are living your dream!
Choose what you want
Choosing what you want is not easy when you’re faced with so many options. It’s also difficult to know which questions you should be asking when choosing a major or career path. To help make this decision, think about what your strengths are, what you enjoy doing, and where your passions lie.
Believe you can do it
We all have those days when we feel like giving up and quitting. But here, we look at what it takes to get through a tough day and push on toward success. In the face of a setback, always remember that you are not alone. In fact, many people share the same feelings, but they refuse to give up or give in.
Get ready for hard work
Getting a good grade is tough, but it’s not impossible. The key is knowing what you need to do and then doing it. Research has shown that the number one predictor of success is hard work. So while there are no shortcuts, there are strategies that you can use to make your study time more productive and get better grades. In fact, we’ve compiled the top ten tricks for getting ahead academically so you can graduate with first-class honors. Start by scheduling time for homework every day and stick to it even if you have other things going on. If possible, spend this time alone and free from distractions like social media or video games so that all of your focus goes into homework completion.
Create a study plan
Studying on your own is hard. Studying alone is even harder. A study plan will allow you to map out a timeline for your studies, and make sure you don’t miss a beat! Here are some tips for creating one.
Start by picking the classes that matter most – these are the ones you’ll want to put more time into studying for, and it’ll be easier as well if you manage your time appropriately. Think about the things you’re good at, so you can focus on those subjects. Keep track of what’s due each week so that nothing slips through the cracks. Finally, use a variety of resources such as websites and textbooks to help solidify your understanding of the material.
Participate in extracurricular activities
The great thing about extracurricular activities is that they often teach you something outside of the classroom. You might learn how to plan and run an event or build and design a product. Extracurriculars can also help you establish your own personal brand and skillset by giving you hands-on experience in whatever area you’re interested in pursuing. Plus, they look great on resumes!
Keep track of your time
Keep track of your time. One of the keys to success is time management. Do not waste time by doing things you do not need to do. When you have a long list of tasks, prioritize and start with the ones that will take less time or are more important. If you are tired and still want to study, it is better for you to take a break and rest than spend hours studying something that does not interest you at all. In case you forgot about an assignment and there is no time left, ask for an extension. It may be worth risking a lower grade if it means you can finish the task on time. Do not procrastinate!
Cultivate the right mindset
It is true that it’s not really up to you whether or not you’ll make it through your degree, but the less stress you have and the better prepared you are, the more likely it is that you will get a good result. In other words, if you want to increase your chances of making it through university with first-class honors, then invest time and energy into developing the right mindset. You can’t afford to be careless about deadlines or assignments, because this will come back to bite you later on in your studies. Follow these ten tips for graduating with a first-class degree and see for yourself how much easier life becomes when you start thinking ahead!
Fight boredom and fatigue
One of the biggest challenges you’ll face when studying is boredom and fatigue. When you get tired, your brain struggles to form new connections and associations, which can make your mind wander and make it difficult to stay focused. Try these ten tips for beating back the boredom blues:
- Set a timer for five minutes. When it goes off, take a break for at least five minutes by going on Facebook or watching a video on YouTube.
- Change where you study every day. If you always study in one spot, the novelty will eventually wear off and boredom will set in. You might try a coffee shop, library, living room – any place that sparks your creativity!
Have fun and celebrate achievements
It’s not always easy, but taking the time to celebrate achievements along the way is important. Celebrating our successes helps us feel good about ourselves and reminds us how far we’ve come. Plus, it can help us avoid feeling down on ourselves when things don’t go as planned. Graduation day will eventually come, so if you’re having fun at least some of the time then it won’t seem like such a long journey.