How To Graduate With First Class In Any Tertiary Institution
It is the dream of every student to graduate with first-class honors, but only a few have been able to achieve this.
Is it about the pride in saying, “I graduated with first class” or the great demand for first-class graduates in the labor market? Is it about making your parent proud or because of other reasons? Whatever your reason might be, you are about to know the secrets of first-class students.
First of all, ask yourself if you really want to graduate in the first class. If your answer is yes, you are one step ahead. Secondly, ask yourself, Can I graduate in the first class? If your answer is yes, you are two steps ahead.
That is the spirit you need. The final and most important question is “How do I graduate with first class?”, which is the question that gave birth to this article. So, let’s answer the question, “How to graduate with first class”.
1. DEVELOP A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
If you make God number one in your agenda, he will make you number one. While you are on campus, you will be faced with different crises (physically and sometimes spiritually). The only solution is to pray to God Almighty.
2. SET A SMART GOAL
You have to set a goal before you can achieve it. Your target goal must be Smart, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely(SMART).
At the beginning of each academic session, choose the scores and grades you wish to have in all your courses and write them down. You can’t possibly make a first-class when your target goal is to graduate with a second class. So, get your goals right and make them smart.
3. STAY FOCUSED
Making the decision, “I want to graduate with first-class” Is quite easy to say. Keeping the dream alive is the difficult one. When you face crises on campus, don’t despair and keep your head straight up.
Remain focused and determined towards achieving your goal(To graduate with first-class).
It is very certain that a lot of things will want to distract and discourage you, but you have to remain focused and determined. That is the spirit you need to graduate with first class.
4. USE YOUR TIME THE RIGHT WAY
If you want to graduate with a first class in school, you have to manage your time effectively. Know how to use your time the right way.
Do not place anything above your academic work. Studies first, then others follow. Don’t waste your time on social activities.
5. ATTEND CLASSES, PRACTICALS AND TUTORIALS
If you are willing to graduate with first-class, you must not take this point lightly. Strive to attend all lectures and practicals, join study tutorials, and discuss academic works with mates. Don’t take any of your academic work with levity. When doing this, ensure you are punctual.
There is no class that is not important, you will learn at least one new thing in every lecture.
You will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly from lecturers and get first-class answers. Do you even know that lecturers ask questions that will come out of examinations during lectures? Yes, they do. If you are wise, that is an expo for you.
6. BE AHEAD OF OTHERS
Who is a first-class graduate? A graduate among other graduates is ahead of others academically based on his/her report. So, if you want to become a first-class graduate, you have to be ahead of others.
Read ahead of others, read ahead of your examination, read ahead of your lecturers, and read ahead of your mates. You want to be a first-class graduate, so you must be ahead.
7. DISCOVER YOURSELF
What works for Paul might not work for Peter. While some students cram for examinations to become first-class graduates, cramming for examinations might not work for you. Know yourself, be yourself.
Discover your most effective study time, discover your most effective study method, and know your strengths and weaknesses. Work on these discoveries and use them the right way.
8. KNOW YOUR LECTURERS AND YOUR SCHOOL
Each school has its own way of conduct, and also each lecturer has his/her own system. One man’s food is another man’s poison. While some lecturers like students that write additional information in examinations and give them bonus marks, other lecturers don’t like it and remove marks.
How do you know which lecturer liked this and which lecturer hate that? Simple….. Through observation, asking questions in class, answering questions in class, and asking your seniors in school, you’ll know each lecturer and what their expectations are.
9. DEVELOP THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
You know what? You can’t graduate with first-class when you don’t behave like one. Also, You will hear your mates and seniors saying “Nobody has ever passed the course of this lecturer”, “Nobody can get an A in this course”, and so on.
In addition, you have to develop the right attitude and say to yourself, “Yes, I can do it”. Don’t follow what the crowd says, the majority can be wrong sometimes. Neglect all negative thoughts and develop a positive attitude.
10. ASSOCIATE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Show me your friends and I’ll tell you…………… what you’ll graduate with. Yes, the type of people you associate with will determine whether you will pass or fail. If you want to graduate with first-class, work with people of the same thought, and mindset and are also hardworking.
Similarly, if you are brilliant, associate with brilliant students. If you are an average student, associate with above-average students.
Walk with students that will influence your life positively.
11. SEEK HELP
Nobody has been created perfectly well, you have to understand that. Always seek help with your academic work where needed.
If you don’t understand a course or assignment, seek the help of your lecturer or seniors to explain it to you. Even when you know it, seek help on it. You’ll definitely gain more knowledge.
12. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PAST QUESTIONS
Most lecturers don’t have the time to prepare examination questions, they usually have a lot to do. As a result, they bring out the majority of their questions from past questions.
Go to your seniors, ask them past questions, and solve them. This is another expo you need to pass your examination and graduate in a first class.
13. TAKE DOWN CORRECT AND COMPREHENSIVE NOTES
When you attend lectures, make sure you take down correct notes directly from your lecturers and jot down every point. Don’t depend on the note you’ll copy from your mates, do you know whether he/she has written down the right note.
That is why you need to write down notes by yourself, you rest assured that you are reading the right note.
14. DEVELOP A PERSONAL INTEREST IN YOUR COURSE
If you don’t develop an interest in your course, you won’t enjoy it while studying for the examination. When you don’t enjoy your study time, your study becomes ineffective.
No matter the nature of your course, you need to develop a personal interest in it.
15. BE DISCIPLINED AND DILIGENT
It is impossible to follow all the points mentioned above if you are not disciplined and diligent. If you really want to be a first-class student, you must build the act of discipline and diligence.
Always control yourself and provide some set of rules you want to follow while you are on your way to graduating with first class.
Credit: Hilearners
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