High school is a very test of endurance and management skills. You can't relax anymore. Competition in terms of courses and increasing tuition fees, make scholarships even more needed. It's time to face reality: You have to do well in high school if you want to get a place at the university and the scholarship you want.
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Part 1 of 5: Preparation Before High School
Step 1. Print the best possible achievements in junior high school
Many students think this is not important until the first year of high school, but this is simply not true. If you want to start your year early in Honors, you'll need to score a lot of A's (or B's) in 2nd grade; otherwise, you will not be accepted into the highly competitive, prestigious and highly sought after high school Honors classes.
Every school is a little different. Some require a test to get into Honors classes, some choose students directly based on teacher recommendations, while others send you into any class you want. To ensure that you can immediately lead, it is highly recommended to score high achievements during junior high school
Step 2. Start doing extra-curricular activities right now
If you want to excel in extra-curricular activities during high school, this can be a great way to get scholarships, attract the attention of the university in general, as well as a place to show off your skills. You can't help it, you have to start right now. There will be lots of very good quality athletes and champions in high school, so seize the odds by starting over from scratch.
Experiment with some activities while you're still young enough to let go if you don't like it, and choose something else. Don't stay stuck in one area – if you like sports, spread your wings to dance activities or musical instruments. If you are artistic, try athletic activities. You definitely can and stand out there
Step 3. Carefully choose the class
Read the class description and talk to other students in the class you are interested in. Taking a class just because a friend is following is not wise. After all, your friend will be a nuisance. It's a good idea to look for classes with students and materials that are slightly above your ability, so that there is motivation to compete and get ahead.
- If you want to be the best student, one way is to take a lot of Honors classes (as long as you get A's). A's in Honors classes stand out even more than A's in regular classes, so take as many difficult classes as you can-without hurting your GPA, of course. A good GPA score in the normal class is clearly better than a bad GPA in the Honors class.
- Always remember the subjects needed to pursue your dream career. If you want to be a psychologist, for example, take a psychology and sociology class, not a Ceramics and Welding class.
- If you can, look at textbooks for various classes. Sometimes the difficulty level of the textbook also reflects the difficulty of the class in question.
Step 4. Have in advance the required textbooks, as well as complementary books
Ask the teacher or school staff if you can get the books during the summer, as most schools always have leftovers from last year. Unless it's completely new and has to be shipped from the publisher ahead of time, there's no reason you can't have it to read all summer long.
- Ask teachers, seniors or search the Internet for the best sources for complementary reading. Use several reference books that strengthen understanding of the subject matter being worked on. That way you will be able to really understand any concept the teacher teaches.
- Don't be afraid to gobble up ingredients that look tough. Take it as a challenge and face it bravely. It may be confusing now, but once it's discussed in class, you'll understand and be able to go further.
Part 2 of 5: Achieve Academically
Step 1. Don't let your guard down in class
This is the number one rule of getting good grades: always concentrate and concentrate in class. Here are the reasons:
- You may miss important information. Many teachers talk about exams and tests in class. If you don't pay attention, you may miss the answer.
- Get extra points. Many teachers reward students who are active and willing to participate, with added value for participation. This can add a lot of value.
- Paying attention in class makes homework a million times easier. You'll have more time to check your homework at night if you've studied it in previous classes.
- Make exams and tests easier. If you've been studying seriously for an hour in class, your study time at home will be shorter.
- Sometimes your score is in danger of being somewhere between plus and minus, like an A- and A-, or a B+ and an A-. In many cases, the teacher will also take into account whether you're behaviorally a "good boy" and whether he likes you. The more attentive you are in class, the more likely your teacher will include this behavior as a factor in giving good grades.
Step 2. Do your homework
If you want to do your homework, read and pay attention in class, it's almost impossible to get a bad grade. Make sure you're not lazy, because there are certain tasks that are graded on a "completed or not" basis. There is no meaning in doing homework if it is not done well. The information obtained will be useful later in the test or final exam.
Make homework time fun. Turn on some music and prepare a snack. If this doesn't work, persuade yourself. Remember that teachers have to do the same thing, even for “all” their students. They will only give homework that is really important to learn
Step 3. Set everything up
Take and tidy up any loose notepads. If you're neater, it's easier to find whatever you're looking for, streamlining the learning process and less irritating. Here are some things to do:
- Buy several small binders (better than one large binder). Make sure to pre-punch the edges of the notepad rather than simply stuffing it into the pocket of the binder.
- Keep the syllabus in the front of the binder's pocket. This paper will be seen often and used as a reference, so place it in an easily accessible position.
- File graded and long-passed homework sheets (if grades continue, keep all test papers until the end of the year, just in case).
- Use a topic-based index for easy access at any time. Clearly label each paper with colored pens: TS for Schoolwork, Homework for Homework, C for Notes.
- Empty the bag. Spill the contents on the floor, sort and arrange them in several piles, put all important papers in the correct binding and throw away the unnecessary.
Step 4. Create and maintain a study area
If you don't have the right place to study, make one now. Is your study area neat and clean? Well-illuminated? Is it quiet and well ventilated? Are all the necessary study materials available? If so, great! If not, get it right away. If you already have a good place to study, it will be easier to manage and tidy up. You will no longer be distracted by the TV!
Keep all your books, notes, etc. within reach, as well as a computer (desktop/laptop) with Internet access, if you can. If your house is always crowded and noisy, try studying in the library
Step 5. Know the syllabus for all classes
It must be given by the teacher, and if not, ask for it. This way you know which part to focus on (because it will definitely be a test and test material) and when it's time for a test.
Knowing the syllabus, or at least making it easy to see, will make you less likely to ask questions, because you already know what topics the teacher will cover a lot of, know the deadlines for all subjects, and know the due dates and/or exams “months” ahead of time. Anyway, armed with the syllabus, you'll be safe
Step 6. Set high standards for yourself
Promise yourself, and others, that you will get good grades on your exams and complete all your homework. Begin to act if values start to fall, before they are pointed out by others. Find ways to motivate yourself, and believe that you want to get into university more than anything else. Motivation is the key to success!
If this is really important to you, talk to your parents to help you stay motivated. They also want you to get good grades, so they will definitely be open and willing to help. Maybe at the end of the semester, if you get all A's, they'll be willing to give you the gift you want or extend the night-out limit. You'll never know if you don't ask
Step 7. Study every night
The night before school the next morning, read through all the material you suspect or are told the teacher will cover. Use review questions at the end of each chapter to ensure a basic understanding of the chapter. Write down any questions that arise and ask the teacher. You will master the material in class in such a way as to make the most difficult questions easy.
When it comes to small facts like dates, names, and calculations or equations, our memory tends to forget very quickly, especially if those facts are replaced while memorizing others. Studying a little bit each day will keep the information solid and easier to remember
Step 8. Be diligent in taking notes
The main rule is to copy all the diagrams as completely as possible and write down anything you think is difficult to remember. Write them in an easy-to-read place and place them regularly by date for easy reference.
- Create your own coding or handwriting system so you don't have to write every word. Use abbreviations if possible, so as not to miss the teacher's explanation.
- Try going home and rewriting notes, adding information if necessary. Some teachers like to go back and forth from one topic to another. Maybe you remember something from the teacher's words and didn't have time to record it or write it down elsewhere. Review all available notes and additional information.
Step 9. Get a tutor
A good tutor or tutor can help you understand concepts, make class fun and questions not too easy or too difficult. A tutor isn't just there for the "dumb" or retarded-even the brightest students can benefit from after-school tutoring. Sometimes there are student tutors at the school who offer help and advice between school hours or after school.
Talk to your guidance counselor or classroom teacher about possible tutors to follow. Usually they know university students who really need a teaching assignment for their college resumes or students who are enrolling in an after-school tutoring program who are looking for students
Part 3 of 5: Winning Tests and Schoolwork
Step 1. Start studying a few days before the test
Three days in advance is usually enough to prepare. If you play around until the night before the test, you will not be able to learn all the material and 'definitely' will not be able to remember the material for the final exam later.
- If you have time left at the end of a study session, review some old material to keep it fresh in your mind for the final exam. A few minutes here and there will greatly reduce the time needed to study at the end of the year, when you'd rather be on the beach until the summer.
- If there are several tests that are on a tight schedule, think about the difficulty level of the material and manage the time well. If you spend as much time studying difficult material, your grades in difficult classes will drop. If you already know the ingredients, learning more won't really mean much.
Step 2. Avoid the habit of studying fast the night before the test
There have been many scientific studies on this subject and the conclusion is all the same: putting so much material at once for a test does not guarantee an increase in grades. It certainly makes sense that studying is better than not studying, but when you're feeling so tired, your memory doesn't work, making studying useless.
Sometimes it's also necessary to stay up all night to write an essay or finish a school project, because it's better to be exhausted and get a mark on the assignment than to sleep and miss the mark that makes the difference between A and B, or between B and C. In that case, if the deadline is indeed must be met, coffee and energy drinks become true friends. But be warned: once the effects of caffeine wear off, you'll feel much more tired than before
Step 3. Get extra value
After finishing your homework, do some difficult questions from the supplementary book. Work on old test questions and learn new techniques to help maximize the results learned in class. Why is that? Because many teachers give credit or additional marks on test scores or school projects. Oh, and you're getting smarter too, of course.
Taking on extra work now means getting better grades at university, so make the most of it. The more you master now, the less likely you are to know anything in the future
Step 4. Take a break from studying if necessary
Even though this advice sounds silly, it's really better to work hard in a short time and take regular breaks than to work hard for too long and burn brain cells. You may feel like you're wasting your time, but what it really does is make sure your brain stays in peak condition.
Most people are able to work for 50 minutes at peak condition and efficiency, then need about ten minutes of rest before functioning optimally again. Decide what's best for you and don't be afraid to stray a little off schedule to reward yourself for successfully completing something difficult. Trust that you will be able to return to work later
Step 5. Start working on long-term projects, once assigned
The longer you work on it, the bigger the projects get. Here's a quick formula for estimating how much time should be spent on a given project:
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Let's say you have a 200 point essay that needs to be completed in a month and a half, or 45 days:
200/45 = 4.4 points a day.
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1 point equals 6 minutes of work. Get 4, 4 points in a day:
4, 4 x 6 = 26
That means in a little under half an hour a day. If you do it this way, you'll generally finish the assignment well ahead of the deadline, and have "information soaking up time" before the essay is due. You can relax because you finish from scratch!
Step 6. Form a study group with friends
In general, group study is more effective than self-study. And more fun too! If possible, meet twice a week. Make sure everyone involved understands that you're meeting to learn, not to chat about something else.
Study groups will be more effective when done correctly. This is no time to be playing around! Designate someone to lead the group and decide what topics will be covered that day. Have someone bring snacks and drinks, as well as prepare questions or questions for the group to discuss. However, if you have friends who are distracting or distracting during group study, tell them that you need to concentrate. Instead of being silly wasting time, just hang out with them another time, on their own time
Step 7. Study when you have a little free time
Bring some flashcards to use as practice tools whenever you have free time. On the bus? Flashcard time. Queue for lunch? Flashcard time. Waiting for Mother? Flashcard time. All of this builds up and gives you more free time at night to have fun.
It's also great to do with friends. When you have 5 or 10 minutes left before class, ask the person next to you if they want to play a quiz. This way you can learn with your eyes and ears, making it easier to remember
Step 8. Speed learning system as a last resort
This shouldn't be a daily routine, but if you want to keep your grades high and you're starting to miss schoolwork because you're not wise to time management, "don't just give up." Five minutes before class starts can be very valuable. Learn the art of the speed learning system. This is quite helpful in bridging stressful moments of doing essays, homework, schoolwork, and many other activities.
However, this system does not help learning in the long term. The speed learning system makes you tired, drains your stamina, and doesn't absorb well quickly. It's important that you study a topic many times before it sticks in your memory. Not just the night before the test or a few minutes before class starts
Part 4 of 5: Achievement in Extra-Curricular Activities
Step 1. Get involved in various activities
Good grades are a great way to impress your ideal university, but having similar achievements in additional activities will show that you can do more without hurting your academic grades.
- If you are athletic, consider joining a sports team that you are passionate about and you are gifted with. Conduct annual competitions with the team to establish reputation in the school.
- The art, music and drama are equally impressive. The university is looking for great talents in the arts, singers, musicians, actors, and dancers.
- Join the club. Join any club you are passionate about or talented in. If you speak Spanish well, for example, join a Spanish Club. Like chess? Join the Chess Club. You will also meet many friends.
Step 2. Get involved in more than one activity
It's great that you can be an all-around athlete. Universities love this. What else do they like? Of course, a versatile athlete who is also good at playing the violin, as well as a member of the debate team. If you want to be more impressive and versatile, do all the stuff activities a little.
It doesn't matter if you're really good at it or not. What matters is that you are willing to try. No university will reply to your application by saying, "Fine, but how good is your "ability" to play Little Orphan Annie?" or "Sure, but how many goals actually went into the correct goal?" What matters is the fact that you are actually a citizen in high school and have done your best to get involved
Step 3. Volunteer activities
You know what's more impressive than an all-round athlete? A versatile athlete who also sits at the forefront of the violin class and a member of the debate team. You know what's even more impressive than the versatile athlete who also sits at the forefront of the violin class and is a member of the debate team? A versatile athlete who is capable of doing all that "and" volunteering. Nothing screams "I love my community" and "I'm a great student for your university" facts more than volunteering.
There are dozens of opportunities that you don't even realize are at your fingertips. You can volunteer at your local hospital, animal shelter, parents' home, social kitchen or events at your local community theatre. You can help your local church, women's shelter, or teach poor children. And for this, you just have to ask or apply
Step 4. If your school doesn't offer a particular activity, try starting your own
This way you will look more impressive. Does your school have an environmental club? No? Make it. Thespian club? Get started. Even if it's just you and your friends, at 4:30 a.m. on a Wednesday, doing recycling at school, the university will still be impressed.
Make sure you have asked the teachers and principals for permission beforehand whether it is permissible to officially establish the club in question. You will be entered in the yearbook and have official status. This way the club can grow big and you can discuss it with the university later
Step 5. Prioritize after-school activities
Continue with extra-curricular activities that you enjoy and are committed to, but don't forget to devote enough time to study. All activities are important so that you become a complete student and sometimes become a very important factor when applying to university. But in general, your values are number one.
- Determine how much time you need to be maximally active, then add thirty minutes, just to be safe. Add in at least 8 hours of sleep and a few hours spent commuting or attending school. Subtract this number from 24 and the end result is "free time" remaining for one day.
- Find a calendar that lists the full dates and months of the year, then write down all the activities you want to do along with the number of hours required for each activity. If there is a day that is so busy that you don't have time to spare, prioritize and cut out activities that are not so important. Also remember that you need "time out" to relax and cool off.
Part 5 of 5: Taking Care of Yourself
Step 1. Get more sleep
Your brain needs sleep in order to refresh itself, process all the information it absorbs during the day and prepare for the next day. Without a good night's sleep, your grades will drop, your mood will deteriorate, and your body will "turn off" on its own. Try to get a full 8 or 9 hours of sleep at night.
Sleep greatly affects performance and the ability to understand in general. The less sleep you get, the lower your brain's ability to process the simplest things
Step 2. Eat a good breakfast every day
The first meal of the day should be rich in protein. Breakfast gives you energy and nutrition to start the day, succeed in class and keep you progressing well. Foods rich in protein and fiber will provide the most energy.
Stay away from breakfast with empty foods like donuts and sugary cereals. You do get a sugar spike at first, but it passes quickly and you'll "fall" in the 3rd period, before finally starving long before lunch
Step 3. Ask for help if necessary
This sounds obvious, yes, but many students are either too afraid or don't care enough. You're not stupid just because asking for help is actually smart.
- Ask for help with homework, tests, and exams. When teachers, parents, and tutors know how hard you are trying, they will be willing to help with anything.
- Ask for help with basic moral guidance. Life in high school is hard and easily stressful. If the class load feels heavy, talk to the class teacher and the BK teacher. They may have an idea how to lighten it.
Step 4. Spend some time having fun
Youth only happens once. Life at university isn't going to get any easier, so make sure you always make time for a little fun. Spend every Saturday night just hanging out with friends, family, or just relaxing doing whatever you love to do. Otherwise, you will be devastated!
Having fun is an important prerequisite for getting good grades. If you're in a bad mood, don't sleep and have no social life, it's impossible to enjoy high school! Take time to have fun so you can stay happy, focused, and do your best
Warning
- Don't just take the easy class. More difficult classes will look better on a university application, and you'll feel better if you get good grades in those classes.
- Always be on time, especially if your school only allows a certain number of absences for no apparent reason. (eg due to laziness, truancy, no written permission/phone call from parents, etc.).
- Don't let dramas that have nothing to do with school get in the way of your main goals as a student.
- High school has traditionally remained a place where children carry out the social and emotional experiments required to become adults. If this is ignored just for the sake of studying, it will make you alienated from the environmental culture when you enter university later.
- Before dedicating your life to living the perfect high school life "to get into the university of your dreams," consider whether it's really what you, your parents, or someone else's goal is. If it's really your dream to get into a certain famous university, do it wholeheartedly. If it's not, remember that this is your life, not preparation for life: study well, but still be yourself and follow your dreams.
- Don't try to be too perfect. By setting unrealistic expectations of yourself, you are actually blocking your chances of achieving those expectations.
- Try getting a "study buddy." Usually, it's much more fun to do homework and study with friends.
- It would be nice if you already have an idea of personal skills and interests, so that you can choose a career. Don't choose something you don't like just because it's a high-paying job. The results will not be good.
- Life isn't all about (insert sport here), and it's likely that your playing time will end after high school (unless it's already been ogled by a university talent scout). Don't let this activity take up too much of your time. A pretty ball throw won't replace an "F" on the results report. Not to mention the fact that there are billions of players (enter sports again) who have better scores.
