Among one of the many college lessons:
“Getting good grades is a combination of studying hard, having good luck, being visible, and playing the game well.”
First thing: Study hard.
It’s simple. You have to read. You have to listen. You have to memorize. You have to learn how to analyze. But if you’re thinking this is already an effort, it’s just one fourth of what you have to do.
Second thing: Luck
You’re lucky if you had a professor who “can” give high grades compared to those who set ceiling grades. You’re lucky if you have studious friends who will move you to study and not being friends with those who’ll say “it’s just situational, use your stocked knowledge” or “it’s just multiple choice.” You’re lucky if your rotation or completion duties would not coincide with exams. You’re lucky if your schedule is flexible, thus you have time to study despite the projects, requirements, and others. You’re lucky if the professor feels light with you because sometimes, there are just persons that they can’t just like at first impression.
Third thing: Visibility
Step One: Make sure your professor knows you, most especially not mistake you for somebody else or mistake somebody else as you, or else your efforts of visibility won’t have any effect (and might even pull you down).
Step Two: Make sure your professor sees you doing the work. Make sure your professor will feel like you had been doing all the work. Make sure you’re one of the persons who are always reporting updates or asked to relay responsibilities.
Step Three: Make sure you’re always present in meetings, in post-conferences, in every activity… and that he/she sees you in all of those.
Stupid equation I made: Visibility=Familiarity=Good grades
But as I said, it’s just one fourth of all the effort you have to put into it.
Fourth Thing: Play it well
Don’t disappoint your professor when he gives you responsibilities.
Know your professor’s style: Does he particularly give situational exams? Or by the book items? Is she lax and loves talking out to students? Is he particular with your performance in the area?
Know yourself. Can you motivate yourself to study? If not, then go with those who can help you. Don’t go with lax people like you.
Honestly, I have lower grades compared with my other classmates. Theirs are Cum Laude levels or if not, enough for recognition this graduation day.
They were busy calculating their grades so they can apply for Parangal and Cum Laude. I was just looking at them. I admit I was kind of bitter. I know I could have done better if I put my heart on studying. But then I remembered why I stopped trying to get good grades: It’s exhausting.
I used to judge people just by seeing their grades. Siya ni, alam, siya ya, mango. But then I proved myself wrong. Grades doesn’t reflect who you truly are, your capabilities, and your weakness. Behind every grade is a story to tell.
Situation 1: We had an assignment to be passed through email. Some of my classmates’ grades were 3.0 simply because their assignment had not been found even though they claimed they submitted. The spam was missed perhaps. Or maybe because my classmate who doesn’t have an email and used my other classmate’s email, the teacher just thought it was double-sent.
Situation 2: Mr. A was a student leader who was busy with his leader stuffs, but despite that working hard even though he is usually late or absent, he had a low grade. Mr. B even, who seemed to be more of the leader of the group than the real leader appointed, received a notch higher grade than Mr. A but still low. Ms. C was waiting for this one grade so she can apply for the recognition thing as a gift for her parents. She worked hard than others but she had a grade that held her gift for her parents. She’s depressed. Ms. D had worked hard on their activities as if she had put all her lack of efforts before into this activity. She even bought materials for their projects out of her own pocket. She had a grade same with Mr.B. Ms. E and F were usually just sitting pretty compared to all these other and yet they received a grade two notches higher than others.
Situation 3: Mr. X’s grades are higher than Mr. Y’s when the fact is he just copied his answers and Mr. Y did Mr. X’s project.
I have talked this with friends. Here’s our conclusion:
Grades don’t reflect your true capabilities. We’ll see in the real world, when it would be hands on… But then, you have to make it good simply because it’s your starting point for your first job where all the rest will follow.
Good luck to me! Hahaha!