If you want to or "need to" get a better grade this term, read on. Each of you is different in terms of you academic strengths and weaknesses; you may know exactly what you need to do, but will that be enough? I think there are three essential ingredients that contribute to your academic skills. A good start to better results is taking stock of how you're doing in each of these areas.
What drives you to succeed here at WPI? Are you moving ahead towards goals or struggling to meet deadlines? Are you focused on being able to get a secure, well-paying job, inspired by a natural curiosity, or doing just what you need to do to get by while having a good time? The answer usually lies in a combination of all of the above as well as other sources of motivation. Problems with motivation often stem from relying too much on avoiding consequences as a source of motivation.
Motivation can be broken down into two broad areas, acting to gain something positive (good grades, good job, satisfaction) and acting to avoid consequences (NRs, guilt, conflict with parents). When you came to WPI you probably had a good deal of positive motivation, which you may have lost sight of as you've struggled to meet deadlines and expectations. It takes a good deal of motivation to meet the demands at WPIl you may want to remind yourself or re-evaluate why you're here at WPI, what you stand to gain from working so hard. A discussion with family or friends about where you see yourself working or living in the future can provide this kind of reminder. Also, set clear, attainable goals toward something other than running away from consequences.
Habits can be seen as things we do somewhat automatically; they don't require too much thought or initiative. How many of you were in the habit of doing schoolwork for 40 to 60 hours a week before you came here? You've got the time but may not have figured out how to make good use of it, particularly if you're laid back and like to take things as they come. This is where the ability to manage your time comes in. Time management means setting some type of structure on your week, creating a successful routine. For some this seems to come naturally, but most have to work at developing good time management skills. You'll have many opportunities at WPI to develop good work habits, with a fresh start every term. You can start to develop better work habits by writing down some type of structure as a weekly goal, then trying to follow it. Each day do your best, work at it and adjust your structure weekly. After 4 weeks of this you WILL develop more effective time management habits, guaranteed!
While habits speak to how we approach our work, skills define the tools we use to do our work. Academic skills include things such as organization, how (and where) we study, how we take notes, our ability to concentrate and memorize (yes, these can be improved), as well as how we take tests. As any handyman knows, better tools lead to better work. You can improve academic skills by researching these topics at the library or on the web, asking friends about their approaches, and/or experimenting with different approaches yourself. An example: to improve concentration find a place to study that has minimal distractions and a set consistent block of time each day to do much of your studying there. After a week or so you will probably find you are more focused and able to get more work done during this time. Your body has come to recognize this as prime study time and has adjusted.
If you're feeling stuck, ask for some help. You don't have to figure it out yourself; the mose successful students and professionals know when to ask for help. Talk to friends and family, advisors and professors to clarify what you need to do. The Student Development and Counseling Center runs a series of one-hour discussions on Tuesday at noon to talk about how to improve motivation, habits and skills. Look for the "Academic Success Series" flyer posted on campus or stop by to pick up a copy. Give us a call if Tuesday's don't work for you; we're here to help.