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from the 2009 Edition 2009 EditionView the Current Issue in its Entirety Computer Science Programs on the Rebound Green Scene – Are You With It? What Are You Doing Next Summer? Financing your College Education Your Face is Out There - Facebook & College Admission Beyond Letters And Numbers - Get Active And Be Personal! One-Stop or On-the-Spot Alternative Ways to Apply to College 7 Ways College Isn't Like High School College life in Second Life - Virtually Explore the College of Your Choice Quality over quantity -- How Many Schools Should You Apply To? Dollars and Sense - Managing Your Money in College Five Tips For A Super You! - Making The Grade Outside The Classroom Student Wins $67,482 For Poetry And Critical Essays Health Care Careers Remain Hot Fine Arts, Design & Media Careers Invest in Your Future - Cash in with a Business Major View the Current Issue in its Entirety Articles from issue:top |
Five Tips For A Super You! - Making The Grade Outside The ClassroomFrom the MCG 2009 editionOkay, because you're reading a magazine about preparing for college, we can probably assume you know how to be successful in the classroom, right? You may have good study habits, but do you have the skills it takes to be a great friend, family member, employee and future college student? Read on for five tips to help you be successful whenever you step outside that classroom door. 1. Listening 101Courses in high school and college will teach you how to speak well, but did you know that listening well is just as, if not more, important? Kory Floyd, professor of health and family communication at Arizona State University, says, "Keep in mind that you have two ears but only one mouth ... Listening carefully when others speak helps you understand them better, and it demonstrates to them that you care about what they're saying." A few ways to practice listening: don't interrupt and, if you're not sure what was said, restate the speaker's words back to him or her to make sure you understood. You will be amazed at how much you can learn by not speaking!2. Ask For HelpWe all need help sometimes, whether it's with school, relationships, mistakes we've made or big decisions about the future. Parents, guidance counselors, trusted teachers, mentors or friends are all great people to ask for help or advice. Pete, a senior at Iowa State University, says, "Through high school, it was hard to ask for help. At 16 years old, I was close to knowing everything there was. Five years later, I've realized I only know a liver. I've been lucky that my parents have always been supportive of me. Because of this, they are the two people that I turn to for help." You will have to ask for help many times in your life -- from your family, your friends, your professors, or even your future co-workers or boss. Get in the habit of asking for help now, and you will have no trouble finding it in the future!3. Think About OthersYou probably have a group of friends you regularly hang out with, but what about all those other people out there? Get to know someone new! If you're an athlete, get to know a musician. If you're a great student, help out someone who's struggling. Befriend an exchange student, and learn about his or her home country! and culture. Feeling adventurous? Meet some children by babysitting or senior citizens by volunteering at a nursing home. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn from people who aren’t like you! And while you’re making all these new friends, please remember to be kind. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Cameron Diaz, Jerry Seinfeld and many other celebrities were teased in school. Would you want to be known as the person who tormented one of them? ’Nuff said.4. Be The Same Person Online And OfflineBen Jones, associate director of admissions and "communications guy" at MIT, says, "Students should absolutely represent themselves honestly and transparently in any context that they submit for consideration as part of a college application, such as a personal website, blog, etc." This advice also applies to any scholarship or future job applications. Be honest about who you are and what you can do! Of course, always be very careful about the personal information you choose to make public.5. Stay HealthyStay mentally healthy -- if you’re stressed, get enough sleep and find someone you trust to talk to. Stay physically healthy -- exercise and eat right. And stay emotionally healthy. You will have more freedoms in the years to come -- your parents will not always be there -- so make careful, wise decisions about relationships and the activities in which you choose to participate.Practice these five good habits now, and you’ll be "making the grade" every time you step outside the classroom! |
