Whether you are completing your high school diploma, your bachelor’s degree or your master’s degree, striving to be at the top of the class is a worthy goal. For some people, it is a matter of pride, and for others, it is a matter of maintaining scholarships. What does it take to stay on top in very competitive academic situations?
Prioritize School
If you want to be at the top of the class, you need to make school your priority. You cannot assume that native intelligence will get you through. While that might be possible when you are a bit younger, but this is not reliable the further you go. Your schoolwork has to be the priority. While emergencies and mental health days are important, you should make sure that your schoolwork comes out on top whenever you can.
Use Your Resources
Too many students think that they need to go through their schooling on their own. While striving to be the top of the class does require an impressive amount of work, it does not have to be work that you do on your own. Your resources may include a great support network, school tutors or even a students resources office where you can inquire about what is available. For example if you do a quick google for “Washington DC tutoring” you can find the perfect tutor in your area. If your professors have office hours, use them to better learn the material.
Keep a Check On Your Mental Health
Your mental health is something that is not negotiable. If you allow yourself to become so stressed that you break down, you are going to suffer a far greater set back than if you had simply taken a small amount of time for yourself. Make sure that you stay calm and that you are aware of how you are feeling.
Attendance
It seems simple, but it is true. To excel at school, you need to be able to make sure that you attend your classes. No matter how well you know the material, you need to be in the classroom. A few missed days here and there will not hurt you as long as you stay on top of what you need to do, but it is far better for you to simply be there.
Do More
Doing the minimum will ensure that you get good grades, but going above and beyond is what will push you to the top.
If you are thinking about rising to the top of your class, consider what you ned to do!