A Dean’s list is an educational award presented to acknowledge the excellent performance demonstrated by students in a college or university.
Normally, high school or university students have to fulfill a set criteria before reaching the dean’s list. Most of the institution’s expect students to enroll in a full-time capacity to achieve a decent grade point average (GPA) within the academic semester. As well as, to maintain a specific cumulative grade point average (CGPA) throughout the academic years. Research shows that approximately 1-5% of top students in the class successfully reach the dean’s list.
Moreover, making it to the dean’s list has great potential benefits for your professional lives such as it majorly strengthens your resume. After getting the degree a person needs to decide what will be their next course of action and making it to the dean’s list doesn’t sound like a bad option.
However, the trick to making it to the dean’s list isn’t pulling all-nighters or cramming just to achieve academic success. In fact, it is far simpler than that. Remember, it’s not the grade that matters, but the willingness to grow. Read on to find out the effective ways of making and staying on the dean’s list without exhausting oneself.
A Step by Step Guideline for Making it to the Dean’s List
1- Build the Schedule
One of the best things about high school or university life is that they offer flexibility. Students have the power to plan and decide which courses they want and their timings. By taking advantage of this flexibility a timetable can be built that is compatible with one’s routine. Students should pair the difficult courses with the ones they find easy so they’re not burdened with the pressure in a single semester. Also, make sure not more than 2-3 classes are kept in a day as it can be extremely tiring and a cause for de-motivation. So, trying spacing out and keeping gaps between the chosen courses to relax and do home-study.
2- Focus on Grade Weights
At the commencing of every semester, teachers highlight the syllabus outline which includes the marks distribution, and the factors that will evaluate the student. Throwing that information in the trash is foolishness. A student should know what factors will evaluate him/her. So, they should divert the effort towards the work that is going to affect the grade the most. If there’s an upcoming test and an assignment due, it’s wise to dedicate more time studying for the test. No doubt, assignments are important too, but when a dilemma strikes, those grade weights can help in taking a quick decision.
3- Prepare for the Class
Student’s usually ignore when a teacher suggests to read a book or a researched article and that is certainly not going to land them on the dean’s list. Following teachers’ orders should be made a priority. If he/she has suggested researching something before the class, make sure it’s done. To stay ahead in the race, individuals should make a habit of reading ahead of the textbook, whether any assignment is due or not. Just a ten minutes review of a chapter before it’s taught can help the students immensely.
4- Redrafting of Notes
Writing notes is the fundamental requirement for surviving academic life. Being a university or a college student, writing notes while the lecturer teaches is nothing new. It’s a really healthy practice as they help you study better. But, it’s an even healthier practice to rewrite the notes once the class is over. Rewriting notes within a 24-hour span can significantly improve the retention rate. Students should try reviewing the notes and gradually reduce them to a flashcard before the night of the test or exam to memorize the important stuff quicker and better.
5- Be Regular
Bunking and skipping classes is fun, but that’s also a perfect way of failing and never being able to make it to the dean’s list. Therefore, unless a serious emergency arises, students should make it a compulsion to be regular and show up every class. Also, visiting the lecturer’s office hours occasionally can prove to be really beneficial. It may allow the students to discuss any questions or queries they have with them. As well as, create a good impression through showcasing to them that the individual is striving to become a good student.
6- Participate in Class
This may seem petty, but it’s highly necessary to be active in the class. Students are expected to be active listeners and responders when it comes to making the dean’s list. Every pupil can easily participate just through the raising of hands, asking of questions, being a front-bencher and noting down things. Not only does this aid in staying in teachers good books, but also clears the concepts well. With these simple acts, a student may analyze whether they have understood the concept correctly or not. It forces a person to think which increases learning from the class. In general, actively participating is an efficient way of learning things than passive listening.
7- Use Study Techniques
Studying from the textbook can get boring and exhausting. It is also highly time-consuming. Therefore, to speed-up the learning process, students can use a variety of effective study techniques such as mind-mapping, speed-reading and the 80/20 ratio. These methods give structure to the student’s written answers, ease complex concepts and are extremely time-efficient. Students are able to cover vast topics quicker with a much clearer and better understanding of the syllabus material.
8- Manage the Time
Remember the two keywords here: manage and organize. Manage the time and organize the work. The shortcut to academic success is studying smartly, not hardly! Time-management is the key. Without proper management of time, many students are unable to cope up with the pressure and often quit. Every individual must assign specific hours to attempt the homework to the best of their ability as well as to do the necessary amendments. Plan it out. Build a timetable. Start studying for the exams a week before. Procrastination is normal, according to a study, almost 80-95% of students procrastinate, but it’ll be a great feeling seeing all the work being submitted in due time without any cramming or eleventh-hour frustrations.
Reaching the dean’s list is most certainly challenging, but not impossible. Those students desiring to join the dean’s list just have to dedicatedly follow these tips and keep dealing with the academics smartly. By staying away from the cramming, all-nighter society, climbing the success ladder will be a piece of cake!