1.To
get you to treat school like a job.
2.To position yourself for success.
3.To prosper from unmotivated students.
4.To build your credibility in the classroom.
As
a professor, if there is one thing that concerns me
more than anything else about students, it's the fact
that most students treat school like a vacation (i.e.,
a social club) rather than a vocation (i.e., a job).This
is not to say that you shouldn't have fun in college.That's
like saying you shouldn't have fun at work.Not only
is that ridiculous, it's stressful.On the contrary,
I mean that you need to accept college for what it
is, a business.
Think
about it, as a customer, don't you pay money for your
college's services?Don't you get something back for
your money (at least that's what you hope)?Don't you
have the option to spend your money (i.e., tuition)
anywhere you choose?Can't you complain to administration
if you feel that you've been mistreated? Are you starting
to get my point?
Now
let's look at it from the employee's (your) standpoint.In
college, aren't you held accountable by someone in
an authority position?Do these authority figures sometimes
get on your nerves?If you do not perform up to par
or do not demonstrate the basic competencies to perform,
will you get promoted (i.e., pass the class)?Don't
you sometimes feel like you're being overworked?I
don't know about you, but this sounds like a job to
me.
The
point is this, if you want a sure way to ace college,
treat school more like a job than a four-year stint
at summer camp.I could tell you many stories about
how my classmates never took this concept to heart.They
just went aimlessly from one class to another, not
worrying about how they were being perceived by their
professors (i.e., reputation) or how their reputation
determined what kind of grades they would receive
at the end of the semester.
I
will attempt to explain this "school is a business"
concept, and I will share a personal story with you
on how I benefitted from it.Just remember, all of
these tricks and strategies tie in together.
Ask
yourself this, "if you missed work every other week
or you were late to work every other day, what would
happen to you?"Right after you were warned, you would
eventually get fired if it continued to happen.However,
in college, professors can't fire you, but they can
fail you.In a nutshell, treat school like a business
(i.e., job) and show up; and show up on time.
Here's
another example; if my boss gave me an assignment,
and I constantly complained about it, consistently
missed deadlines, made numerous excuses for not completing
it, and it was less than professional when I finally
submitted it, what would happen to me?I'll make it
easier for you, what wouldn't happen to me?I
wouldn't get any promotions, raises, or bonuses.My
boss would lose all trust and confidence in me.Matter
of fact, it would probably be best if I started looking
for another job.
If
you do any of these things that I mentioned earlier,
guess what?You don't get that promotion (i.e., pass),
you ruin your reputation, and you don't get that raise
you wanted (i.e., an A or B).Is it starting to sink
in?
When
I say you need to treat school like a business, I
mean REALLY treat it like a business. Respect
your employer (your professor) whether or not you
like him or her; turn in all assignments on time;
turn in professional-looking work; accept responsibility
for your mistakes and screw-ups; have an eagerness
to learn; keep a positive attitude and anything else
you could possibly think of.Sounds tough? Hey, no
one ever said college would be easy.
The
Golden Rule
When
I was in college, I mastered this "School of Business"
technique by remembering what my mama always told me,
"Joe, if you treat people the way you want to be treated,
you'll never have to worry about having people problems."
Mama and the Bible were right, "Do unto others as you
have them do unto you."The one thing I'm most proud of
as a student is the fact that I NEVER turned in
an assignment late, and I never failed to complete one.Unfortunately,
most of my classmates couldn't make that same claim.Imagine
telling your boss, "Oh, that assignment you gave me, I
forgot about it and didn't do it; or do I get extra credit
for doing my job?"
Remember,
in the end your credibility (reputation) will almost
always earn you one letter grade higher than you deserve.Just
think about it, have you ever received a grade higher
than you thought you actually earned?Now ask yourself,
what did that professor think of you?More than likely,
it was positive.This book is not rocket science; almost
anybody can apply these strategies.I'm appealing to
your common sense here.
Personally,
I know I received at least one grade higher than I actually
earned in at least a third of my classes.You don't think
that had an effect on my grade point average?I am certain
that these "grade bonuses" were a result of my credibility
as a hard working student in the classroom.Remember,
just like a job, reputation counts.
The
fact of the matter is, whether you treat school like
a business or not, your professors will.We're trying
to prepare professionals for the workforce, and the
first step is to treat you like you're already a professional.I'm
just suggesting that you make an effort to be worthy
of being called a "professional."
Unlike
the other previous (as well as the following) "tricks,"
this particular strategy should be common practice.No
one, including professors, should have to ask students
to act like professionals.As a college student, your
integrity and character shouldn't allow you to act in
any other way.I tell my students that your character
is who you are when nobody's looking.I personally believe
that we could double, maybe even triple, the national
graduation rate if students treated college more like
a business.
Yes,
you pay your money, so you have the right to treat school
any way you wish.But when was the last time you bought
something from Walmart (i.e., college) and the employees
(i.e., professors) got a chance to evaluate you (the
customer)afterwards?Given this fact, when was the last
time employees rated you poorly (i.e., a failing grade),
didn't give you what you paid for (i.e., a passing grade),
and then asked you to come back tomorrow and pay for
it all over again?Sounds ridiculous doesn't it?But isn't
that the way the college business is run?You pay your
money, most of the time you don't get what you paid
for, you get treated like crap, you're offered no guarantees,
and even if you don't like it, you have to come back
tomorrow, next week, or maybe next year and pay even
more for it.What a business!I wish they sold stock.
Trust
me on this one, it pays (i.e., better grades) to treat
school like a business.
The
Right Place
at the Right Time
Allow
me to share a personal story with you.I was enrolled
in a Tuesday evening (5:00
p.m.) marketing course with one of the most boring professors
I've ever seen in my life.The class lasted until 8:30
p.m. (thank God it was only one night a week).This professor
would stand before the class and "read" the contents
of the chapters (word for word) for over three hours
in the most monotone voice I've ever heard.No joke!Since
we only met once a week, very few students blew off
his class, even though they probably could have (I believe
everyone in our class was literate).
During
this same semester, Janet Jackson had come to town to
practice for a concert in a neighboring city approximately
60 miles away.When the local media found out about it,
the public demanded that Janet give a concert in our
city.After much haggling between her promoters and our
city officials, Janet agreed to give a one-day concert
at a discount rate of $10 per ticket.The city was excited!
However,
the date and time of the concert was on a Tuesday at
5:30 p.m. We're talking about a concert during the middle
of rush hour, right after work, and most importantly,
in direct conflict with my class schedule.
Now
understand, being a young man with testosterone bursting
out of my ears, this was a dream come true.I thought
Janet Jackson was hotter than the heat in Miami, and
I'm not talking about the basketball team.Even the $10
ticket price was within my budget; so this became the
event I just couldn't afford to miss.
Even
after I realized that her concert schedule was in direct
conflict with Professor "Snoring's" class, I had already
decided to skip his class.But on the day before the
concert, I took a glimpse at my notes in my school folder
and I saw my "WHY STATEMENT" staring me right
in the face.I asked myself, "Joe, are you here (in college)
to watch Janet shake her butt on stage, or are you here
to find a way to get your mother and sister out of the
ghetto?"There's no need to tell you what the right answer
was.So in total disgust, I decided to let my image of
Janet Jackson bouncing around on stage bounce right
out of my head.
Of
course when Tuesday night came, I didn't have the greatest
attitude in class.To make matters worse, our class of
35 shrunk to just three on that evening.I never saw
anything like it.I guess almost everyone was a Janet
Jackson fan (or at least for that night).Our class looked
like a ghost town.
When
the professor came in, it appeared he didn't even notice
that we were the only three students there.In fact,
it wasn't until fifteen minutes had passed when he sneezed
and looked up and noticed that the classroom was basically
empty.I told you, this guy was out of it.He asked, "Where's
everybody?"And one kid in the back said, "I think they're
all at the Janet Jackson concert tonight." I guess telling
on his fellow classmates was his way of getting back
at them for having fun. Professor "Snoring" (as I will
lovingly call him) then responded surprisingly, "Oh,
that's where they are?"And what he proceeded to do next
just blew me away.
"Well,
I want each of you to take out a sheet of paper, " he
continued."We're going to have a pop quiz."
Needless
to say, I was ticked off.Not only did I miss my date
with Janet Jackson (hey, a man can dream can't he?),
this guy was giving us a quiz that I didn't even prepare
for.Whoever said that life wasn't fair should be shot
for making such an understatement.
Professor
"Snoring" continued to tell us, "Before you take the
quiz, I want you to write in the top right-hand corner,
from 0 to 100%, what you think you deserve to get on
this quiz.Then I want you to write your name under the
score you wrote," he concluded.
Even
though I didn't study for this test, I still I believed
I deserved to get an "A" on it, so I wrote down 100%.Remember
what I said earlier about "Breaking the Curve"?You can't
raise your standards by lowering your expectations.Besides,
what was wrong with a little wishful thinking?
He
then proceeded to walk around the class, and he asked
us to hand the paper to him.He said, "This quiz will
count for 25% of your grade."
After
I was able to breathe again, I realized what had just
happened.I got a 100% percent for just showing up and
putting my name on a sheet of paper.The thought of Janet
Jackson on stage seemed so insignificant at that moment
in time.The $10 I saved from not going to the concert,
I eventually used to purchase her cassette (couldn't
afford the CD).
What
was funnier was what happened in our class the following
week.When the students, now about 30 or so in attendance,
found out that we had a pop quiz that was worth 25%
of our grade (and no chance for a make up exam), they
went ballistic.They wanted to start a revolt, claiming
that the professor couldn't do what he did.
Given
the fact that this professor had tenure (i.e., the
ultimate in job security), those students had a better
chance of getting the university to change its name
than they did getting him to change their grade.Needless
to say, he didn't budge an inch.
That
semester, over half the class failed that course,
and they all had to take him again (he was the only
professor teaching that section). Yours truly pulled
a B+ (hey, I'm not perfect), which was also the highest
grade in the class. This is just an example of what
can happen to you if you fail or succeed in treating
school like a job.Please, don't learn the hard way.
Listed
below are some simple rules that any student can follow.
The great speaker/philosopher, Jim Rohn, once said,
"Those things that are easy to do are also easy not
to do."This is unfortunate, but also very true.If
you work to become the "employee of the semester"
in every class you take, I guarantee you that both
you and your grades will get promoted.
Rules
for "The School of Business"
1.
Try to show up for class every day even when you don't
feel like it.
Before
you decide not to go to class due to sickness or whatever
reason, ask yourself, "Would I stay home today if
I knew the professor was giving us a test today with
no chance for a makeup?" If the answer is "yes," stay
home. If the answer is "no," read your "WHY STATEMENT,"
get off your butt, and get going!
2.
Be on time!
Remember
what I said earlier, what would happen if you showed
up to work late every other day or even once a week?
That's right, you'd get fired. Don't get fired from
school, get fired up about school.
3.
Accept personal responsibility for everything that
happens to you.
Even
if it's not your fault, accept responsibility. You
will earn the respect of your peers and your professors.
Your peers may not be in a position to do anything
for you, but your professors are. I could share numerous
stories how this has paid off for me (as a student)
and my students in the long run.
4.
Type everything, and do it neatly and professionally.
Even
if the professor doesn't specify, type it. And if
you really want to get on their good side, put a cover
page on it. Remember, do what most students aren't
willing to do. Unfortunately, your academic success
will depend on their (other students) laziness or
lack of motivation. Hey, I didn't write the rules,
that's just the way it is.
5.
Proofread everything until you're tired of reading
it, and then proofread it again.
The
professional student rarely turns in a paper with
typos. You can't always trust "spell check," so don't.
Get others you can trust to double-check your work.
Also, avoid making last minute corrections on your
paper in ink. To avoid this, after you get to class,
don't proofread your paper anymore. Do your proofreading
before you get to class, not in class. This will also
help you to reduce stress.
6.
Never, never, never argue a grade (refer to number
3).
You
might win the battle (i.e., a higher grade), but I
can tell you as a professor, you WILL lose the war
(i.e., no letter of recommendation, no benefit of
the doubt grade boost at the end of the semester,
no great internship leads, no connection with their
network, no favorable comments about your character,
etc.). Trust me, it's not worth it.
7.
Turn ALL assignments in on time.
Since
I never turned in an assignment late before, I have
to plead my ignorance on what to do if you just "have
to" turn one in late. My solution was, even if I wasn't
there, my assignment was going to be there. Complete
the assignment early if you have to; get others to
drop it off for you (but make sure they're reliable;
and double-check with your professor to make sure
he or she received it). Just do whatever it takes
as if your life depended on it. Guess what? Nobody
else is willing to go through the trouble, so that
means the professor will be highly impressed because
he or she doesn't expect it from you.
I
remember one time when I Federal Expressed my assignment
to a professor when I was out of town (although I
had to borrow the money to do it). You don't think
she was impressed by that? By the way, I received
an "A" in her class with an 86 overall average. You
figure the math. I'm telling you, reputation counts!
8.
Always do a little more than the average student will
do.
If
you follow all of the previous seven rules listed,
you will
be going the extra mile. The extra mile includes preparing
cover pages for all assignments, turning in assignments
a day early (I've given students higher grades just
because of that), and utilizing the professor's office
hours (it gets lonely in our office). Again, a full-proof
method of going the extra mile is to ask yourself,
"What would the typical student do in a situation
like this?" Whatever answer you conclude, do the total
opposite. It never fails.
Notes:
The
key to using this strategy is professionalism. Always
pretend you're an up and coming executive at a Fortune
500 company. Do things with style, class, and professionalism.
Make yourself standout among your peers by going the
"extra mile." No one has ever gotten lost going the
extra mile. And you might as well get use to it now
because that's what's expected of you in the "real
world." School isn't any different. If you show your
professor you deserve a raise (i.e., a higher grade),
believe me, you will get it.
Bonus:
"Student Stranglers"
Staying
with the philosophy that you need to treat school
like a business (i.e., a job), I decided to throw
in a special section to help you see the picture a
little clearer. Listed below, with a brief explanation
of each, are 16 categories in which college professors
place their students. In a sense, you could call it
stereotyping or prejudging, but we all do it -- we're
human for goodness sake. I'm not saying that it's
right or that it's fair, but it happens. I call these
categories the "Student Stranglers" because they strangle
your chances for success in the classroom.
Not
all of these categories are weighted equally (it depends
on the temperament of the professor), but they all
should be taken seriously. Please listen to me, you
need to AVOID THEM
AT ALL COSTS! Your professors will not tell
you which category they've placed you in, so your
job (your mission) is NOT to put yourself in any one
of them. Browse the list to see if you or any of your
friends are guilty of falling into one or more of
these "Student Strangler" categories. If you do, get
out of them!
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Professor
Prejudices
|
|
ButtSharks
|
Definition:
students who choose brown-nosing as both their
major and their minor.
Famous
Words: (Any type of ingratiating compliments)
Solution:
Avoid complimenting professors, unless it's
about the subject matter or their commitment
to teaching.
|
|
Excuser
Losers
|
Definition:
students who blame everyone and everything,
including the weather, for their bad grades.
Famous
Words: "Let me tell you or explain
to you want happened..."
Solution:
Accept responsibility (even if it wasn't your
fault).
|
|
The
Whiners
|
Definition:
students who complain about every assignment,
project, group, grade, class, and/or incurable
disease.
Famous
Questions: "Why do we have to...?"
Solution:
Stop complaining! Keep your complaints to
yourself, unless asked.
|
|
Johnny-Come-
Latelies
|
Definition:
students who have watches that are set 10
minutes slower than everyone else's (they
are always late to class).
Famous
Words: "I got caught up in traffic
or I overslept or my alarm didn't go off."
Solution:
Strive to get to class five minutes early.
|
|
Echo
Experts
|
Definition:
students who comprehend only after the 99th
time the answer or point has been repeated.
Famous
Words: "Can you repeat that? One more
time please. I didn't get that last point."
Solution:
If it's necessary for the professor to repeat
something for you more than twice, see him/her
about it after class.
|
|
Mike
Tysons
|
Definition:
students who like to fight or bite your ear
off about their grades.
Famous
Words: "He/She (the Professor) can't
get away with that. That's not fair."
Solution:
Suck it up (concede the battle, but win the
war) or question the professor tactfully in
private. But don't ever argue.
|
|
Paranoid
Floyds
|
Definition:
students who think the professor and the U.S.
government are strategically plotting to fail
them.
Famous
Words: "I really think the professor
is out to get me (or doesn't like me)."
Solution:
Get over it.
|
|
Einstein
Rejects
|
Definition:
students who act like THEY should be teaching
the course, instead of the professor.
Famous
Words: "I have a lot of experience
in that area. I know lot about that."
Solution:
Use your knowledge to impress people outside
of the classroom, not in it.
|
|
Fed-Ex
Rejects
|
Definition:
students who absolutely, positively, couldn't
turn in an assignment on time if their life
depended on it.
Famous
Words: "Can I get an extension (extra
time) on that deadline."
Solution:
Strive to turn in your assignment a
day early.
|
|
Geraldo
Riveras
|
Definition:
students who have the need to get the
last word in on every subject.
Famous
Words: "I have something to say about
that. I disagree with that. I have an opinion
on that."
Solution:
If the professor doesn't ask for your opinion,
don't give it.
|
|
Jim
Carey Wannabees
|
Definition:
students who will do or say anything for a
laugh.
Solution:
Only strive to get a laugh if someone is going
to pay you for it.
|
|
The
Peekaboos
|
Definition:
students who show up for class only on test
day or when there's free food. They've never
seen the inside of a professor's office before.
Solution:
Get your money back for the course.
|
|
The
Whispers
|
Definition:
students who professors have to threaten
or blackmail to get them to speak up and participate
in class.
Famous
Responses: "I don't know. I have nothing
to say about that." Complete silence.
Solution:
Prove that you're breathing, speak up.
|
|
Creditor
Predators
|
Definition:
students who want extra credit for everything,
including blowing their nose, spelling their
name correctly, and staying awake in class.
Famous
words: "Do we get extra credit for
that?"
Solution:
Never ask for extra credit. If you
do what you have to, you'll never need it.
|
|
Stalkers
|
Definition:
those who stick to professors like bad habits.
Wherever you see the teacher, you see the
student.
Solution:
Give professors their space. There are laws
against stalking. Use the professor's office
hours for personal visits.
|
|
The
Clueless
|
Definition:
students who have no idea what's going on
in class. The only thing they're concerned
about is spring break and school holidays.
They usually ask other students a million
questions about what's going on.
Famous
Questions: "So, what are we doing now?
What was the assignment again? Did you get
the class notes?"
Solution:
Follow the advice given to the Peekaboos,
get your money back.
|
Note:
I'm absolutely certain that there are more categories
than the ones listed above. What do you think? However,
I'm equally certain that any additional categories
are equally as negative.
Students
always ask me, "All of these categories are negative,
where are the positive categories?" My response to
them is: THERE AREN'T
ANY. The reason there aren't any positive categories
for students is because there aren't enough positive
students to place in them. I know that sounds harsh,
but it's the truth.
Just
think about the categories you just reviewed, didn't
you think of at least one or more students who could
be categorized in each of the categories?
Your
mission, as I mentioned earlier, is to AVOID
THESE AT ALL COSTS. However, that's not all
you need to do. Not only do you need to avoid all
of these categories, you need to also CREATE
a positive new category for yourself, and that category
is called DIFFERENT.
Even if your teacher doesn't know who you are, it's
just as bad as being placed in a negative category.
Don't forget what I told you about what professors
think of most college students.
What
I'm saying is that it's better to be categorized as
DIFFERENT than
not to be categorized at all. The "tricks" you learned
earlier are about setting yourself apart (being "different")
from the rest of your classmates.
Everything
that you've done up until this point with the "Tricks
of the Grade" is different than what most of your
friends and other students are doing. Would you agree?
And what did I say earlier, if you want to be a successful
college student, just observe what most students are
doing, and do the total opposite (however, keep it
legal). The fact is, if you do what most students
do, you will get what most students get, average grades.
Trick 6 Action
Steps
|
