The Magic Pill

If there was a "magic pill" that could guarantee you straight A's in college, how much would you be willing to pay for it?I guess before you can make an informed decision, you probably would need more information about the "magic pill."

Well, this "pill" has been federally approved by the Food and Drug Administration.The pill also comes with a 100% double your money back guarantee.So there is absolutely no risk involved.There are no side effects.   This pill is non-addictive and it's legal!   A one bottle supply would be all you will ever need to succeed academically in college.However, since this pill is in very high demand, and there's only a limited supply, it can only go to the highest bidder.

Given these facts, how much would you be willing to pay now?Think about it.You could go to any college in the United States and graduate at the top of your class.You would earn the respect of your peers as well as potential employers.Your parents and/or friends would be proud of you.You would set yourself apart from the rest of your peers.You could get a bachelor's, master's, or even a doctorate degree with ease.You tell me, what could "straight A's" in college do for you?

Again, how much would you be willing to pay for this supply of "magic pills," $10, $100, $1,000, or maybe even more?Oh, by the way, did I mention that financing is available?I'm talking about credit cards, checks, or even IOU's.Well, whatever the amount you would be willing to pay, I want you to keep it pictured in your mind's eye for just a second.  

Meet the Professor

My name is Joe Martin, and I'm a professor at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.I'm also a national speaker and educational consultant.I want you to know that I've conducted this little test with thousands of students (even my own classes) over the past fewyears, and the highest bid I ever received was $25,000!Now that may sound a little ridiculous to you, but that student (a college student) insisted that if she attended Harvard University and graduated with a 4.0 GPA in medicine or law, her $25,000 investment in that "pill" would be well worth it.Looking at the history of Harvard graduates who have graduated in the top 5% of their class, it would be difficult to refute her logic.Considering the endless possibilities, a $25,000 bid may even be a little on the low side.

Let's look at it another way.How much are you (or your parents) paying for your college education now?Is it more than $25,000?Now let me ask you this, did the college offer you any guarantees?I didn't think so.

Regardless, I have some good news and some bad news concerning this "magic pill."And to make it quick and painless, I'll start with the bad news first.The bad news is that there is no such pill that will guarantee a student straight A's in college.If there was, that person would be very rich and famous.But I'm sure it's safe to assume that you already knew that.

However, I do have some good news.Although there is no such "magic pill," there is an untapped resource for securing excellent grades in college, and that resource is "YOU!"

Believe it or not, the solution to graduating at the top or near the top of your academic class lies within you like a sleeping giant.This book will help you pull out that wealth of knowledge and awaken that giant.After applying these strategies and "tricks," you will start achieving grades even your friends won't even believe.

From High School to Manhood

Before we dive into the "Tricks of the Grade," I think it's important for you to know why and how I developed these "tricks."I wish I could claim pure genius, but I'm afraid I might get hit by a bolt of lightening.The truth of the matter is that most (not all) of tricks of grade came out of desperation rather than inspiration.When I say desperate, I mean desperate.I didn't want to make the same mistakes in college that I did during my high school years.Let me explain.

For many teenagers, the high school years were pretty good times.Personally, I couldn't complain.I was like most high school students, well-liked, involved in athletics and other activities.And like most of my high school friends, I was barely passing my classes.I was what most teachers would describe today as a "C-your-way-through-school" student.That means that I received "C's" in almost everything.Sometimes I believe the only reason I got an "A" in P.E. (physical education) was because our coaches graded on a curve.In spite of this, high school life was still good.

On graduation day, my family and I were ecstatic.I had grown up in one ofthe toughest inner-city ghettoes in Miami, Florida, and graduating from high school meant beating the odds.Matter of fact, I was the only high school senior out of approximately 25 or so in my neighborhood that year who was graduating "on time."

We were very poor, and although we didn't have much, we always seemed to have just enough to get by.My mother, sister, aunt, and godmother comprised my family unit.Only one had graduated from high school at the time, and none had ever completed college.So graduation day was a monumental moment for me as well as my family.  

I can remember that day as if it were yesterday; my family was proud, my friends were proud, my neighborhood was proud, and even people I didn't know were proud of me.Ironically though, everyone was proud of me, except me.My high school graduation day, although memorable, had been one of the worst days of my life.

Initially it started out great, until I got a dose of reality during the graduation ceremony.

I was graduating with a 2.2 cumulative GPA in a senior class of approximately 550 students.Like I said before, I was "C-ing my way through school."The atmosphere in the Miami Convention Center was incredible.People were cheering for their family and friends, and the flow of the program was moving swiftly.A friend of mine was sitting next to me at the time, and he was taking in the energy of the evening.As we were sitting and listening to the announcer call outthe names of the senior class, something caught my eye.I spotted a group of students sitting in the front row of our graduating class.

I asked my friend, who was sitting next to me, "Who are those people in the front row with those gold 'things' draped around their necks?"He replied, "Oh Joe, they're the Top 50."And in my ignorance I responded, "The Top 50 what?" "Those students in the front row are the top 50 graduates in our high school," he said.He continued, "They're the smartest students in our school."

Although I was considered only an "average" student, I had always been happy with my academic performance in school, until I realized that there were no African Americans in that group of 50.

And even though our school did not have a large percentage of African Americans (maybe 25%), I felt we had enough to have at least one student represented out of 50.As an African American student, I felt both embarrassed and ashamed.I was embarrassed for my family because I wasn't in that top 50, and I was ashamed of myself and my race because I didn't even try.

I couldn't speak for anyone else, but I felt that I belonged in that Top 50.Although my grades did not reflect that I was an exceptional student, no one could have convinced me that I wasn't capable.I felt that I was just as smart as anyone else in my graduating class.I finally had to accept that disgraceful fact that almost every student hears at least one time or another during grade school, "I just didn't 'apply' myself."And there was no one to blame, but me.

My mother and family could not understand why my attitude had changed so dramatically that night in just a couple of hours, but I understood perfectly.Anyone who has an ounce of self- respect, especially as much pride as I thought I had, cannot sit around and settle for second best.

Unfortunately, it took until that moment to realize that my forefathers had paid the price and sacrificed their lives for me to get an opportunity for an education; and my thanks to them was settling for mediocrity.I couldn't live with that; I was disgusted.

Surprisingly, I discovered that the only difference between me sitting in the crowd of 500 and those sitting in the crowd of 50 was not a matter of my I.Q., but rather a lack of my I Will.That same night, I promised my mother and myself that "I would" no longer settle for just being "average."As you will find out as you go through "Tricks of the Grade," average just means you're better than the worst, because in actuality, you're worst than the best.I hope that makes sense; if not, it will later.

Thus, these techniques, these so-called "tricks of the grade," are the results of one college student who was fed up with mediocrity.These strategies were the result of a college student who became desperate enough to start rebuilding his pride and self-respect.

I took these techniques and transformed a 2.2 high school GPA into a 3.8 college GPA.I took these same techniques and moved from the middle of the class in high school to the top of my college class in my major.I took these same techniques and went from one of many students to "Student of the Year" in my major.I took these same techniques and went from low SAT scores to being the youngest tenure-earning faculty member ever hired to teach in the Florida State University System.

Through the successful completion of my bachelor's and master's degrees, I never received a grade less than a B.Do they work?You better believe they do, and I'm going to show you exactly how I did it?

But Will It Work For Me?

Although these techniques worked for me, you may be wondering if they'll work for you.Yes they will! Originally, I didn't think they would work for others, until I started sharing them with my family members and my students.Through their constant urging, I am writing this book.

It doesn't matter what kind of student you are.If you're an "average" to "below average" student, your grades will improve dramatically -- if you apply my strategies.If you're already a good student, these techniques will help you maintain or "pad" your current GPA and save you a lot of time.Is it that easy? Quite frankly, no! But is it possible? Emphatically, yes!In order to apply my "tricks of the grade" techniques, you will need to possess the following personal characteristics:

If you answered "yes" to all three, we can begin.If you answered "no" to any one of them, please stop reading and get your money back for this program.