Study Incentive?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I am currently a Sophomore in High School, thinking about going to a good university.</p>

<p>Day by day, I loose my focus, stregnth and ability to perform well in my tough schedule. I have no more incentive, and although I do- it has simply faded away. My incentive is to work hard to get into a good college, but this mere incentive flows into a cliche. Do you guys have any study tips or incentives for motivation? I personally feel like I am dead after I come home from school, feeling like I cannot do any work. And My poor Grades just add on to this lack of motivation. </p>

<p>Last Quarter Grades ::</p>

<p>AP WORLD HISTORY- B
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCI- B+
INT READING =(- A
CHEMISTRY I HON. - A
ENGLISH II HON. - A
AP PSYCHOLOGY- B
ALGEBRA 2 HON.- C+</p>

<p>Reading is my lowest class, and I feel like an idiot in these, since its given to people bad in reading. I was 1 point away to getting that class, and it ruins my day.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your input, I really appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>I do my work, little chunks at a time. Like:</p>

<p>-Math</p>

<p>Take a break</p>

<p>-Science</p>

<p>Eat dinner</p>

<p>-AP History</p>

<p>Take a break</p>

<p>Etc. </p>

<p>Works good for me, at least.</p>

3

<p>Given the difficulty of this schedule (3 APs as soph with the rest honors), these grades really are not that bad for most colleges (except the top ones). Good advice from CE527M. I also suggest junior year thinking about scaling back a bit on the brutal course load and perhaps taking a SLIGHTLY less rigorous schedule. Perhaps take one less AP course than you planned or one less honors/intensified class so that you can focus more on your tougher classes.</p>

4

<p>I feel bad for you that you’re stuck in intensive reading. I’m sure that’d bring me down too. If you take the ACT now, you can get out of it if you score high enough in the reading section. The ACT score can be used in place of FCRAP. I have a friend who did that.</p>

5

<p>I second CE527M’s suggestion about doing the work in small chunks - I do it that way as well, and it does help a lot. </p>

<p><strong>This isn’t the best advice but</strong> - if I’m super exhausted one day, I’ll take a nap, and leave some of my smaller assignment for the next morning, which I’ll do in the cafeteria before homeroom starts. That way, I’m not overwhelmed by tons of homework all in one night. I don’t suggest making it a habit though…</p>

6

<p>Friendly competition always helps. You also may want to go visit a few colleges that you might be interested in attending in the future. It might give you some motivation to work harder in school :slight_smile: best of luck!</p>

7

<p>What exactly are you looking for? If it’s incentive you want, then I’ll give you my perspective (may be controversial if you are easily offended).</p>

<p>I’m going to assume you’re American. </p>

<p>Right now, America is the epitome of ignorance. Our average intelligence level is the lowest in the industrial world, as is our education system. 40% of Americans still believe that the world is less than 10,000 years old, in the face of solid evidence. 90% of Americans are still retrospective voters, meaning they vote against someone instead of taking the initiative to understand the issues at hand. Shortly put, Americans are sheep. Our nation, for all of its glory, is going to have a serious problem soon if we remain in this rut. It’s not simple stupidity either; it’s the fact that we are complacent, so caught up in our laurels that we don’t look forward. </p>

<p>What we need is the next generation to carry us forward. And by the looks of it, that won’t happen. There is no more motivation, no drive for success in the average person. People are content with a steady job and security, and are unwilling to push outside their comfort zone. That is what we need: innovation, change, and motivation. That is what we, as CC’ers, have to do: be the spark of life in a nation that is losing steam. That is why you work hard, get good grades, study for the abominable SAT/ACT, and work your butt off in high school instead of drinking and partying all day. That is what you should strive for. </p>

<p>That is my motivation to work hard. </p>

<p>Now that my musing is over, I’ll give you some more practical studying tips:
-Study smart, not necessarily hard. If you are good at a subject, study it less. It’s alright if you only get a 95 in that class that you’re really good at, if you spend the extra time to study and get a 95% at a class you suck at.
-DON’T LET THE STRESS ENTER YOUR HEAD. The more you think about how much stuff you have to do, the less you will get done and the more worried you’ll get. Relax a little bro. Just work as you think you need to, but don’t get so caught up in it that you want to die.
-Eat a lot. Self-explanatory.
-Don’t read from the textbook. Look on youtube, check out the internet, find videos and outlines to make your life easier. Don’t waste time figuring out complicated garbage from the textbook when info is available in more concise and simpler forms.
-Spend two hours after you get home doing something you enjoy, then start hw. You’ll be more motivated, and relaxed, and you’ll get it done faster.</p>

<p>I’m sure there are more, but people above have covered them already. Good luck!</p>

8

<p>I appreciate your commentary, and off the record, I am not an American Citizen, although I do reside in America. Your motivation, drive for success actually reminded me of this ad on CNN, where a common man, shows peoples lack of motivation, and how this is the result of the economic fade, I suggest you watch it. Thank you all for your motivational comments.</p>