So somehow I managed to get accepted into Emory. Honestly, I was pretty sure I was going to get rejected and mostly applied there on a whim.
Problem is this: My work ethic really isn’t good. I managed to pull off somewhat decent grades, but honestly I KNOW if I keep this up I will be absolutely destroyed at a top school like Emory. My parent’s are paying a lot for this school so I can’t really afford to do poorly and waste their money - I’m aiming for at least a 3.9-4.0 freshman year.
Thing is, my work ethic has only deteriorated. I used to be addicted to an online game freshman year. My grades were seriously pitiful and I had to spend 10-11 grade hauling a** to bring it back up. I never really had time to develop a strong work ethic so the way I ended up doing really well my sophomore and junior years was to just give up sleep and CRAM the night before and morning of before a big test. I actually ended up doing really well from doing this lol (4.0). This was a significant improvement from freshman year in which didn’t study at all and never did my homework period.
Like for some godforsaken reason I’m not able to develop a consistent study pattern. On the days I don’t have any homework and I should be getting ahead, I waste my time idling around doing stupid useless stuff like Netflix and Basketball. On the days I SHOULD be working, I don’t have any discipline and end up starting homework/studying at like 1AM, leaving me completely sleep deprived the next day.
The thing is, I’m not dumb. I got a 2260 on my SAT and I’m a strong writer. However, once people heard I got into Emory, people gave me a ton of flak because they thought I was " the laziest kid in the whole school ". Honestly I don’t blame them.
I KNOW the success in High school I got from cramming won’t last in college. The thing is, I can’t find a way to fix it. I told myself I would try to finish high school strong senior year, but it only got worse with senioritis lol…
First off, congrats on your acceptance! If you got in, you deserve it.
If you can recognize that you have a work ethic problem, then you can fix it. Start small, and be realistic about your goals. I do know what you mean, I also have a tendency to start doing homework at 9pm or later, when I could have finished it in 45 minutes during the day. The work load is doable, especially if you work in short bursts. Put 100% of your focus in something for 20 minutes, and then take a break, and then go back at it. Sometimes I find it even more helpful if I time myself, and tell myself to work hard for 3 minutes. Then at the end of those 3 minutes, I’ll give myself 3 more minutes. And so on. Eventually stuff gets done.
Work ethic isn’t a discrete quality that you either have or don’t have. It is a personal quality that develops over time and can vary greatly over time depending on what is happening in your life, how much you enjoy what you are doing, and a variety of other reasons. Like @RandomMuse noted, since you recognize it is an issue for you, you have taken the first step toward making necessary changes so that you don’t view yourself as a “lazy” person. There are likely lots of good resources for academic support at your new school that can help you to achieve your goal of making a change in work ethic. Make sure that your GPA goals are realistic. Even for very bright students, the first year of college can ge a steep learning curve due to quantity of work and the pace, though this will depend on your major and your personal interest in the courses you will be taking. Your head won’t blow off if you earn a B or two. And don’t kid yourself, sometimes you might find yourself cramming for tests, or scrambling to finish papers on time in college, and you won’t be alone. This does not necessarily mean you do not have a quality work ethic. Now letting yourself flunk out, that’s a different story. But, you are alreadly thinking about preventing that.
Freshman year is a huge learning curve for most students on a lot of levels. You’re away from home for the first time with no one to tell you what to do, what time to be in, when to do your homework, etc. In college, your professors aren’t going to chase you all over campus or call your parents if you don’t show up for class or don’t turn in your work. You’re an adult and they’re going to treat you like one. It’s exciting and terrifying at the same time. It takes time to learn to balance all the aspects of college life, but you’ll get the hang of it.
I think it’s great that you realize what you need to do and are willing to do it. You have to find a system that works for you. One of the hallmarks of being an adult is putting what you HAVE to do ahead of what you WANT to do. A lot of adults feel like their entire lives are “have to”…but that’s life. The key is balance. The world won’t come to an end if you don’t do every single reading assignment, for example. You don’t want to be a slacker but you don’t want to burn out, either. Find that balance and learn time management and it’ll be fine.
As someone like you who falls into the “Smart but Lazy” category I can relate. Thing is, we’re better off than the “hard-working but dumb” sect. You can learn good study skills/time management, it’s not easy, but it’s doable. Increasing raw intelligence on the other hand, really isn’t.
I would recommend taking a lighter course load your first semester. I think 12 credits is generally the minimum to be a full time student. Maybe try taking 12-14. You can adjust as needed after that.
Honestly, college coursework isn’t that hard if you’re smart, unless if you’re majoring in physics at Caltech. All you need is to set aside a few hours every day of super-concentration time, where you focus really hard on your work and nothing else. Lots of successful people had this habit, and it works well and leaves you with plenty of free time to socialize and build your resume (which is usually more important than your GPA anyway).
Reward yourself for accomplishments (finish an assignment, have a snack or goof off for 15 minutes)
Do not go back to your dorm after dinner, it is too easy to get sucked into socializing. Take your stuff, and go straight on to the library for a couple of hours.
Use the Writing Center for papers. The make make appointments, and show up with drafts. They will help you write better papers AND give you earlier deadlines.
Study the syllabus, and figure out how to get every possible point. Track assignments, extra credit, test dates, etc. You may not get them all, but being aware of every point gives you a target.
Don’t study on your bed. A sure recipe for unplanned naps.
DON’T STUDY IN YOUR ROOM. It just doesn’t work- I consider myself someone with a solid work ethic, but I know the moment I step into my room it’ll be procrastination galore.
Take advantage of the libraries and quiet study spaces- just being around people who are also working puts me into the mindset that I need to work too. Also, if you just finish a class and have a chunk of time left before your next one or finish for the day, head to the library and get some work done while you’re still in school mode. Form productive study groups and work through problem sets together. Try to take a lighter course load for first semester, and get in contact with the study skills center.
Stay organized- write down assignments and keep track of test and paper dates (they creep up on you VERY quickly).
A smart person who procrastinates in high school can still do great- a smart person who procrastinates in college can potentially irreparably damage their GPA over 4 years. Not to mention the stress and anxiety that will probably ensue.
@silmaril I thought I was just being overly-sensitive to the vibes at home, but I totally see what you mean. I AM more productive right after class and NEVER at home. Thank you for the advice, I do not feel alone and realize the importance of this preference.
If I feel better studying at the library, it is not a matter of guilt that my family feels like I am never home since the hovering is a constant variable- if it works for me I should stick to it.
Just wanted to thank you for speaking up on a topic that I often fought with myself over.