Education Verve
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Studying is about learning, not just grades
When you are in school, don't forget to focus on learning. Studying isn’t just about passing an exam, as many students view it as. Studying is an effort to actually learn things. In school and college you’ll have to take your share of classes that have little or nothing to do with your interests, however you should still look for interesting things to take away from every experience. School is a great time to learn many different things. Take advantage of this time to learn stuff now, you'll appreciate the opportunity later on.
Preparing high school students for college
High school students should learn and practice organization, planning, self-control, and self-monitoring. They should learn to deal with challenges and how to overcome academic struggles. High school students should be exposed to the realities of college by visiting colleges and talking to college students about their college experiences. College students can share what they wish they had known before arriving at college. The financial burden of college can add stress to many students that can impact their coursework. Students should apply for many scholarships and grants so they do not have to worry about taking out loans or earning enough money through work to make a tuition payment. Students should know about and get connected with organizations that will support them in college so they will stay in college and not get discouraged and drop out.
Fiction reading improves imagination
Reading fiction expands our imagination and opens our minds to new possibilities and new ideas. This helps us experience and analyze the world through others' lives. Reading fiction can enhance connectivity in the brain and improve brain function. Our imagination changes and grows as knowledge grows. Knowledge feeds the imagination which prompts us on to new knowledge. It is a cycle of discovery and learning. Fiction hits on our drive to know what happens next as we want to turn the page because someone is in trouble, and we have to know how it will end. It helps us to think new thoughts and to keep going. Reading fiction also helps to build empathy. You get to view things happening to other people. You get to feel things and see a different world as you visit places you have not been before. You’re being someone else, and when you return to your world, you’re going to be slightly changed.
Out-of-state vs. in-state for college
Most out-of-state students at U. S. state colleges pay more for their education than their in-state classmates and sometimes even more than students at private colleges. Out-of-state students pay more because state colleges are funded in part by the tax dollars of that state. Students from outside of the state aren't entitled to the same low tuition rates that state residents get. However, there are some U. S. state colleges that offer good deals for out-of state students such as Minot State University in North Dakota, Alcorn State University in Mississippi, and Central State University in Ohio. Unlike state colleges, private colleges do not receive funding from their state government so they charge one tuition rate for all of their students, regardless of whether they reside in the same state that the college is in.
How to get into an elite college
In order to get admitted to a very elite college, you’re going to need to show that you’re smart and special. The top 5 hardest colleges to get accepted in are Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton. They have acceptance rates of 5 to 7%. These colleges look for high standardized test scores and grades as an indication of academic promise and achievement. You need a SAT score of about 1400 and an ACT score of about 32 or higher to be considered. You need A average grades. They look to see if you have taken rigorous courses and are challenging yourself and still succeeding. You need an impressive essay, interview, and letters of recommendation. Prestigious schools look for extracurricular distinction and personal qualities.They want students who are talented and have lives outside the classroom. You should focus on a few core interests that you feel strongly about during high school instead of joining a bunch of random clubs that you don’t care that much about. They are interested in how you have grown as a person and what qualities you will bring to their campus. Other factors also influence acceptance into elite schools such as legacy (a student whose parent or grandparent attended), wealth (wealthy families that make large donations or being able to pay full tuition without financial aid), athletics (a student who is being considered for one of the school's athletic teams), and diversity (they want students from a range of backgrounds and experiences).
Purposeful learning
Students often want a reason to learn something. How does a lesson apply to real life? What are the reasons to learn this? When and how may I ever use the knowledge? Why do I need to know this? When students understand why they should learn a subject or skill, how it relates to the real world, and what they can gain from learning it, they will me more eager and focused on learning it. Students want to know that learning something may help them in their life, future career, or to make a difference in the world. A purposeful mindset can help students do better in their academic performance and confidence that builds upon itself and endures over time. When students encounter challenges, difficulties, or things that could potentially be roadblocks to learning, the purposeful learning motivates them to persist and work through it.
Benefits of hands-on science learning
When students study science concepts through hands-on learning that goes beyond a book or lecture, they build a functional understanding and develop the ability to become independent learners. Students are forced to think by interpreting data of observed events rather than memorizing information and correct answers. Students learn to question observed events and the resulting data. Students practice cause-and-effect thinking. Students gain practical experience such as generating hypotheses and planning experiments.
Small steps for learning a task
Focus on learning one part of a task at a time. Break the task into smaller, more manageable steps so you don't feel overwhelmed. It is easier to put it all together in the end. Worry can prevent or slow down your ability to learn and think through a task or problem. Stay focused so you can learn and complete a task efficiently.
Which is a better predictor of success, self-discipline or IQ?
Self-discipline beats IQ at predicting who will be successful in life. Self-discipline has a bigger effect on academic performance than does IQ. Self-discipline is the training and control of oneself for personal improvement. Highly-self disciplined students outperformed their less disciplined peers by earning higher grades in their classes and gaining admission into more selective colleges. Grades have more to do with self-discipline than intelligence. In the workplace, self-discipline and conscientiousness predicted success better than intelligence. People with high self-discipline also did better in some other measures. They committed fewer crimes, stayed married longer, had better health, and lived longer. Self-discipline is an important key to personal greatness that can help an average person rise as far and as fast as his or her talents and intelligence can take him or her.
Graduation
Graduation is the successful completion of a course of study at a school or college. Celebrate each milestone that you graduate whether kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, or college. It symbolizes the end of one academic journey and marks the beginning of a new chapter in a person's life. It is a day of celebration, reflection, and gratitude. Graduation fun is a sheet of graduation questions and games for high school and college graduation parties.