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Ever wonder about the psychology behind good marks?

Kevin M.Kevin M.
edited July 2007 in General
What is the psychological component that goes into getting good marks...ever wonder about that? Do you think of it like work or a job? Or do you think if it as a competition? Or as a way of helping people and having a positive influence in the world...I bet everyone's different. I vary depending on the class style to optimize my marks (try to at least)

Comments

  • Insatiable
    edited July 2007
    Three words for you: dumb fucking luck.

    That's what marks are really attributed to--stuff that you CANNOT control. This may include the extent to which the prof is an arse, due dates, exams/essays (if you prefer one over the other), things that happen in your life (jobs, break-ups, depression, etc.), the subject matter of the course, what will be tested for the course (all readings or just lectures), the textbook, your schedule, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

    Stop blaming yourself if you don't succeed--blame the system, blame the world, blame fate! One's psycology is only marginally related to good marks--trust me on that!
  • Kevin M.Kevin M.
    edited July 2007
    If I was blaming everything except me, I wouldn't succeed...it amounts to making excuses. If you don't put in the work, you won't get good marks, regardless of whats going on in the world around you.
  • meeshmeesh
    edited July 2007
    Insatiable;14184 said:
    Three words for you: dumb fucking luck.

    That's what marks are really attributed to--stuff that you CANNOT control. This may include the extent to which the prof is an arse, due dates, exams/essays (if you prefer one over the other), things that happen in your life (jobs, break-ups, depression, etc.), the subject matter of the course, what will be tested for the course (all readings or just lectures), the textbook, your schedule, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

    Stop blaming yourself if you don't succeed--blame the system, blame the world, blame fate! One's psycology is only marginally related to good marks--trust me on that!
    i guess i'm the opposite of what you've described. I can be kind of "Type A" on myself, but nothing insane or anything. I like to set goals for myself and then push myself to achieve them. this isn't limited to just school, but it applies to work, to health, etc. I like the feeling of achievement when I've achieved/exceeded the goal...and if I don't, well at least I know that I tried. It's like hiking up a mountain, why do some people do it? You have a sense of accomplishment when you reach the peak...I guess that's how I would describe my psychology behind getting good marks.
  • noname
    edited July 2007
    I try to get good marks b/c deep down inside I think I'm better than most people. It's all about competition with me. Other then that, I can care less.
  • Insatiable
    edited July 2007
    So I've overstated my position a bit. I don't mean that nothing is within your control; rather, the only "psychology" for good marks one can maintain is to succeed at all costs. This means staying up late, staying at school when everyone has gone home, studying when others are partying, and eventually seeing the light the closer you get to graduating. That is the best thing you can do, but what I mentioned earlier about things that one cannot control holds absolutely true especially in first and second year.
  • siuying
    edited July 2007
    can i leech off some of your luck? =) lol..
  • NukeChem
    edited July 2007
    One thing I've found is that if I do the homework religiously, it helps enormously when I go into exams. It seems I learn well by 'doing', and by taking one or two kicks at the can until I get it right.

    When studying, I don't cram, I don't pull crazy all-nighters, none of that. I simply sit down, and I begin methodically reviewing the class notes and homework assignments. I go through my reasoning again - what was I doing here? Why did I use that equation? - and make sure I could follow the process if I were presented with only the problem and not the solution, because in science classes the material tends to be related.

    But it all goes with being able to take your lumps in exams and be honest about your performance in class. What I sometimes do on exams is give myself a mental mark, and then work out the percentage and knock off 10 percentage points. That becomes my estimate for how well I performed, and if I meet or exceed that level, I'm doing something right.

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