As a graduate who came very close to finishing with a
first class in engineering, I can easily identify errors
that cost students the prestigious first class degree. I
made one or two of these mistakes. Over the span of
five years that I spent in the university, I saw lots of
people make the same mistakes outlined here. Many
brilliant students start with the initial dream of
graduating with a first class, only to end up struggling
to even finish with a 2.1. Obtaining a first class takes a
great deal of hardwork, consistency, intelligence but
most importantly discipline. Commit these errors and
your chances of getting a first class will be very slim if
not nil.
1. Womanizing– This is not about having a
committed girlfriend in school which can even be very
distracting. This is referring to keeping strings of
girlfriends while in school, or pursuing anything in
skirt. I am not speaking for or against womanizing in
school. But womanizing is the quickest way of
ensuring that your dream of graduating with a first
class vanishes into thin air as your attention towards
your academic studies will be greatly divided.
2. Not starting well– Except UNIBEN which notably
operates CGPA system that is based on percentage
depending on undergraduate level, all other
universities operate a cumulative system based on
credit load of individual courses. Most first class
graduates build a solid foundation in the first 2 years
in school. Thereafter, they ensure they do not fall
below the boundary. Not having a high CGPA in your
first 2 years means that you will not have any buffer
during tough academic times, as the going may get
tougher as you progress and your CGPA may become
progressively lower. Your academic standing after
your first 2 years can make or mar your chances of
graduating with a first class. In addition, having a high
CGPA may help build you gain respect amongst
students or even lecturers who may be careful when
marking your scripts so as not to make mistakes.
3. Placing less significance on small unit
courses– Yes, some courses may carry smaller credit
units but they count. Such courses may be electives
and general courses. Cumulate all those courses and
you will surprised about how big the effect can be.
Every ‘A’ grade matters especially if you just on the
edge, and there may be moments when it is the
smaller unit courses that keep you above the
boundary. One of the critical moments that defined
my final CGPA was a 2-unit course that dropped my
CGPA from a potential 4.51 to a 4.47 in my penultimate
semester.
4. Not studying hard enough– I need not say
much about this. Studying hard does not necessarily
mean spending long hours reading in classes. Studying
hard involves studying with high level of intensity and
depth within a study period. The difference between a
first class student and others is the attention to detail
when studying. I use myself as an example. I
remember that eventhough I sometimes spent hours
reading, I was always too lazy to solve sample
problems. In many cases, I overestimated my level of
assimilation. I sometimes got away with it in exams
but it cost me a few important A’s which would have
made significant differences in my final CGPA.
5. Not taking internship and project work
seriously – SIWES (internship) is mainly for science
and engineering students. Internship has a combined
credit load of about 12 – 15 units depending on the
course and the institution. Imagine what damage a ‘B’
can do a first class student! You don’t necessarily have
to work for a top company as an intern. Sloppiness in
filling log books, poorly written internship report, and
inadequate preparation towards defense of industrial
attachment are enough to cost you an ‘A’ grade.
Project and practical works also carry significant credit
load as well. Practical work can be particularly tedious,
and undisciplined students can be lax about it.
6. Allowing the opinion of mediocre students
influence you– Average students will always be
negative about their academic environment. They will
talk about how tough it is to graduate with a 2.1 much
less a first class. They will complain about how tough
the courses or the lecturers are. They will remind you
about the failure rate in the past. They will play the
victim when they fail exams. They will congratulate
themselves on how ‘lucky’ they are to escape a
carryover with an E grade. They will continually
demonize the school environment and their
department. They will never say anything but positive
things about the school. They will criticize everyone
but themselves. Feed your mind with such thoughts
from them and kiss goodbye to your dreams of
graduating with a first class.
7. Not seeking help / information – Not seeking
information can be harm your chances of finishing
with a first. Information gathering is important in the
pursuit of a first class. Having the right set of past
questions, exam materials, handbooks, textbooks, etc.
matters a lot. Most Nigerian lecturers have different
handbooks, textbooks or online materials they are
comfortable with. They often set exams from these
handbooks and textbooks. First class students are
aware of these and sought to get the necessary
information.
Forget secondary school days when you can be
completely independent and isolated. In the
university, you will likely encounter academic
challenges one way or the other, you matter how good
you are. You will need the help of others who are
equally good. Build high walls around you and it’s
almost a certainty that you won’t graduate with a first
class.
8. Helping others during exams – I have seen
and read about how potential first class students
make this mistake that can deprive them of not just
their dream grade but their entire aspiration. A lot of
people look up to first class students to help them
during exams, not minding the distraction it may cost
them. Some even make monetary requests for first
class students to write exams on their behalf. Time
after time, brilliant students keep falling for this trap
without thinking of the consequence of being expelled
or rusticated.
In many cases, first class students already have good
reputations amongst their fellow students and
lecturers, and being caught teaching in exams can soil
that reputation.
9. Not attending classes – I have seen many that
graduate with 2.1 that ‘stabbed’ classes on a regular
basis. But I am yet to see or hear of a genuine first
class student/graduate that deliberately missed
classes frequently at least in their last 2 years of study.
They attend classes because 1) They want to listen to
the salient points made by the lecturers so that they
can understand better and prepare well for tests and
exams. Attending classes is one way of getting
information 2) First class students are perceived to
represent the department and generally have a good
image. Not attending classes can damage their
reputation 3) Many lecturers take attendance seriously
and allocate marks to attendance 4) There can be
impromptu tests and classworks during classes.
You want to graduate with a first class but you keep
skipping classes? Then think twice.
10. Not taking care of your health- Some, in the
bid to get a first class, spend almost all their time and
energy reading. They are always in class reading or
attending one tutorial or the other, and they often do
overnight reading not minding the fact that their body
needs to be catered for. Consequently, they
experience frequent health breakdowns, and this can
cause serious setbacks in their dream to achieve a first
class. Nothing can be more frustrating that falling ill in
an academic session. Wanting to have a first class
does not mean that you cannot eat well, rest when
necessary, relax, play games and manage stress.
Nurture your health. Health is wealth
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