1. Set Your Academic Goals and Review Them Everyday

Dreams don’t come true – Goals do. Before next summer rolls around again, what academic goals do you want to achieve?

Set academic goals to achieve, write them down and post them in a place where you can look at them everyday. You should first sit down with your family and discuss the desired goal and then set your academic goals. Make those goals positive, personal, and in the present. Then, write down your goals and make them visible in four key places: (1) the bedroom, (2) the bathroom, (3) the kitchen, and (4) in your notebooks.

Click here for a MP3 download on how to set and achieve academic goals.

2. Develop a Daily Routine

Now that you have determined your goals you must develop a plan to achieve them. Come up with a systematic routine that you can follow every day to achieve your goals and write it down. Include necessities like breakfast time, dinnertime, fun time, chore time, sleep time, social time and of course study time. Remember, when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

3. Study During Peak Performance Time

Identify the period of day when you are most alert or “wired up” outside of school. This should be the time YOU study. Traditionally, the pattern for *study time* has been right after you get home and change out of your school clothes or right before dinnertime. (Remember school clothes, church clothes, and play clothes?). After spending 6-9 hours in school, it may be wise to incorporate naptime or refresher-time before studying. Studies have shown that students perform poorly when they are mentally tired, drained or unfocused. Whatever time you are most alert outside of school, make that your study time. I guarantee you will see an increase in academic performance.

4. Schedule Weekly Family Chat Sessions

Make sure you have weekly family chat sessions or what I like to  call Family Love Sessions. Take this time to discuss school crushes, fashion trends, music, insecurities, and future plans. Family is a key element to achieving your goals because they will assist you when you need it. This is also a great time to develop better relationships. (An alternative to this is setting time with a mature friend, mentor or adviser).

5. Change the Flashing 12:00 on Your VCR

You should already know that television can steal your time and productivity. You do not have to stop watching television in order to achieve your academic goals but watching during your peak performance time can hinder your progress. So brush the dust off your VCR or learn how to use a DVR and watch your favorite shows during your non-peak performing times. Use all the new technology to your benefit and don’t ever allow television to steal the precious hours you have available during the day.

6. Isolate Your Study Chamber and Keep It Holy

The kitchen has a specific purpose, the bathroom has a specific purpose, and your study chamber has a specific purpose. You should not eat dinner in the bathroom and you should not shower in the kitchen. There are also things you should not do in your study chamber. Your study chamber should be a specific location where only one thing happens – STUDYING.

Click here to get a few tips on setting up and establishing a productive study chamber.

7. Uncover all Fears and Stinking Thinking

Believe it or not, FEAR is the one thing that can destroy academic performance. Most term it “anxiety” and as a student you experience it during tests, when you are embarrassed around your classmates or when you feel unprepared. Despite setting goals and studying, FEAR can completely destroy your efforts. It can also cause you to become unfocused and think that you will fail and not reach your goals. Always remember this, FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real – FEAR is not real. Whenever you experience anxiety or may be fearful, remember you do not have to, because failure is only appearing to be real, it is fake. So in school or in life, never FEAR!

7.25 Declare Your Greatness

Your mouth has the power to create so establish positive confessions and declare them aloud daily. Since our words frame how we think and feel, say only the best. Don’t commit academic goal suicide by speaking negative words, thinking negative thoughts, and having negative feelings. Talk your way to achieving your goals.

Feel free to share and forward this to your friends and colleagues.  Leave me a comment below, and let me know what you got from this article.

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Kantis Simmons is an Academic Success Coach that help college students and high school students stay in school, enjoy school and pay for school. With his 7.25 Academic Success System, he presents live presentations to students and parents. Acclaimed for earning 3 degrees and more that $300,000 of scholarship money, Kantis can be reached at http://www.KantisSimmons.com. If you want more academic advise to help you or someone you know succeed in school, subscribe to get his FREE “Gameplan” newsletter and instantly get a 7-Day academic success E-course FREE.

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Right or Wrong College Major? 5 Signs its Time to Change from Kantis Simmons on Vimeo. 

(if you can’t see above video)

Ever considered that your current academic performance is linked to your current college major?

Ever considered that your current major will not lead you to a career that you are passionate about?

Ever considered that you picked your current major for the right or wrong reason?

Well in this short video, I give some signpost to determine if you are in the right or wrong reason college major. Take the time to watch this video, and do a personal check to see if you have these 5 symptoms. If so, consider changing, it will be in your best interest to do so.

You can also get more in depth material on selecting a college major from my talk on “7.25 Questions to Identify Your Life’s Assignment Regardless of Your College Major“.

Also take some time to forward this video blog to some worthy high school or college student, andalso  subscribe them to my FREE newsletter the GamePlan

Or accused of “brown nosing” the teacher ?

What about “kissing up“?

How about trying to “Suck up” or  “Get In good” with your professor or teacher?

Don’t confuse these terms with someone who accurately participates in class for the purpose of improving their grades and understanding of the subject. There is a difference – one is after the favor of the teacher, and the other is after the content from the teacher.

Just recently while speaking at a high-school, I had a conversation with a student and he asked me the following question:

” Kantis, how can I better participate in class? For a percentage of our overall final class score is based on class participation. Yet I don’t really know what to say in class because I don’t want to seem stupid in front of my classmates. Plus, I’m very very shy. What can I do about this?”

As I began to have a few words with this young man in the lobby of the auditorium, I proceeded to let him know that active class participation is a great way to enhance what you are learning in the classroom through open discussion.  It also gives your teacher a clear viewpoint that you are seriously trying to ace his or her class.

Here are the few things I recommended to the student for effective class participation and I recommend them to you as well.

• Come prepared to class – this is done by always being ahead of your teacher where class “reading” is concerned, completion of all home work problems or given assignments and the updating of all your class notes. Those three things will prepare you for every class session.

• Ask clear questions – if you are confused about anything, don’t hesitate to ask clear questions that help remove any mental blockage. This is also one of the best ways to learn; so ask questions.

• Verbally summarize what has been previously said – This will ensure that that you understand what someone else has said or what your teacher has said.

• Participate and don’t dominate – don’t be too active in class by having all the attention on your questions and comments. Know when to listen is just as important as knowing when to speak.

• Always respect your other classmates’ opinion. Don’t embarrass others by their comments or questions, but be open to what others have to say. You could learn a lot for others

• Be respectful and courteous – if you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to others. This is the Golden Rule for class participation. Just be courteous!

I believe participating in class is another Academic Survival Skill that every student should develop.

So what examples do you have that are effective in participating in class? and did these open doors for you to be verbally labeled ? and what was the name?

Playing my “A” Game

-Kantis

Here is also a great recource to help you improve your grades and G.P.A.

Well these are techniques to make learning more efficient and more rewarding. Students who know these skills and use these skills get better scores on exams, enjoy the “student life”, and experience longevity in their academic pursuit.

Today, these skills can help you make the most of the time you devote to studying. They can help you to gain and maintain control of the subject matter. In the future, the development of these skills in school will contribute to make you a success in the work world, too.

As a high school student, traditional college student or adult student, your success depends on these. Understanding and developing these 7.25 Survival Skills is an investment for your TODAY and your TOMORROW. These survival skills are:

1.  Learn How to Listen Carefully. Most of what you do in school is spend a majority of your day sitting in classroom  listening.  So it is essential to become an active listener.

2.  Develop a Note-Taking System. While sitting in a class listening, the better your notes, the better your chances of doing better in your study sessions and on exams.

3.  Learn How to Actively Participate In Classes. It is a huge plus when you can participate in class discussions. its imperative that you take advantage of the chances to express your opinions and test the ideas you gather in class. it also impresses your teacher and professors!

4.  Learn How to Budget your Time. You have a set number of hours in the classroom, a set number of hours needed for studying, and other set hours for resting, eating, sleeping, working and enjoying life. How you mange, use, budget, or abuse this precious time will too determine your academic success.

5.  Become a Great Reader. Researchers have shown that people who read well are more  likely to do well academically. So its wise o bury bad habits while developing the the good habits of effective reading.

6.  Perfect You Study Strategy. This skill may be the one skills that sets “A” students apart from average students. What you do before classes, during classes, and after classes contribute greatly to how you learn, understand and apply the concepts of the subjects you are learning.

7.  Learn How to Prepare for Exams. P + O = Success. When you are PREPARED for testing OPPORTUNITIES success is inevitable. But if you don’t know how to review your notes, communicate the concepts of the subject and solve problems on exams will stunt your growth a successful student.

7.25    Learn How to Set Goals and Achieve them. What you want as a student, and when you want it as  as student depends on you and your persistence to go after it. 80% of achieving any goal starts first by simply setting the goal.

These 7.25 skills are essential to your success today and tomorrow as a student. they are foundation to Play Your “A” Game in the classroom. As your partner and friend in academic success, I will personally take responsibility in assisting you with these skills and your development.

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Kantis Simmons is America’s #1 Academic Success Coach, where he uses his no-nonsense “7.25 Secrets” to “wow” educators, parents, students via speaking programs and information products. Acclaimed for receiving three advanced scientific degrees and more than $400,000 in scholarship money, this former NASA employee and Olympic Drum major encourages everyone he comes in contact with to Play their “A” Game.

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What’s your attitude towards your teachers and professors? Is it negative or is it positive? What’s your attitude towards your grades, your classes, and your classmates. You are effective based on your positive attitude and defeated based on your negative attitude. Here are some famous quotes to adjust your attitude on academic success.

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” - Maya Angelou

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.” - James Truslow Adams

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” – Lou Holtz

“The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.” - Harold S. Geneen

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” – William James

“A daily glance in the mirror can tell you what you look like, but a daily adjustment of your attittude can tell you what you will LIVE like.” - Kantis A. Simmons

Kantis Simmons is America’s #1 Academic Success Coach, Professional Speaker, and author, who travels throughout the nation coaching high school and college students to play their ‘A Game’ in and outside the
classroom. Acclaimed for receiving three college degrees without paying a single penny to receive them, Kantis is the author of “Playing Your ‘A’ Game: Principles for Academic Success”; a must have for every student!