Friday, November 16, 2007

MESSAGE #227 - THE DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM

What is the #1 predictor of college success?

Your high school rank in class?

Your SAT scores?

Your college essay?

No . . . no . . . no . . . no . . . NO!!!

The #1 predictor is something that you have total control over and something you can do – if you choose to.

What’s the predictor?

Your notebook.

Well, not really your notebook, but what’s in your notebook – YOUR NOTES.

You show me your notes and I’ll tell you your grades.

If you take world-class notes – you’ll be a world-class student.

ABSOLUTELY. POSITIVELY. GUARANTEED!

You have to take great notes. Why?

Here’s a passage from Ken Blanchard’s fabulous new book Know Can Do: Put Your Know-How into Action . . .

“Unless a person is one of the 0.0001 percent of the population who has photographic ears, listening alone will not make that person learn. In fact, three hours after a seminar or class, pure listeners will remember only about 50 percent of what they just heard. Twenty-four hours later, they will have forgotten 50 percent of that. At the end of one month, they will have less than 5 percent recall of the new material they were exposed to at the seminar.”

Take great notes. It’s the difference that makes the difference in the classroom.

For more information on note-taking and other aspects of college success -- read my book How to Have Fun Without Failing Out: 430 Tips from a College Professor

PLEASE NOTE: There’s a very important recording on the Success Seminar Hotline. To hear it, call 1 (641) 715-3413. When asked for your access code, enter 1072571# . . . this is available 24/7 for the next few days. Don’t miss it.