STUDENTS: 10 MISTAKES THAT CAN COST YOU FIRST CLASS DEGREE

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CAREER AND MORE

WITH XFIRE ON WEDNESDAY

Xfire is a graduate of one of the notable public universities in Nigeria, with working experience in the FMCG and petroleum industry. He currently works as an engineer in a multinational oil company in Nigeria. He is passionate about guiding people to achieve their dream careers,  and he is known for his pragmatic approach towards career and life issues.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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37 comments

  1. emma 26 May, 2014 at 14:24 Reply

    its just as if you’re speaking to me, two 2-credit unit load courses i underrated were what pushed me to a 4.48 last semester, if only i had taken them more seriously, currently on an overall cgpa of 4.46 with 2 years to go in my electrical engineering program,i’ll try to follow this tips to the letter

  2. Godwin 5 April, 2016 at 13:52 Reply

    Thanks a lot for ths invaluable info. I made few low grades in my Yr 1&2 some of whc were attributed to both my personal deficiency nd more so, the lecturers themselves. However, I shall work hard nd trust God for a gud 2_1. Thnx once again.

    • Assistant Editor 12 August, 2017 at 17:14 Reply

      Yes, you can. Try to make As as much as possible every semester. Write down all courses you will write from year 2 till graduation and set a target of number of As per semester. Try to make A in at least 6 out of every 8 courses you offer every semester and not worse than B in others.n

      • jp 1 December, 2017 at 07:09 Reply

        that’s good, my yr1 CGPA was 4.13,first semester yr2 is 4.73 thank God, I just want to graduate with a first Class upper.

  3. Victor 28 November, 2017 at 13:40 Reply

    I hv just been offered admission to study Mechanical Eng. at Uyo… I believe with the principles and encouragements here, I’ll make a First class amidst all odds… In God I trust…

  4. abdulaziz ibrahim 30 November, 2017 at 14:40 Reply

    plx need ur advice Am in level 300 with cgpa of 3.66 can i graduate with upper. from buk accounti.G department

    • Assistant Editor 4 January, 2018 at 11:25 Reply

      Very tight but very possible. Roughly, need to score A in at least 4 out of every 5 courses offered in every semester and not lower than B in the fifth one.

  5. I’m a level two student going to level three I just had my first four carryover with a CGPA of 2.7 I’ve four semesters left…can I still hit 2.1(2nd class upper)? 10 January, 2018 at 14:19 Reply

    I’m a level two student going to level
    three
    I just had my first four carryover with a
    CGPA of 2.7
    I’ve four semesters left…can I still hit
    2.1(2nd class upper)?

    • Assistant Editor 11 January, 2018 at 09:22 Reply

      Yes, very possible, try to have A and B in almost all your courses till you graduates. Occasional Cs also wont stop it.

  6. Abel 12 March, 2018 at 16:34 Reply

    this is a very timely read by me. Am in Chemical Engineering Department in FUTMinna and I think applying these principles with others will help me a lot

  7. jasmine 30 March, 2018 at 13:28 Reply

    Hi I’m a 200l student with a 1.30 cgpa i know having a first class is out of it but is it possible to have a 2.1 i really feel like I’m loosing it i can do whatever it takes to get there i really didn’t think it’ll be this bad

    • Assistant Editor 30 March, 2018 at 15:33 Reply

      First class may be out of it, but 2.1 is possible. All you need is to make sure you have A and B in your courses for the rest of the years. Occasional C also not bad, but set a target to make only As and Bs every semester.

  8. darkangel 31 March, 2018 at 21:59 Reply

    Please I study a five-year course at Uniport and my CGPA at the end of my first year is 4.26. Is it possible that I can make a first class with this?

  9. Indominable bee 9 April, 2018 at 09:31 Reply

    Hi, I’m a 300 lvl mech engineering student, with a cgpa of 1.6, I transferred to my uni in 200lvl so that was were my grades start from, I am in my second semester, please is it still possible to make a 2.1, if so how? Thank you very much

  10. Eyituoyo gift 3 June, 2018 at 16:22 Reply

    Am a nursing student in a university two hundred level going to three hundred level I had four carryover is it possible to go to the next level ?

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