Hey there, jambite, did you get a carryover in your first year?
In case you don’t know, you get a carryover when you fail a course on the first attempt. This leads to you repeating the course in the following year–ie level 2–where you’d have to attend all the classes as you did before sitting for the exams.
Sounds rough, doesn’t it? And honestly, it is, for no one likes to fail in their first year, or even, the first semester.
Here are a few things you should know about carryovers:
1. A carryover doesn’t define your level of intelligence
Remember, a carryover only covers one course, not all. And if you were unfortunate with two or more carryovers, know that it’s not the end of the world. Just focus on doing better next semester, and as for the next year, try harder to clear the carryovers.
2. It doesn’t affect your future performance
Unless you let it, a carryover should not stop you from aiming for high results. And it’s your present performance that will determine how far you’ll go in the future. So don’t let that carryover stop you.
3. You’re not alone
This is true, as even bright students are not safe from a carryover. Also, you’re not the first to fail. And if you’re thinking of giving up, look around, do you still see many of the past students around?
4. Giving up is not an option!
And it shouldn’t be! Again, you’re just at the beginning. So if you give up now, how will you get to the finish line? Or don’t you want to graduate?
5. Failure is part of life
If you don’t believe it, check out the story of your role model(s), or ask your superiors. Each of them has experienced failure one or multiple times in their lives. And if they had given up, they wouldn’t be where they are today.
Are you feeling better now? Good.
But before you start applying any tips. First, review your past study habits; which one do you need to stop or continue? Also, pick out your bad habits (everybody has them), like:
- Skipping lectures
- Not taking notes or having a handout
- Hanging out with unserious peers
- Getting distracted by social media, etc.
Some ways you can avoid a carryover in the future.
1. Create a reading timetable
Even if you have it all mapped out in your head, having a timetable on paper helps keep you accountable for your progress or lack thereof. Furthermore, be sure to paste it where you can see it clearly or easily. You can also tick out days you read or missed. And if you don’t trust yourself enough, get a friend/study buddy to help track your progress, so you don’t go at it alone.
2. Join a study group
This is another great way you can improve your studying skills. Study groups are quite rampant among coursemates. So be on the lookout for one you can join. And if you can’t find any, create one then!
3. Make friends with past questions
Don’t underestimate the value of past questions. They can help enlighten you more on how questions are set for a particular course, allowing you to know what to expect.
4. Seek out a tutor
It can be your coursemate or someone ahead. Once you find a course difficult, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
5. Pray
As they say, prayer is the master key. But it’s only potent if you read hard, and also aim for success.
Do you need more tips? Check out these tips for studying right.
Carryovers suck, but giving up sucks much more. So don’t give up. And don’t stop aiming to be the best.
Try, try, and keep trying till you succeed. Have a great semester ahead.