90% by Chloe

90% by Chloe - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

The phrase “New Year’s resolution” seems to confine my answer to just this year, but I would like to continue my new study habit throughout my entire academic career, not just 2016.

School has always been easy for me. Throughout my life, I’ve been able to get good grades and do well in my classes without having to put in a lot of extra effort. However, over the past year and a half, I’ve learned something: college is hard. College is designed to be hard, and it is especially difficult for me as a science major. In high school, I did well in science just because I was naturally good at it and I liked it. But college-level science classes are different. Natural ability is good and can be helpful, but most of the success – or lack thereof – in science classes is defined by the amount of work put into the class. It must be studied.

Historically, I haven’t put forth the effort that college-level science classes have required, and my GPA has suffered for it, plummeting from a 4.0 to a 3.4 in a year and a half. However, this dramatic plunge in my grades has taught me that something about my study habits needs to change.

I spent the three hours prior to the creation of this essay writing out a strict schedule – by hour – of classes, studying, and social time for me for the next four months. I even scheduled in when I’m going to eat and take naps! It is a very study-intensive schedule, but I think it’s realistic, and I feel so prepared to start school next week.

My dad has always told me that planning is 90% of the battle, but I never really paid attention. To be honest, I was probably off doing something. I am and always have been an overachiever. I started out with three majors in college – music, science, and humanities – and I’m only now realizing that I’ll need time to sleep. It’s hard to be an overachiever when I feel like I’m drowning in the amount of homework I still have to do. But knowing what I have ahead of me this semester and planning out when it will all get done will help me stay afloat.