Q.
“How can I be more successful at Bergen?”
A.
Hi Bergen Student!
There are two important questions I need to ask in order to give you optimal advice. First, what do you define as successful? Are you aiming to have academic success—whether that is to simply pass all your classes—or are you ambitious for a high GPA? Perhaps you’re envisioning an improved college social experience? Second, how would you describe your current state at Bergen Community? Are you involved in various clubs, with a solid academic standing? Are you too overwhelmed and desire more solitude?
Feel free to submit a new response with clarifying details if necessary! Until then, I will provide guidance as if your goal is for academic and social success.
Academic Success
If you’re aiming to improve your grades or impress admission officers with your transfer application, the best advice is to identify and appeal to your strengths. If your best subject is mathematics, prioritize courses within that discipline and consider taking Honors courses. As they’re recognized on transcripts, it will show commitment and an increased difficulty level. However, don’t choose a course that will “look good on your transcript” if you personally despise the subject and find little value in it. Students who do that will deprive themselves of a high grade as they’ve added unnecessary stress to school and already have no motivation to pursue it.
With your best and worst subjects, genuinely understand that you must ask questions in class. It’s direct and clarifying. You might feel embarrassed, but remember that the “smartest” students typically ask the “dumbest” questions. If you find this to not be true, then that simply means they ask in private. The distinction between success and failure is whether one is willing to have humility. Don’t be afraid to admit you need help. That means either asking your professor in class, attending office hours, or going to the tutoring center.
Social Success
Bring humility to the social circle too; you will need it! Most friends are made outside of class—so prioritize clubs. However, the goal isn’t to join as many clubs as you can. Even with academic ambitions in mind, it doesn’t look special on transfer applications that you participated in every club. Less is usually better. Consider your passions again, and choose one or two clubs that align with them. Drop the extracurriculars that leave you depleted in energy and unstimulated. In return, your application will illustrate more direction, and you will have enough social battery for the courage it will take just to initiate a single conversation.
Valuable social connections also require humility, which is why most find it difficult to insert themselves into. If you’re not willing to be humbled then you trap yourself in superficial socialization. Deep, intellectual conversations are solely the result of vulnerability. Therefore, be courageous and approach those you wish to befriend. Once you have one friend, it’s much easier to gain others.
Remember, any worthwhile accomplishment takes humbling.
Best Regards,
—The Torch