Comments on: The Straight-A Method: A Simple Framework For Conquering College http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/ Decoding Patterns of Success Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Constantine http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-24663 Constantine Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:28:31 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-24663 The advice on this site is upbeat and positive - a great perspective. However, only half of the advice applies, whereas the other half detracts from performance. I and about 25 of my friends used different advice to advance from a B average at a top 50 college [Boston U] to about an A- minus average. Certainly #1 Knowledge is important. However #2 often does not apply. You can control your hours if you don't need to work during school. But if you do work to pay the bills, then you are already losing ground. 1) My advice is this: major in a field which is in demand. I graudated with a double degree in economics and international affairs, with a minor in accounting. You save an immense amount of time and avoid more stress than applying any of the above methods. Good majors: Computer science, engineering, accounting, paralegal studies, ie anything that is a TRADE. Hell I know barbers who make more than at least one college graduate from Yale: a theater alumni/bartender. 2) If you don't major/land a good job: be persistent. Don't give up. Treat each day like a regular work day. And if you really don't care about work: reassess your values. If you can't stand up for your values, you will just fade away into nothingness. The advice on this site is upbeat and positive – a great perspective. However, only half of the advice applies, whereas the other half detracts from performance. I and about 25 of my friends used different advice to advance from a B average at a top 50 college [Boston U] to about an A- minus average.

Certainly #1 Knowledge is important.
However #2 often does not apply. You can control your hours if you don’t need to work during school. But if you do work to pay the bills, then you are already losing ground.

1) My advice is this: major in a field which is in demand. I graudated with a double degree in economics and international affairs, with a minor in accounting. You save an immense amount of time and avoid more stress than applying any of the above methods.

Good majors: Computer science, engineering, accounting, paralegal studies, ie anything that is a TRADE. Hell I know barbers who make more than at least one college graduate from Yale: a theater alumni/bartender.

2) If you don’t major/land a good job: be persistent. Don’t give up. Treat each day like a regular work day.

And if you really don’t care about work: reassess your values. If you can’t stand up for your values, you will just fade away into nothingness.

]]> By: Sovereign Zen Philosophy: What it Takes and How to Achieve it | The Hub of Gen Y Unconvention http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-18334 Sovereign Zen Philosophy: What it Takes and How to Achieve it | The Hub of Gen Y Unconvention Mon, 01 Nov 2010 09:32:27 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-18334 [...] Efficiency: Improve your workflow, preparation, and productivity skills. Cal Newport’s Straight-A method is a great place to start for students. The more efficient you are, the better you are at [...]

[...] Efficiency: Improve your workflow, preparation, and productivity skills. Cal Newport’s Straight-A method is a great place to start for students. The more efficient you are, the better you are at [...]

]]> By: Samantha http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-10050 Samantha Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:34:25 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-10050 What about year in college? I feel like I used the Sunday ritual without even knowing it for my first two years, but now as a junior, I don't make much time for friends. They rarely see me. I tell them that I am spending so much time trying to prepare my future (applications, work, school, etc.) and after that I am EXHAUSTED!! What to do? What about year in college? I feel like I used the Sunday ritual without even knowing it for my first two years, but now as a junior, I don’t make much time for friends. They rarely see me. I tell them that I am spending so much time trying to prepare my future (applications, work, school, etc.) and after that I am EXHAUSTED!!
What to do?

]]> By: Twitter Trackbacks for Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: A Simple Framework For Conquering College [calnewport.com] on Topsy.com http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-9847 Twitter Trackbacks for Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: A Simple Framework For Conquering College [calnewport.com] on Topsy.com Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:33:13 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-9847 [...] Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: A Simple Framework For Conquering College calnewport.com/blog/?p=255 – view page – cached Features: Pulling It All Together Study Hacks January 25th. 2008, 3:26pm — From the page [...]

[...] Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: A Simple Framework For Conquering College calnewport.com/blog/?p=255 – view page – cached Features: Pulling It All Together Study Hacks January 25th. 2008, 3:26pm — From the page [...]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: How to Ace College Courses http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-8254 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: How to Ace College Courses Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:13:52 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-8254 [...] Last January I introduced The Straight-A Method: a general framework for all of the tactical studying advice that appears in the red book and on this blog. A lot has changed since last January, so in this post I describe a new and improved version of this key piece of the Study Hacks canon. [...]

[...] Last January I introduced The Straight-A Method: a general framework for all of the tactical studying advice that appears in the red book and on this blog. A lot has changed since last January, so in this post I describe a new and improved version of this key piece of the Study Hacks canon. [...]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: How to Ace College Courses http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-8255 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Straight-A Method: How to Ace College Courses Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:13:52 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-8255 [...] Last January I introduced The Straight-A Method: a general framework for all of the tactical studying advice that appears in the red book and on this blog. A lot has changed since last January, so in this post I describe a new and improved version of this key piece of the Study Hacks canon. [...]

[...] Last January I introduced The Straight-A Method: a general framework for all of the tactical studying advice that appears in the red book and on this blog. A lot has changed since last January, so in this post I describe a new and improved version of this key piece of the Study Hacks canon. [...]

]]> By: Study Tips « Just Ramblings http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-7910 Study Tips « Just Ramblings Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:03:45 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-7910 [...] around for some simple study tips to make things easier on myself, and in my searches I came across Study Hacks. They seem to have some pretty good ideas and some simple tips for people at and going to [...]

[...] around for some simple study tips to make things easier on myself, and in my searches I came across Study Hacks. They seem to have some pretty good ideas and some simple tips for people at and going to [...]

]]> By: Studying for students… and teachers — Teaching College English http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-7881 Studying for students… and teachers — Teaching College English Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:00:09 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-7881 [...] If you have students, as I do, who come to you and ask how they can do better, point them to Study Hacks. [...]

[...] If you have students, as I do, who come to you and ask how they can do better, point them to Study Hacks. [...]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Case Study: How Amy Saved Her College Career http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-7877 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Case Study: How Amy Saved Her College Career Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:13:23 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-7877 [...] social life and decreasing her stress. At the core of her transformation where the tactics of the Straight-A Method and the philosophy of the Zen [...]

[...] social life and decreasing her stress. At the core of her transformation where the tactics of the Straight-A Method and the philosophy of the Zen [...]

]]> By: Best Book for getting straight A in school http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/25/the-straight-a-method-a-simple-framework-for-conquering-college/#comment-7677 Best Book for getting straight A in school Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:46:27 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=255#comment-7677 [...] methods requires intensive work. Then I came across Study Hacks. Here's an article from the site: The Straight-A Method: A Simple Framework for Conquering College I even bought his two books, How to Win at College and How to Become a Straight-A Student. His [...]

[...] methods requires intensive work. Then I came across Study Hacks. Here’s an article from the site: The Straight-A Method: A Simple Framework for Conquering College I even bought his two books, How to Win at College and How to Become a Straight-A Student. His [...]

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