Jack

Education is very important, and you have to make an effort to keep up with studying. Some topics are easier than others, but no matter what you have to prepare yourself properly and give all you got.

Don’t expect miracles after a few hours of studying; it takes a while for your brain to memorize and process all that new information. What can you do to make things easier?

Make a plan in advance

It is important to be organized and to know exactly what you need to study and for how long. In this way, you will not miss any important object and you can easily plan your day around your studying sessions. Also, you can create a proper environment and you can get yourself in the mood to study.

Get rid of distractions

This is probably the biggest mistake that students make when they need to study: they allow themselves to be distracted.

Go in a room where nobody else will bother you for a few hours. Let your family know that you are busy and you would appreciate some peace.

Put your mobile away or on silent mode and make sure you don’t check any notification you get; you have plenty of time to do this afterwards. If you need to use your laptop for study, don’t open any tabs, programs or websites that are not relevant to your current activity. It will only distract you.

Take breaks

Yes, that is also important. Your brain does not have the ability to focus properly on the same thing for hours and hours, especially if you are not passionate about a certain topic. Instead of getting tired and bored and giving up, teach yourself how to appreciate your breaks.

Doing something else for 10 minutes every hour can be really helpful, and it will also give you time to relax and rest your eyes for a little bit.

Make it a habit

It is better to study one hour every day, than 5 hours on the weekend. The more you stick to your schedule, the easier it will be for you to memorize new information. It will not take a big chunk from your day and you will not feel like you are missing out.

Find a study partner

Sometimes, it’s better to study with someone else. You can hold each other accountable and you can discuss ideas and concepts that are not easy to understand. Plus, it is definitely more fun!

It is not easy to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you are not passionate about something, you can easily feel like secondary education is not something you should go forward with.

The opinions on this matter are divided, but it is vital for you to understand how can this help you in the future and why it is important for you to proceed with formal education.

It will improve your knowledge

No matter what subjects you take or how much time you spend studying, formal education always improves your knowledge. Even if you don’t realize what difference it makes, after only a few months you will discover that you can easily discuss about topics that were unknown to you before.

What if these topics don’t really matter to you? Well, even then, having formal education drastically improves your ability to learn new things. Your brain is like a muscle; the more you train it, the easier it will be for you to perform exercises later on.

You can get a good job while you are still in School

If you are worries about student loans and the amount of money you will need to pay for your secondary education, you have to know that there are better options. There are many companies that offer to pay for your education, as long as you agree to work for them for a number of years after you are done with your courses.

This will not only help you get a job immediately after graduation (which can be a challenge in many parts of the world), but it will help relieve some of the financial pressure.

Switching jobs is easier in the future

When you have secondary education, you can easily switch between jobs later on. People who have a degree have a better chance of finding a well-paid job. Potential employers will notice on your resume that you were willing to invest time, money and energy into your career and they will be more tempted to give you a chance.

Besides, if you decide later on that you want to go on a path that requires some kind of degree, you will not have to start all over again; more often than not, an extra course in a different niche is enough to get you started, since you already have the basic education.

Formal education is very valuable, and you have to take your time to choose the right university for you. If you are curious to know what the best options around the world are, continue reading!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – USA

MIT offers 30 different departments across five schools and one college, and it is currently ranked as the best university in the World. If you are a high-achiever and you are passionate about engineering, sciences, arts, management or computing, this might be the right choice for you.

As you expect, you need to have an impeccable record and even more than this, you need to convince them, through your application letter, that you would fit in their community. MIT offers more than just a diploma; if offers you connections and a reputation that will help you tremendously in the future.

University of Oxford- United Kingdom

The University of Oxford is not only one of the leading educational institutions in the World, but it is also one of the most popular ones. It is well known for its strict requirements, as well as for their competitive environment. They measure the performance of their students through the Norrington score and they only accept excellence.

University of Oxford offers a broad range of degrees, so you have plenty to choose from if you feel comfortable with strict academic rules and behavior.

ETH Zurich- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

ETH is the place to go if you are passionate about technology, and you dream about contributing to the latest inventions and discoveries. As you can imagine, the competition is very high as students from all around the World try their luck in ETH Admission.

Luckily, since Switzerland is not a cheap country to live in, ETH offers great scholarships for international students, as long as they fulfill strict academic requirements and they prove to be promising students.

National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore is ranked number 11 in the World’s Top Universities, and it is probably the most prominent university in Asia. While it welcomes hundreds of international students every single year, it does require extraordinary grades and an obvious interest towards academic education and research.

The best way to improve your chance into being admitted in any top university is to invest your time in activities that improve your skills and knowledge. Volunteering is also something that you should not neglect, as it brings you plenty of extra points.

Are you willing to invest time and energy in your formal education? Do you want to have a degree that will open doors for you from the moment you graduate? In this case, you should consider one of these top colleges around the world!

Harvard University

Harvard offers some amazing undergraduate programs, and it is clearly one of the most historic and notable educational institutions in the world. They have a wide variety of programs to choose from, and they are famous for the unique way they teach their students; while they expect excellence and hard work, they allow plenty of freedom when it comes to research and ingenuity.

The University is located in the United Kingdom, and it does follow strict British guidelines when it comes to the behavior and the appearance of their students.

The University of California

The University of California is an excellent choice if you want to enter an undergraduate program in the USA. While the fees are pretty high and they can reach tens of thousands dollars every year, they have excellent sponsorship programs that good students can access. Of course, this means that you will have to maintain very high grades. Is it worth it? Absolutely. The University of California is in the Top 10 Universities in the World!

Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University is located in China and it is a very interesting combination of outstanding academic requirements and old Chinese traditions. International students are expected to have not only high academic marks, but also a good record that proves their ability to absorb a new culture and to follow the famous Chinese social rules.

As many other famous universities, the Tsinghua University offers scholarships for international students who prove to be an asset for the institution. Every year, international companies visit the university and offer internship and jobs to students, even if they are not even close to graduation.

In this way, companies make sure that they contract well-prepared employees (the high standards of the university are well known) and students are sure that they will find a job after graduation.

While all this sounds exciting, you have to keep in mind that Asian students tend to study more than Western ones. They are used to dedicate all their time towards education and they achieve higher levels without too much effort. You need to have an impeccable discipline to keep up with the university’s standards and requirements.

The college you take will have a great influence on your career and future education. It is very important to take time to make this decision and discuss with people you trust. Sign up for the program of your choice only when you are 100% happy with future possibilities and the community you will enter.

Write everything down

If you have to choose between multiple programs, you can see everything in a clear light if you put everything on paper. Write down the potential programs and the pros and cons of each. It doesn’t matter if some of the things seem less important for others (like the quality of the cafeteria) as long as it is a vital criteria for you.

When you see everything on paper and you can easily count the advantages and the disadvantages of each program, you will take a decision much easier.

Talk to graduates or students

Have a conversation with a student who is enrolled in one of the universities you want to apply to. You can find out exactly what is the atmosphere, how are the teachers and if they are happy with their choice.

A graduate, on the other hand, can tell you if they were successful after graduation, how much that college helped them get a job, and if they feel like they got all the information they needed during their college years.

Establish how much you have to give

You will have to give money, time, interest, energy, and it is good to know what you can afford right from the start. Of course, you might think about going to a great college abroad, but are you willing to comply with their strict academic requirements?

Choosing an easier program or something that does not take that long is not a bad thing. At the same time, if you feel like an expensive college will put financial pressure on you or your family, you should find other options.

Take a trip to the college of your choice

When possible, this is the best solution. You will get to see the area; you will have the chance to discuss with students and teachers and catch the overall vibe. There are many colleges that might seem incredible in pictures, but when you go there you feel like you don’t belong.

The decision you make now can affect the next few years of your life, so don’t take it lightly.