2 Scholarship - A Fiji's Top Priority

SCHOLARSHIP - A FIJI’S TOP PRIORITY

Scholarship, Fraternity, Self. When you accept membership in Phi Gamma Delta, you make a commitment to achieve your very best in the classroom. College and fraternity go hand-in-hand in developing men to their fullest potential.

Since our founding, Phi Gamma Delta has placed an emphasis on academic excellence. After all, it is the primary reason why you are enrolled in college. You have likely heard this statement hundreds of times, “You came to college to get an education. Studying needs to be your top priority.” Your parents have told you. Your teachers have told you. Your fraternity brothers have told you.

In truth, while there are students who can constantly keep academics at the top of their agendas at all times, the average student is surrounded by many distractions: social opportunities, involvement in student organizations, a girlfriend/boyfriend, a job and leadership obligations within the Fraternity.

Even in college, where academic pursuits are the backbone of existence, studying often seems the least attractive way to spend time. The fact that you sought out a fraternity might mean you have a desire to do something in addition to studying during your time at college.

However, be warned. A great number of college graduates admit that they could have finished college with a lot more, if only they had tried a little harder to manage their priorities. Now they spend most of their time trying to compete for promotions with people who always seem a little “sharper” or more “disciplined” in their rise to the top.

A great deal is riding on your academic performance. Indeed your GPA is the most important measurable index of your academic ability. Regardless of what you might have heard, graduate schools and employers look closely at grades. The best positions go to those who can demonstrate the ability to excel in all areas, in and out of the classroom.

Set Yourself Up for Success

It is possible to be involved with your Fraternity and other activities and get good grades. If you are willing to work hard and create a balanced set of priorities, then you will be able to fit more into " Many of Phi Gamma Delta’s best scholars also serve as Chapter officers, hold down part-time jobs, serve the community and participate in other extracurricular activities. the 168 hours you are allotted every week. Many of Phi Gamma Delta’s best scholars are also serving as Chapter officers, holding down parttime jobs, serving the community and participating in other extracurricular activities. It is often said that if you need

“The pursuit of academic excellence is the most fundamental and important purpose of the college experience. Only by making scholarship our highest priority, individually and as a chapter, can we achieve the most for our colleges, our brothers and ourselves.”

David Elmore (Indiana 1955): Archon President 1988-90

something done, find the brother who is the most involved and he will get it done. In many ways, the same holds true for scholastic success.

Why is this so? Why doesn’t all this extra activity reduce the chances for success? The answer is that when you have to organize your efforts, set goals for yourself, avoid wasting time and do well at the things that really count, you become better at almost everything you do.

Choosing Your Course of Study

One challenge for many students is simply deciding what to study in college. For a period of time, this is fine. You may need time to explore the numerous possibilities to make a decision that is right for you. But do not put this decision off for long. It is a very important decision.

Talk to your fraternity brothers about their majors and talk to Phi Gam graduate brothers about possible careers and what courses of study would best prepare you for such a career. If your chapter benefits from the involvement of a scholarship advisor, this person may be a valuable resource. Your campus likely has a career center which may offer information on potential career paths.

One important reality of our world today is that few college students will find one career path and stay with it all their working lives. Change is a part of our world, and college graduates will likely change whole careers a number of times. Thus, while it is important to find a course of study that best fits your interests and future career plans, the mere fact that you are pursuing a college degree is significant.

Setting Your Academic Goals

When it comes to the four- or five-year pursuit of a college degree, it is important to begin with the end firmly in mind. With what GPA do you wish to graduate? To get started in a good career, a 3.0 or “B” average or better is desirable.

What grades will you need each term in order to achieve your overall goal? What will you need to earn in each class in order to hit the mark? How is each class graded and what will you need on individual exams or papers in order to score well in the course? An overall GPA can easily be broken down into individual terms, classes and examinations.

You need goals to know where you’re going in the process of your education. When you know what you want to achieve, you can set your mind to it, create a plan and do it. Setting specific measurable goals is one of the strongest ways to motivate yourself to study efficiently and effectively. Goal setting is an important initial step to achieving academic success.

Time Management

To accomplish your purposes for being in college and to succeed in other important activities, you cannot be passive. You must be in control of what you do with your time by making conscious choices. In other words, you must do well at managing yourself in the time available to you.

Most people are surprised at how much they can get done if they simply take a few moments each night to write down the things they need to get done the " The biggest enemy to your success in the classroom is an inability to following day. Some well-organized students carry plan out your time. daily and weekly planners and write out all of their “time consumers” ahead of time. Being able to anticipate “time consumers,” so that you can make appropriate choices about how you will use your time, is critical to success. The biggest enemy to your success in the classroom is an inability to plan out your time. The best and worst thing about college is the fact that there is always something to do. Being involved in a fraternity only increases these opportunities. Because of this, students often fall into the trap of over committing themselves. Sometimes you just have to say “no” to a lot of things that you would like to do. Remember, fraternity is meant to supplement your college education, not detract from it. The key to time management is finding balance. While it may seem like a challenge to balance the many priorities in a fraternity man’s life, many men do it successfully. It is a skill that will serve you well throughout life. Your challenge is to find balance in your academic, fraternity, personal and job time.

Academic Time

A certain percentage of your time must be dedicated to purely academic pursuits. This includes going to class, working on papers and other assignments, reading and studying for exams. It is important that you have the discipline to find time every day for your academic pursuits. A good rule of thumb is to go to the library or other conducive study area for at least 1-2 hours per day. Some brothers will need much more than this time allotment per day to complete their work, and there are some times when everyone will need more time than this. Give yourself time to meet your professors. Sometimes simply touching base with a professor or a graduate assistant can increase your chances for a better understanding of the material. If you find that you are having difficulty in class, seek assistance. Whether it is a tutor, your big brother in the Fraternity or resources available through your college, sometimes you must ask for help. The bottom line: if you need help, ask for it.

Fraternity Time

College life offers plenty of opportunities to grow socially. By joining a fraternity, you will have even more opportunity to enjoy these opportunities. Keep it in perspective and keep it in check. There will be time consumed through your involvement in the Fraternity. Depending upon your involvement level, this could mean time spent on committee work, planning and setting up certain functions, playing an intramural sport, attending mandatory meetings, assisting the brothers with a service project and socializing. In addition to your time spent on Fraternity activities, be sure to program into your calendar time for the various non-fraternity activities you may enjoy. If you are involved in varsity sports or another club or organization, mark in a fair amount of time on your calendar for these pursuits.

Scholarship, Fraternity, Self

“While we Phi Gams are united by friendship, it is our commitment to academic excellence which aligns us with the mission of our host institutions and ultimately justifies our existence as a part of the higher education community.”

Douglas Dittrick (Ohio Wesleyan 1955): Archon President 1996-98; Educational Foundation President 2004-06

Personal Time

You should give yourself an hour or two each day for the personal things we all take for granted. These might include running errands, going for a run or to the gym, shopping, doing laundry, visiting with friends, calling home, or getting a bite to eat. This time is important to your well being. You can’t be at your best if you don’t have some “down time” in your life. Do not neglect to schedule some time for yourself everyday.

Job Time

Many college students seek part-time employment as a way to help defray the cost of tuition or other living expenses. You may well be one of those students who is employed while pursuing a degree. If you must work, it is best that you find a job where you can learn skills that will help you later in the job market. At a minimum, find a job that allows you to utilize or practice skills you already possess. A part-time job in college is equivalent to adding 3-6 credit hours to your workload. A part-time job in college is equivalent to adding 3-6 credit hours to your workload.

Success Is in Your Hands

The first step to academic success is to set your sights on a course of study you enjoy with goals you can accomplish. You then must set aside the time you need to thrive. Now, adopt proper study methods and get help when you need it. You will be on the path to success.

How to Study

Every person has his own preferences when it comes to studying. Part of the key is finding out what works best for you. You should try to find some type of organized routine or system for your study work. Since you are no longer in high school, the academic challenge you face is much greater. • Attend all classes. There is no better way to understand material than to attend (and pay attention during) class. Most have the greatest success when they prepare in advance, participate during class and review afterwards. • Keep up with your reading. By doing this, you will avoid taking useless notes in class and it will help you make more sense of your lectures. • Take good notes. Material written down in your own

handwriting will help your understanding of the lecture. Look for signals or cues from your professor as to what will be important to note. • Study in a quiet place and at the right time. While everyone has a personal preference, and some study better with music playing, you will want to avoid distractions to your studying.

Others use their dorm room or room in the chapter house. Some utilize the library or study area in the chapter house. Find your special place where you can concentrate and be comfortable. Do not put off studying until nighttime. As a college student, evening is the busiest time of the day. Mornings, weekends or breaks throughout your day can be particularly good times for study. • Avoid all-nighters. Study, sleep, review and then take your exam. A good night’s sleep before an exam will serve you much better than cramming in the final hours. • Most importantly, create a study routine that works for you. Master it and repeat your success formula class after class, semester after semester. In doing so, you will increase your chances to truly “make the grade” when it comes to academics.

Take Advantage of Available Assistance

Colleges and universities offer countless tutoring and resource centers. There may be general writing and math labs, as well as subject-specific opportunities offered in your department. What most students don’t realize is that you are already paying for these services with your tuition and fees! These centers also tend to offer seminars on topics like time management and study skills.

Your chapter brothers are also an invaluable academic resource. Many brothers may have already taken some of your courses and may have prior class notes and exams to review and help you study.

Finally, utilize your chapter’s Scholarship Advisor. He/she is in place to help you and your brothers achieve academically and can offer more personalized support than you might find from other campus resources.

Performing at Test Time

Many students get very nervous before an exam. This nervousness is extremely counter productive. You should do everything you can to relax before taking an exam.

When you get your exam, take a few moments to look over it completely. There may be a part that you find less difficult. If so, do that portion first. It will get your brain rolling and will boost your confidence. Pace yourself, but do not hurry through the exam. If time permits, go back and look over your answers.

Multiple choice questions are very common, and if you have studied well, your first hunch will probably give you the correct answer. If you spend too much time analyzing every possibility, you will talk yourself into the wrong answer.

On essays, do not try to rewrite the entire textbook. Before starting, organize your thoughts with a short set of notes on a piece of scrap paper. Your first paragraph should be a short introduction, followed by paragraphs that answer all parts of the question. Finish with a summary paragraph. There is a misconception that “more is better” when it comes to essay questions. It is better to put

Phi Gamma Delta was the first and only fraternity to have Justices on both the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada presiding simultaneously.

Byron White (Colorado 1938): Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Frank Iacobucci (British Columbia 1962): Supreme Court of Canada a generous amount of information or content into a conservative number of words.

Many chapters may keep “test files” of past tests as a study guide. Use these when available but avoid any type of dependence upon these for your success.

It is expected that you will give your schoolwork the proper time and energy necessary for you to achieve your scholastic potential. A great amount of money has been invested toward this goal and it would be foolish to waste it. The Fraternity should complement your undergraduate educational experience while providing you the resources and assistance to succeed academically. As a result, members of Phi Gamma Delta should perform better academically than they would if they were not members.

Studies have proven that students just starting their college careers are more likely to stay in school until graduation if they start off on a strong academic foundation. To encourage the newest new members and initiates, the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation scholarships in various amounts to encourage good academic habits and performance.

You have this same opportunity. The power is in your hands – and in your mind!

#1 in Grades

Many chapters set their academic goal to be #1 in grades among all fraternities on their respective campuses. Does

your chapter have an overall goal for scholarship?