First Day of Class

The first day of class is always a day of uncertainty and anticipation. You typically receive a syllabus. You get an idea if the class is going to be easy or hard. You get a feel for what teaching style is going to be used. Everyone will be focusing on all of these unknowns. But, there is one thing more important than all of this. Where you sit. You have two options.

Option 1: Arrive early to class and sit in the front.

Most people will try and sit in the back of a classroom, because they think they are inconspicuous and will not be called on to answer questions. In fact, the people in the back of the classroom are the most conspicuous. Sitting in the back is a sign that you do not want to participate and are not that interested in what is being taught. People in the back will be more scrutinized than the people in the front.

People who sit in the front of the class are interested in what is being taught. They are awake. They are attentive. They can hear the teacher. They can see what is being presented. They are the better students.

Let me be clear. The best students sit up front. When you sit up front...you are one of the best students. Even if you do poorly in the class or it is a hard subject for you, if you sit in the front of the class you will be seen as one of the better students and most questions about your classwork will fall in your favor. Let me break this down, you will get a better grade in any class where you sit in the front row.

Option 2: Arrive to class just a little late. Check over the room to see who is the most interesting person in the class. Sit near them.

The next day arrive early and sit in the chair next to where they sat. Do the same the third class session.

By the fourth class, seating will basically never change. People are creatures of habit and they will sit in the same chair in a classroom as if they were assigned.

Here is the key, however. Don't ever talk to the person you choose to sit beside. Just go to class and do your work. Focus on the class no different than any other class. Because remember, you are also sitting next to the most attractive person in every other class.

Why do this? Its just about increasing your odds of cool friendships. Eventually, there will be a study group, or a team project, or something. And eventually the person you are sitting next to will ask you to team up with them. If they do, you have just developed a friendship with the most interesting person in the class.

Friendships lead to relationships far more often than creepy people who try and talk to you in class. That's why you don't talk to them. If they never talk to you then what do you care. YOU are just focused on the class, remember!

Introduction

My son Martin went to college today. He is attending a small liberal arts university outside of Chicago. I am sitting in the Caribbean. I am finishing a three-year contract working as the Director of a small national museum. I have one week left.

When I came to the Caribbean I thought I would finally have time to write my book "How to B Average." Well, it is three years later...

This blog will be the basics of that book. But now it is just the notes that I want to write to my son. This blog will detail my experience in higher education. And hopefully it will distill a few pointers that will help him be a better student.

I have many skills and I can do many things. But after a five year undergraduate degree in architecture, a Master's degree in architecture, a Master's degree in history, and a Ph.D. what I am an expert at is going to school.

This blog does not offer ways of "cheating." This blog does not teach you how to "manipulate" people. This blog does not give you tricks to make college "easy."

What it will do is tell you how I came to understand that achieving the most education out of my higher education was not always the traditional way that most people think it is. Going to college is more than going to school. It is learning how to learn.

Learning to learn...learning to be a student...learning to love college...

Now that is something I can teach you.