1:1: The Graduation Strategy

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Student:Craft - Graduation Strategy

INTRODUCTION
BOOM, lets get this ball re-rolling! - I said I wouldn't let this blog go down without a fight and I'm back to fulfill that promise! 
So to begin, a little bit about me and where I am...and what I've learnt / decided to do in the very near future.


This will be split into three sections (3 Blog Posts):


1) The Degree Strategy
2) The Financial Strategy
3) The Life Strategy


I am a final year student, term one down, two to go! - Within the next 6 months I'm going to be out in the 'big world', and preparations have got to be made. I am driven by money and it's about time I started to rack some in. First things first, I need to finish my degree!


This term has been an interesting one for me! There was a LOT more work than years one and two, I was attempting to re-haul my finances, perfect my skills for my degree and maintain a flexible social life. At the start of April the majority of my work will be done and there will be nothing else I can do about my mark.



How to get a 1st at University from StudentCraft on Vimeo.


THE DEGREE STRATEGY
So!...I want to become a Digital Compositor for feature Films! Alongside learning various new software, I need to optimize my assignments and keep aiming for a 1st! Regardless of your course, these points (my notes) should help, however some points maybe more related to design courses:

1.   Believe (You need to believe you can achieve a 1st!...If you don't you'll never get it!)

“Every noble work is at first impossible”

2.   Research (What work is already a first?, how close am I already, what needs to be done, what do the lecturers look for?)

3.   Reading and Understanding the Brief (Do what needs to be done to satisfy the brief, not what you want to do, or think is better)

“So often people are working hard at the wrong thing. Working on the right thing is probably more important than working hard”

4.   Goal setting (What needs to be done?, break it down into small manageable goals)

“I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul”

5.   Law of Attraction (Visualisation, affirmations, vision boards, a thought has a frequency)

6.   Accelerated Learning (Learn how to read, take effective notes – visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, music to listen to)

7.   Portfolio Development (Find out what the professionals in the field are looking for and customise your project / create your portfolio to match)

8.   Attend all your Lectures (You never know what you will miss if you don’t attend. Gives the lecturers an opportunity to learn who you are)

9.   Priorities + Balancing Work and Play (Work comes before going out, do I have time to get part time employment?, make a schedule, set time aside to relax and set time to work hard)

“Be regular and orderly in your life, so you may be violent and original in your work”

10.        Out perform your Peers (Simple, take all the good aspects of your friends work and incorporate them into your own. Your work is assessed against the others in your class, so make it better)

11.        Not Everything can be done Alone (If you’re not so good at one area of your course, ask someone who is for help)

12.        Work you’re A** Off! (There is no way out of this, you need to put your head down and get on with it! Give yourself rewards when you complete a goal)

“Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction”

13.        The Iteration Cycle (WIGWAM, a method to constantly improve the work you have)

14.        Feedback on Work (Don’t ask your family and closest friends – they don’t know how to be objectively critical of your work. Ask people with no emotional ties)

15.        Acquire new Knowledge (Always be looking for new knowledge to improve your existing base)

16.        Do more than you’re Asked (Add in that extra ‘zing’ that will get you noticed. How can you tell what’s extra? = include whatever you’re taught and find something independently to include)

17.        Take advantage of what your University / Lecturers Offer (Proof reading service, 1 on 1 sessions are there to be used)

18.        Delayed Gratification (That new game at first may be more alluring, but put it off for a few days and reward yourself once you've got some work done)

19.        Desire (You have to WANT it!)

20.        Shadow testing and MEVO

21.        Motivation (Search for Inspiration and find work that spurs you on to create better work yourself)

22.        Networking (Find students and professionals who are doing the sort of work you want to do. Learn and share with them)

23.        Graduation Day !!!

The website is going to change slowly over the next month...but if you're interested, stay tuned for the rest of the update =)