Preparing for a New School Year – Part Two

Grab your responses from part one. Each response awards either 10 points, 5 points, 3 points, or 1 point. Others reward no points at all. This is intentional, because only certain questions were designed to actually target your learning type. Others deal with areas such as which hemisphere of your brain you tend to favor or are just there to make you laugh.

Read Part 1 here.

Here are your results.

TIP: There has been some confusion about how scoring works. For clarification, here is an example. If you pick D in number one, you give yourself both the single point for participator as well as the 5 points in slacker. If you pick a letter, all the points listed beside each of the 4 archetypes are to be respectively allocated.

1.

Overachiever – A 5 Points
Learner – B/C 5 Points
Participator – D 1 Point
Slacker – D 5 Points

2.

Overachiever – D 5 Points
Learner – C 5 Points
Participator – B 5 Points
Slacker – A 5 Points

3.

Overachiever – D 5 Points
Learner – B 5 Points
Participator – A 5 Points C 3 Points
Slacker – D 1 Point

4.

Overachiever – D 5 Points C 3 Points
Learner – B 3 Point
Participator – B 3 Point
Slacker – A 5 Points

5.

Overachiever – C 5 Points
Learner – A/B 3 Points
Participator – A/B 3 Points
Slacker – 0 Points

6.

Overachiever – D 1 Point
Learner – B 1 Point
Participator – 0 Points
Slacker – A 1 Point

7.

Overachiever – A 5 Points B 3 Points
Learner – 0 Points
Participator – 0 Points
Slacker – D 5 Points C 3 Points

8.

Overachiever – D 5 Points C 3 Points
Learner – A 5 Points
Participator – B 5 Points
Slacker – D 1 Point

9.

Overachiever – B 1 Point
Learner – C 1 Point
Participator – C 1 Point
Slacker – D 3 Points C 1 Point

10.

Overachiever – A 5 Points B 3 Points
Learner – B 5 Points A 3 Points
Participator – A 1 Point
Slacker – D 5 Points C 3 Points

11.

Overachiever – A 5 Points
Learner – B 5 Points A 3 Points
Participator – C 5 Points B 1 Point
Slacker – D 5 Points C 1 Point

12.

Overachiever – A 5 Points B 3 Points
Learner – B 5 Points A 3 Points
Participator – C 5 Points
Slacker – D 5 Points

13.

Overachiever – C 5 Points
Learner – D 5 Points
Participator – B 5 Points
Slacker – A 5 Points

14.

Overachiever – A 5 Points B 3 Points
Learner – C 5 Points D 1 Point
Participator – B 3 Points C 3 Points
Slacker – D 5 Points

15.

Overachiever – C 5 Points
Learner – C 3 Points
Participator – A 5 Points B 5 Points
Slacker – D 5 Points

16.

Overachiever – A 5 Points
Learner – B 5 Points A 3 Points
Participator – C 5 Points
Slacker – D 5 Points

17.

Overachiever – D 5 Points C 3 Points
Learner – C 5 Points D 3 Points
Participator – B 5 Points A 3 Points
Slacker – A 5 Points B 3 Points

18.

Overachiever – A 5 Points B 3 Points
Learner – B 5 Points A 3 Points
Participator – C 5 Points B 1 Point D 1 Point
Slacker – D 5 Points

19.

Overachiever – D 5 Points C 3 Points
Learner – C 5 Points D 3 Points
Participator – B 5 Points
Slacker – A 5 Points

20.

Overachiever – D 1 Point
Learner – D 1 Point
Participator – C 5 Points
Slacker – B 10 Points A 5 Points

There is some overlap on certain responses because each type can sometimes exhibit similar behaviors. Instead of narrowing it down to simply one type, carrying points across the board makes the results more accurate.

Many of you may be curious why the Slacker(S) got some points at the same time the Overachiever(O) did. The reasoning behind this is that these two types operate with a similar mindset, but with different measurements of success. To an O, a bad grade is anything below an A. To an S, anything below passing is a bad grade.

The Learner(L) and the Participator(P) may not seem as good as the O, but this isn’t the case. (Sorry, though, L’s and P’s are much better than S’s.) L’s and P’s make up the vast majority of students because they do not take their academic pursuits to either extreme. Compared to O’s and S’s, L/P’s are much more level-headed and rational.

Some common hybrids, or combinations of two types, are PL, LO, LP, OL, and SP. I know many consider the SO type to supposedly be the best type, but it actually doesn’t exist. You can be a slacker who does well, but a slacker by definition does not live up to his or her potential. Overachieving doesn’t mean simply doing well; it is a combination of multiple traits, which includes doing well. A slacker could never be considered an overachiever.

Here is an in-depth look at the four archetypes and some of their respective subtypes:

• Learner – You are more interested in the content of the class than what your actual grade may be. You make A’s, B’s, and occasional C’s and you get a lot out of your coursework. You are rarely absent or late, but if attendance is not taken in a class that doesn’t engage you, you will learn the material on your own outside of class and miss without guilt.
  • Subtypes:
    • The Nerd – You aren’t ‘that guy’ at a party, but you are ‘that guy’ in the classroom. Your extensive knowledge in certain areas make your classmates envious when you flex your cortex.
    • The Gambler- You take whatever class you think might be interesting regardless of the time it meets, the professor, or whether or not it pertains to your major. You win some and you lose some, but since grades are not that big a deal, in your eyes you still beat the house.
    • The Reader – Every book is your bible. You can be found constantly with a book in your hand. In your mind, you hold this truth to be self-evident: That all knowledge is created equal.

• Overachiever – ‘Make the grade’ is your golden rule. The fact that you are in an institute of higher education is inconsequential unless you are making perfect or near-perfect grades. In classes where you excel easily, you will maintain enthusiasm. In classes you find difficult, one or two poor grades can make you lose interest for the entire semester or simply drop the class.
  • Subtypes:
    • The Rabbit – Though you may be brilliant, you still often overestimate your abilities and end up occasionally losing to a few ‘turtles’. This type is a perfect example of ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall.’
    • The Renaissance (Wo)Man – You work two jobs, do great in school, help your community, the works. Your talents are diverse and well-crafted. You probably speak a foreign language.You accomplish in 7 days what most would consider the work of an entire team. Unfortunately, many of your relationships are often neglected because you are so busy.
    • Mr. 4.0 – Nothing matters more than getting all A’s, all the time. You will forsake food, water, and even shelter if it means keeping your pristine GPA. You aren’t entirely sure if it is even worth it, but you keep at it anyway, because, come on, who WON’T hire somebody with a 4.0?
    • The Thoroughbred – Groomed from a young age by parents and society, your entire life has been spent working toward your career goals. By striving for perfection, you feel more capable of fulfilling your dreams.

• Participator – You love class discussions. Communicating with your professor about a topic while in class keeps you the most interested. You take advantage of office hours, and especially love working in a group with other talkers. In classes or situations where silence is mandatory, you will struggle to maintain interest. An aloof professor could induce uncharacteristic apathy.
  • Subtypes:
    • The Valley Girl(Can also be a male student): The most non-pertinent questions come from The Valley Girl, though she really means no harm. She often sees things in a different or emotional way, and is simply seeking clarification. Her feelings are easily hurt, and she does best in a nurturing classroom environment with a caring professor.
    • Mr(s). Professor(Good): Whenever the class discussion seems to reach a dead-end, you come to the rescue. Whether by raising an excellent point or asking a question that pulls the entire class back on track, Mr(s). Professor(Good) saves innumerable class periods just by showing up.
    • Mr(s). Professor(Bad): Often confused as ‘The Nerd’, Mr(s). Professor(Bad) is by nature an usurper of class time. Where The Nerd, though sometimes obnoxious, generally adds to the discussion, Mr(s). Professor(Bad) is the first one to correct professors, raise a blatantly contradictory point, and to keep talking after class has finished.

• Slacker – You do as little as possible to get your personal minimum results. You prefer to not go to class and you are a master of quietly slipping into a lecture hall without a sound. If you are particularly intelligent, keeping your grades to yourself is essential. Nobody likes a person who gets something for nothing, so your peers will scorn you.
  • Subtypes:
    • Mr. Gameday: You show up only when you will be graded. 15-20 absences per semester is acceptable in your eyes. You are of above-average intelligence, but operate well below your potential.
    • The Zombie: You go to college because you were forced to or want to avoid being drafted. You have tried five or six majors, and none of them appeal to you. Oversleeping is habitual and humorous. You pass your classes by the skin of your teeth because you attend class ‘in body, but not in spirit.’
    • The Fraud: You want everybody to think you don’t try hard, though you do. You show up just late enough to seem apathetic. You never answer questions in class or study at the library so nobody knows the real, intelligent person that you actually are.
    • The Jerk: EVERYBODY knows how smart you are and how little you try. You answer questions out of spite and overtly turn in your work before anybody else finishes, but only if you feel like it. Everything is a game to you and winning without grace is your M.O. when you decide to play.

Now you know your learning style and (perhaps) subtype. In part 3 you will learn about each style’s strengths as well as the simple answer to the question, “What will allow me to be the most prepared this fall?”