The Correlation Between Personal Responsibility and College Success

The correlation between personal responsibility and college success Roland Miner GEN/200 November 30, 2012 Sara Martin The correlation between personal responsibility and college success Even though some may say there is no direct correlation between personal responsibility and college success, the relationship with how responsible you are and how that affects your college success becomes evident with higher Grade Point Averages and overall pride in your work. With these tools, high GPA, intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy, you receive during your college years there is evidence of achieving greater success after graduation.Another vital tool that will be explored, that is not being taught but comes naturally to some students, is emotional intelligence or common sense. The relationship between how responsible you are and your college success is apparent in many ways. A good strategy is to follow the syllabus and set up a game plan or schedule. Following an agenda will help you sp read out your work load over the week, it will show that you are on the right track and is a great indicator of how responsible you are.One of the worst traits that many people possess is procrastination. According to â€Å"California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly Academic Skill Center† (n. d. ) â€Å"The procrastinator is often remarkably optimistic about his ability to complete a task on a tight deadline; this is usually accompanied by expressions of reassurance that everything is under control. (Therefore there is no need to start. )† â€Å"At some point, he crosses over an imaginary starting time and suddenly realizes, â€Å"Oh no! – I am not in control! There isn’t enough time! (Characteristics) The University states, later in their paper, the benefits of overcoming procrastination â€Å"Peace of mind, a feeling of strength and purpose, and healthy feeling of being in charge of your life. While procrastination makes you feel week, useless , and helpless, taking charge of your life will make you feel strong, competent, and capable. You will experience increased personal freedom! † (Benefits of overcoming procrastination) A responsible person will not wait until the day the paper is due to write it. The final day should be set up for proof eading and any last minute tweaks. As any responsible person will tell you, following a schedule and turning your work in on time and producing higher grades will bring you an overabundance of self-pride other wise know as intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy. Spitzer found that (2000) â€Å"Academic self-efficacy is one’s confidence to succeed at the academic tasks rather than one’s actual ability. Students with high self-efficacy show greater cognitive effort, intrinsic motivation, persistence, and self regulation in their academic performance. The pride you feel knowing that you did the best job you could in the time you were allotted. This very same drive to internal satisfaction that will continue not just throughout your college years but will stay with you in all that you do. Intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy are not the only rewards you will gain. By taking your time and producing outstanding work you will see a substantial increase in your Grade Point Average which is also your defining mark of greatness in college and beyond. â€Å"All college students share at least two goals during their college career.First, they must perform academically, usually measured by GPA (grade point average). Second, they must progress in career development. † (Spitzer, 2000) Your GPA will stay with you throughout your college career and is important to keep track of and strive for higher marks. It is after you graduate that your higher achievements will continue to count. Many employers will take you GPA into consideration when looking for new employees. The job you are applying for may come down to you and one other person and somethi ng like a GPA could loose you that career.It will help distinguish you from others applying for positions that you desire. Your high Grade Point Average will set you apart from mediocrity. A final important asset to consider is emotional intelligence. According to a study conducted by Sparkman, Maulding, and Roberts (2012) â€Å"Emotional Intelligence is the set of skills that a Pearson needs to function effectively in the world and what might be referred to as â€Å"common sense† (p. 644). Their study with EI, although very new and controversial, points to ow well an individual will â€Å"handle frustration, control emotions, and get along with other people† (p. 644). There is a wildly popular television show that is currently broadcasting which shows a group of twenty to thirty something year old nerds trying to function in the typical day to day environment. They are depicted in what we would call normal day to day functions and interactions and shown how even thou gh they are the Einstein’s of our time they fail miserable on a social level. One of the nerds in particular lacks the emotional intelligence to even function with his own fellow intellectuals.Studying this comedic group flounder their way through life is a perfect, all be it extreme, example of Sparkman, Maulding, and Roberts points on how important common sense is a must to function in today’s society. They even go so far as to suggest that â€Å"Universities wishing to increase student retention and graduation should use these scores to develop curriculum and extracurricular activities to encourage student growth in emotional intelligence which will specifically help students and institutions alike reach their educational goals† (p. 50). To be a successful student there are many tools for you to use, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, GPA, and even emotional intelligence, just to name a few. Each student will have to find what tool it will take to enhance t heir achievements. There are those they may disagree, they may say that being responsible has no correlation to a successful college education. They may even say that your Grade Point Average has no impact on landing a stable career.Zupek (2008) â€Å"While grades and GPA play a small role in the job-search process, the good news is that chances are, your GPA is not going to make or break you when it comes to getting a job† (what matters the most? ). With this economy and in these times why run that risk? Why would you not want to give your all? With a higher Grade Point Averages and a greater sense of self-pride there is no end to what you can accomplish. References California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly Academic Skills Center. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://sas. calpoly. edu/asc/ssl/procrastination. html Sparkman, L.A. , Maulding, W. S. , & Roberts, J. G. (2012). Non-cognitive predictors of student success in college. College Student Journal, 46(3), 642-652. Ret rieved from University of Phoenix Online Library Spitzer, T. M. (2000). Predictors of college success: a comparison of traditional and nontraditional age students. NASPA Journal (National Association Of Student Personnel Administrators, Inc. ), 38(1), 82-99. Zupek, R. (2008) Does your gpa matter to employers? Retrieved from http://msn. careerbuilder. com/Article/MSN-1577-College-Internships-First-Jobs-Does-Your-GPA-Matter-to-Employers/