In his 1990 book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey indicated that the first habit was being proactive. For successful college students this means taking responsibility for their own learning. Covey’s second habit, “Begin with the end in mind,” is no less significant for college students. He explained, “To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you are going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction” (p. 98). This habit has extreme relevance for college students. It helps them chose the right college major, and it motivates them to complete college.
Why is it Important for College Students to Begin With the End in Mind?
Student persistence is a major concern at colleges and universities. In the United States, only 74 percent of college freshman continue their studies a second year, and only 53 percent graduate in six years (Allen et.al, 2008). Obvious factors include the state of the economy and the availability of financial aid. But one study identified “college commitment” as one of two factors the directly impacts students’ decisions to stay in college (Allen et.al., 2008). So why do students commit to college?
One answer can be found in an article entitled “Easy Ways to Improve a College's Retention Rate,” which appeared in the July 4, 2008, edition of the Chronicle for Higher Education. Author Marty Nemko wrote, “While many academics wish that college students would forgo a preoccupation with career in favor of learning for learning's sake, the reality is that, especially outside of the elite colleges, career is many students' primary motivator for attending college. By helping them by the end of the first semester to have a tentative career goal they're excited about, they are more likely to continue with and work hard at their college education.”
Success in college requires persistence, persistence requires commitment, and commitment comes when students are excited about a career goal. As Nemko wrote, college students who begin with a career goal in mind are more likely to put forth the effort required to achieve that goal. A career goal is the end that motivates so many successful college students.
The Consequences of Completing College Without the End in Mind
Stephen Covey wrote, “We may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective only when we begin with the end in mind” (p. 98). In other words, it takes more than hard work to be truly effective. Students can study hard, get good grades, and graduate from college, but not be effective. How can this be?
Efficient students can breeze through college without being highly effective when they choose the wrong major. And the reason they chose the wrong major may have been because they did not have a clear understanding of where they were going in life. This is the consequence of beginning college without an end in mind, without a vision for the future.
How Effective College Students Begin With the End in Mind
For many college students, it began while they are in high school. Career counseling, interest inventories, aptitude assessments, job shadowing, networking and part-time employment are just a few of catalysts that have helped many students identify their career goals. However, many other students enter college without a career goal in mind. Are they doomed to failure?
The answer is no, not necessarily. Most colleges offer services to help students match their interests and abilities to careers. By taking advantage of this assistance students can develop a vision for their future. And that vision constitutes a powerful, motivating end to their academic pursuits.
The Benefits of Beginning College with the End in Mind
It is evident that there are two significant benefits for students who begin college with the end in mind. For one thing, they are more likely to choose the best college major, one they will put to productive use. These students begin their college career with a vision of what will be. They set goals and align their education to their goals, career goals in particular.
When students set career and lifetime goals, and when their college education is a critical part of achieving those goals, they are motivated. Motivated students are far more likely to complete college. Therefore, college completion this is the second benefit to students who begin with the end in mind.
References
Allen, Jeff; Robbins, Steven; Casillas, Alex; Oh, In-Sue. “Third-year College Retention and Transfer: Effects of Academic Performance, Motivation, and Social Connectedness.” Research in Higher Education, Nov 2008.
Covey, Stephen. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990.
Nemko, Marty. “Easy Ways to Improve a College's Retention Rate.” Chronicle of Higher Education, July 4, 2008.
Paul Hummel - My name is Paul Hummel, and learning has been a life-long pursuit of mine. I began post secondary quest in 1965, and it earned me three ...
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