You can be the next Bill Nye.Being a scholar is easy if you just want to learn as much as you can.Learning can be brought into your life with some work and determination.Find out how by reading the article.
Step 1: Real scholars ask questions of everything they read or hear.
They try to make sure that the information they're working with is accurate.It might be if something seems off.Make sure you're working with the facts, even things that seem right may be wrong.
Step 2: Before forming an opinion, you should take in all sides of the argument.
Don't take your opinions from someone else.This is important for scholars.
Step 3: When they get new information that challenges their previous views, scholars need to be willing to change their minds.
One of the most important skills for a scholar is this.In the pursuit of being right, be open minded and willing to be wrong.
Step 4: Don't let your feelings tell you what to do.
It's not true if you don't agree with something.Don't let your bias affect your conclusions.
Step 5: If you want to learn without a formal education, read a lot.
At every opportunity, read as much as you can.This can make you a scholar since you are learning all the time.You can read books that you buy, but you can also go to your local library and get a lot of books for free.The internet makes it easy to find, order, and renew books at the library.You can get free digital copies of books in the public domain.You can get Project Gutenberg through the Amazon program.
Step 6: Do you know that you can take classes without a degree?
You can take classes without a degree if you want to learn a particular skill or subject.Some classes are free.Auditing classes means taking the class but not doing any of the homework or tests and not getting credit or a grade, so talk to your local community college about it.If you want to work something out with the professor, you can talk directly to him.
Step 7: There are many new online schools with free classes.
You can take classes from top universities.You can learn a lot of skills and topics.Mental Floss' Youtube Series is one of the most popular options.For free, you can learn languages online.The Foreign Service Institute has online resources.
Step 8: You can teach yourself new skills.
Humans learn by doing.You can either learn from books or by doing things.Make sure you don't hurt yourself.This can take a lot of determination but you can do it.Don't give up!
Step 9: You can learn a lot of skills from someone who is an expert.
This is called apprenticing.If you want to learn how to do it, you should find someone that does it and offer to pay them or give them a helping hand.It works better for skills than academic subjects, but you might still be able to find someone sympathetic enough to recommend good books or other ways to learn.
Step 10: Like other great authors and scientists, you can write articles, papers, books and give lectures about your field of knowledge.
Essays and books for publishing will be written by you.The hope is that your research will be significant enough for the university you work for to notice it.Writing papers and books at regular intervals is what you will be required to do when you work in academia.Sometimes you can take a sabbatical in order to work on your research.
Step 11: It's not going to impress anyone if you just do the minimum.
While you are still in high school, take extra classes, audit classes at the local community college, or work outside of school.If the extra work relates to the degree you want to get in college, it will help you a lot.It will look promising when you apply to colleges.
Step 12: It's important to get good grades in high school, especially during the last two years.
Colleges and universities will look at these grades to decide whether or not to allow you in.Paying attention in class, studying, and doing all your work will get you good grades.If you want to boost your grade, you should get extra help from your teachers.
Step 13: If you want to get in to a school, you need to have good SAT scores.
To get into better schools, you need better scores.You can get good scores by studying ahead of time and taking practice tests.If you want to, you can take the test more than once.You don't need to get a bad score to do the things you want.You can transfer from one college to another.
Step 14: This will help you a lot if you know what you want to study.
You can only take classes that will help you if you know what you want.If you can, use your time in high school to decide what you want to do with your life.You can get experience in that field by volunteering.This can really help if you change your mind.
Step 15: To get the most out of your time in college, study as much as you can and get good grades.
Paying attention in class will help you learn.If you want to succeed, get good at these skills.You can study alone or with other people.Whatever works best for you.You can take advantage of others' notes when you work with them.You should get help when you need it.You can ask your classmates, use the tutoring center, or get help from your professor.
Step 16: Befriending your professors is more than just getting a better grade.
You professors may be your colleagues later in your career if you get into a good grad school.Take advantage of office hours to get to know them.Be sure you're not wasting their time.Pay attention to what they say when you come in with actual questions.You can get to know your professors by being in class.If you are good at participating in general, sit near the front and ask questions.You can talk to them and ask for advice.They want to see you succeed and should be willing to give you some tips on how to get ahead in the field.
Step 17: A master's degree is enough for some academics.
Some need a PhD.If you want to spend the rest of your life as a scholar, you'll need to go to graduate school.All of your education can take up to 8 years after high school.After getting a bachelor's degree, it takes about 6 years to get a PhD.Time may be used for earning a master's degree.Don't worry about this.In some ways, graduate school is easier than normal school.You can probably handle it if you get in.
Step 18: If you don't want to become a professor for that subject, you should be reading publications in your field every day.
If you want to become a good professor, you need to continually expand your knowledge in that field.You want to be able to share what's in the textbooks with your students, because things can change.It's better not to be behind your peers.Your own research endeavors will benefit from networking with experts in your field.
Step 19: A conference is a gathering of scholars in a field.
They learn from each other while presenting their research.You will mostly listen to the presentations of others and talk with your colleagues if you present things that you've been studying.Sometimes you can go to international conferences that are local or regional.Conferences are more fun than you think.Most of the scholars are getting drunk together.
Step 20: It's a requirement for degrees if you want to speak a language in your life.
You can show a college that you're ready by learning a language.Choosing a non-useful language doesn't really entice a college as much as choosing a language that will be useful.Some languages are more useful than others.Private lessons can be taken at your school, college or online for free.LiveMocha and DuoLingo are good online options.In order to read older scientific papers that haven't been translated into English, skills in 1 or 2 foreign languages may be helpful.French, German, Spanish, Italian, Latin and Russian are helpful languages to learn.You may need to learn more than one language.The Arabian Peninsula, Southeast Asia, Ottoman Empire and Persia have been visited by many scientists and scholars.
Step 21: You will need to study psychology if you want to understand people's nature.
You will be able to expand your mind capability by studying philosophy.You will be able to think a lot more.
Step 22: If you want a faculty position at a research oriented or PhD-granting university, you will need to do at least one postdoctoral fellowship after completing your PhD.
You will need to publish as many papers as you can in the top ranked journals of your discipline during this time.
Step 23: You will have to speak in front of other people.
If you teach large freshman lecture classes, it can be a very large number of people.Don't be afraid.While you are in graduate school, your department should provide you with lots of help because you will get practice in teaching classes.Since your students want you to give them good grades, they are more nervous than you are.
Step 24: You can take part in a wide variety of scholarly activities at school and have fun.
You can explore your own interests while reading.If you're more of a people person, you can join the debate team.
Step 25: People who are curious are scholars.
They want to know everything.You should always be curious and try to find out how things work.
Step 26: Scholars are interested in learning about everything.
They don't like being smarter than other people or knowing more facts.It isn't a party trick, it's what makes them happy.
Step 27: scholars spend their lives learning
You don't have to stop because you finished school.You can read in your spare time.Academic journals are where you'll be able to keep up with the latest developments in your field.You can travel to other countries to study.To see what your colleagues in other countries are working on, or to gain access to materials that you don't have in your home, may be benefits to taking trips overseas.Get other degrees.Scholars can go back to school and get degrees.They can get further in their career if their research area overlaps with another field.