by Mattie Mutare

Created on: March 30, 2009   Last Updated: April 08, 2012

Many people derive great satisfaction from standing out and basking in social attention; more so when of college-going age. Here are sure-fire tactics to achieve this status.The key word here is "stand out".  This means your objective is to be immediately noticeable and sustainably accepted as exceptional by both college mates and instructors. Clearly, this is a personal marketing endeavor and to do that successfully you need three steps; package yourself into an exceptional personality, execute superior self-promotion and maintain your lead position through continuous personality maintenance.

Step 1.

To be a good product in college you must have knowledge and display brilliance. This means you must study thoroughly and top or nearly top your class most of the time. You should also engage in and excel at some competitive endeavors such as sports, chess, computer programming contests, academic Olympiads or public speaking; the more mentally intensive the more effective. This will allow you to represent the college in competitions with other colleges or at national level. The gift wrapper to package yourself in, as an outstanding college product, is a circle of like-minded students and you should prove yourself and become the natural leader of such a grouping. Now, that is product design par excellence.

Step 2.

Now, you must promote yourself without flaunting your intelligence. Snobs only stand out briefly and for the wrong reasons. You are in this for the long distance so stay humble. First you must be seen. Therefore, you must sit in a strategic position in lecture halls and auditoriums. One excellent position to colonize is a position right at the back of the class, even if that leaves a few empty rows between you and the last occupied row. Initially this will be viewed as a curious habit but it will turn into near-reverence quite quickly when the brilliance shows through. This means that you have space around you and very regularly the professor must look past everybody and focus on you. Also, when you speak, everyone is forced to swivel round and look at you alone.

Secondly, you must be heard. You should participate fully in the lecture goings on and group activities. You must be deliberate and measured in your questions and responses. Calmness will transmit as confidence and authority in your voice. Backed by your knowledge, it will be only a few sessions in the auditorium before your aura grows and starts diffusing into those in the rest of the college. Thirdly, you must smell good. Use the best perfume you can afford to keep a signature scent around you.

Finally, you must be remembered. Choose your apparel in such a way that you establish some signature dressing that sticks in the minds of those who see you. This could be in the color schemes, contrasts or simply designs. Participate in events that are talked about for long periods like presenting a talk at an annual conference. Of course, every semester, try to come top of the class and get your name onto shields and trophies.

Step 3.

You must maintain your head-start and continuously improve on it. Endeavor to sharpen your skills and exhibit them by participating in activities that generate attention and promote your prowess. Above all, maintain high standards of integrity. Professors will like your polished profile and outlook and they will promote you in their own activities and discussions ensuring that you remain topical and recognized as an outstanding student of the college. This early start in creating an impeccable profile might even be the launchpad for a successful career in your chosen profession.

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