In this era of high ambitions, Graduation is the perfect phase to shape your career and goals. It offers the freedom to explore interests, helps inculcate critical thinking, develops self-understanding and self-awareness.
Therefore, starting UPSC preparation while pursuing graduation is a great and wise choice.
Why should one plan UPSC preparation while doing graduation?
Advantages associated :
- Prepares you well ahead of the race – UPSC is a long journey that takes 1 – 3 years.
- Develops a strong awareness of National and Global issues early,which helps improve your understanding of current affairs.
- Enhances your familiarity with the subject.
- Answer writing in mains is an art,so early practice makes you an artist.
- Since graduation gives one more free time,using it wisely makes a big difference.
- One gets plenty of time to identify errors and work on improvement.
- Graduation is the phase where your mind is clear and fresh.
- This phase builds ambition and encourages wise career decision-making.
But, How to plan your preparation?
- Building basics strong – Starting with NCERT’s for all the subjects.
- Habituating to Newspaper reading on a daily basis – makes you get hold on current affairs.
- Getting a clear understanding of the syllabus and becoming comfortable with it.
- Creating a well structured study schedule.
- Choosing a graduation stream that aligns with UPSC syllabus.
Eg ; Humanities – Geography,History,Economics etc.
- Enrolling in a foundation course at a reputed institute.
- Breaking your preparation in to well-defined phases.
- Seeking guidance from a mentor.
- Cultivating hobbies – Keeps you mentally and physically refreshed while improving creativity.
- Carefully selecting the optional subject based on thorough research,interests and strenthgs.
Breaking the preparation in to manageable phases :
Phase 1 : During Graduation
Enrolling in an institute, Understanding syllabus, Covering NCERT’s.
Phase 2 : During Graduation
Referring to standard books, Taking test series after 40-50% of syllabus completion, Early answer writing practice, Practising CSAT regularly, Making short notes.
Phase 3 : Post Graduation
Dedicating full time to preparation, Revision, Prioritised and purposeful reading, Recognising strengths and weaknesses and working on them carefully.
Phase 4 : Post Graduation
Planning your attempt, Clearing all the stages of the UPSC – Prelims, Mains and Interview, Ticket to LBSNAA. Graduation shouldn’t be considered merely as a degree by UPSC aspirants.
It can be the beginning of your UPSC journey itself. Using this phase wisely ,learning consistently, being ambitious about career growth, identifying and rectifying mistakes step by step, slowly your dream can become reality.
Remember, UPSC rewards those who believe in discipline, who manages time effectively and who never give up on the journey of self-improvement.
