When the assessment year calls for a repeat – a humorous but serious look at your HSG Assessment 2.0

Dear student,

You've probably already heard: you have to repeat the assessment year at the University of St.Gallen. Your first feeling? Probably somewhere between "Why me?" and "Oh no, my future is ruined!" But let's take a deep breath and look at the situation with a bit of humour and clarity – you're not stuck in a black hole, even if it feels like it right now.

One year? That's (almost) nothing!

Before you start thinking that another year will turn your whole life upside down, let's talk about perspective for a moment. An extra year at university may feel like an eternity right now, but in the grand scheme of things? It's the blink of an eye. We live in Switzerland, where we'll be working until at least 65 anyway – and, let's be honest, depending on how the next popular votes go, maybe even longer. One more year at uni? That's nothing compared to the decades you'll spend in your working life later. So don't panic!

The first reaction: drama, baby, drama!

Yes, it's completely normal to feel as if the world is falling apart for a moment. After all, over the past year you've put countless hours into lectures, exercise sessions and exam preparation. You've consumed caffeine in every conceivable form (and maybe shared the odd breakdown with your study group). Feeling now that it was all for nothing – that hurts.

But wait a moment, take a breath, because your next thought should be: It wasn't for nothing!

HSG Assessment 2.0: now more than ever!

Before you panic, throw all your books out of the window and toy with the idea of retreating to a desert island (without Wi-Fi and without the maths book by De Giorgi), let's pause for a moment and think strategically. You're seriously considering doing the assessment year again? Great! Then take the following points to heart:

1. Practice makes perfect

Our experience shows that most students who go through the assessment year a second time do considerably better. You now know the exams, the lecturers, the weaknesses of your own study methods and – perhaps most importantly – the shortcuts through the HSG maze. So your first year was definitely not for nothing! It was a dress rehearsal for what's coming now.

2. Motivation: like a campfire that needs tending

At the start you'll probably feel motivated again – that's great! But the real challenge will be keeping that motivation up over the whole year. Remember: you're no longer the newcomer you were last year. You know how things work (and that sometimes they move pretty fast). So: make a plan and stick to it – there will be days when you feel you've run out of steam. But that's part of it!

3. Smart, not just hard-working: start earlier!

This time you have a decisive advantage: You already know what's coming. Use that knowledge and start revising the material early – and in a targeted way! For example, start “Introduction to Academic Writing” (Einführung ins wissenschaftliche Schreiben) quickly. It sounds dry, but believe me, you'll be glad later if you've already ticked this topic off and don't have to juggle it on the side.

4. Focus on your weaknesses

Everyone has their weak spots – and yes, so do you. This time, focus especially on the subjects you struggled with the first time. There's nothing more satisfying than overcoming your inner couch potato on the second attempt and taking off exactly where things got stuck the first time.

The plan is set: now it's up to you

A repeat year at HSG is not a disaster but a second chance. Imagine you're a marathon runner who knows the race, but this time has tied their shoes properly and knows the course by heart. This challenge can make you stronger – as long as you're ready to approach it wisely.

So pack your things (ideally with a system straight away), plan your study phases and get going. Your HSG Assessment 2.0 will be different – and if you follow the tips above, more successful too. And don't forget: a repeat year doesn't mean you've failed – it means you're giving yourself the chance to do it really well.

And if you need a little push...

... we're here to help! Whether it's setting up your study plan, understanding the tricky subjects better or simply having someone who builds you back up when things get tough – we're ready. After all, we share the same goal: your HSG Assessment 2.0 should be a complete success! Just get in touch if you need support – and don't worry, we'll do this together, with a pinch of humour and a big dose of motivation!

Good luck – you can do it!

The Coaching Institute team

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