#hackyourluck or How Students Improve Their Luck and Confidence

Students and examinations are inextricably linked. Is there any exam that does not involve anxiety, extensive preparation, fear, and a healthy dose of luck? EduBirdie decided to determine what unconventional things students can do to change their fortune. We ran a poll to learn about and gain an understanding of the most bizarre and intriguing student customs.

Methodology
This study’s data was obtained in May 2022 through a cross-sectional online survey of 16-54-year-olds enrolled or formerly enrolled in higher education in the United States. A total of 1,211 individuals were polled. The weighed sample consists of 52,1% females and 47,8% males.

By rituals, we refer to anything out of the ordinary that students may do to bring them good luck during an exam or an important class. Such as shouting their professor’s name at midnight or wearing a lucky pair of pants under their ordinary ones.

My Custom, My Fortune

The research demonstrated that rituals are a vital component of the student community. 56% of students answered that they have performed a bizarre act or had a unique student ritual before an exam in order to boost their chances of passing or simply to get in the correct frame of mind. 11 percent of those who have never participated in a ritual intended to do so in the future.

The greatest student ritual masters were revealed to be older millennials, specifically those aged 34 to 44. 81 percent of students and former students of this age reported having tried something. Generation Z follows closely behind them. Seventy percent of pupils between the ages of 16 and 18 stated that they performed a ritual to offer them good luck on exams. This metric is maintained at a mean level of 53% among the primary group of university students aged 18 to 24.

In addition to strange traditions, we discovered that 11% of students pray before tests and 3% engage in meditation or breathing exercises to increase their confidence.

Are Rituals Really That Frequent?
We wished to determine the prevalence of rituals in other universities and the students’ awareness of other practitioners of the same eccentricities. The outcome astonished us in numerous ways. 51% of those surveyed reported knowing someone who has participated in a student ritual prior to an exam. This proportion is smaller than the original number of pupils that participated in ceremonies. It is possibly an indication that the majority of individuals prefer to keep their rituals and methods to themselves.

Regarding the colleges themselves, just 25% have their own unique traditions. In other instances, students utilize general tendencies and rituals that are applicable to every university.

Where Do They Obtain It?

We endeavored to determine where pupils learn about various ceremonies and how this information is communicated among the community. 32% of respondents stated they learnt about the rites online, while 68% cited other means.

34 percent of the web sites expressly mentioned TikTok, whereas 23 percent mentioned YouTube. 18% of users discovered information regarding their rituals on Reddit.

Talking about other and offline sources, 37 percent claimed that their rituals were improvised and made on their own, such having a fortunate pair of socks or sitting in a specific position in the classroom. Friends ranked second with 29 percent, followed by parents with 8 percent.

2% of students reported that their families have test-related customs and rituals, such as having supper together or staying the night before an exam with their parents.

Student Rituals Mean a Lot
In order to assess the significance of rituals for individual students and the student body as a whole, we asked respondents to respond to a series of questions. We inquired as to how helpful students found the rituals, even if only for the purpose of putting them in the proper frame of mind. 54 percent of respondents indicated that the rituals are beneficial in some way. A further 34% of respondents indicated that they perceive little value in student traditions. 12 percent deem student rites useless.

When asked if such rituals assist establish or consolidate the student community, 45 percent said affirmatively. 33 percent were unable to provide a definitive response, and only 22 percent believe that the rituals have no effect on the formation of a student community.

The Most Frequent and Most Unusual to Top All Others
We have meticulously examined the comments and descriptions of the students’ rituals in order to identify the most unique, as well as to highlight the timeless classics that virtually every student has encountered.

Kissing a horse will increase your score.

The majority of institutions and student groups have their own talismans, lucky animals, and particular locations. As a ceremony to bring good fortune, students at one of the universities we studied execute an act of civility with a campus animal, especially a live horse. According to urban legend, if you kiss an animal before an exam, you will receive a high grade the following day.

Inform Them of Your Needs. Shout It Out

Many of us have encountered this basic yet widespread practice. One can hear numerous phrases shooting out of student windows the night before an examination. Their teachers’ names, requests, pleadings, and even profanity. Much of this provides the pupil confidence or is simply a fun method to get further good fortune.

I Can Smell My Good Fortune, Somewhere Around Here

Who actually needs showers? Yes, you heard correctly. At least 4 percent of respondents indicated that they did not shower at least one day before to an exam. The worst instances lasted as long as 10 days! Another way to approach this custom is to refrain from washing your clothes or a specific item.

A Tool of a Genuine Master

Numerous individuals possess their own fortunate objects. About six percent of our respondents who are students said they use a particular object, most commonly a pen or a pensil, for every exam in the belief that it will bring them good luck.

Always, the grass is greener on the other side

Almost every college has a mascot, but what if their mascot does not bring good fortune? The theft of a rival college’s mascot is one of the more unusual customs we’ve observed. Both universities share this heritage, so have no fear.

Accept the Knowledge. Literally

When there is no energy left for reading and studying, what method is more beneficial than physically absorbing information from notes? Among the interviewed students, there were frequently some who slept on their notebooks, placing them under themselves, their pillows, or their mattresses for exam luck. At least 4 percent of respondents engaged in such behavior.

No Studying Day

So many of our students stated that they regard concentration and diligent study to be their means of exam achievement. Many, however, argued that you should not study the night before an exam and should instead go to a pub, hang out with friends, or even visit a strip club.

Rainy weather dancing. With the Storm? After the Storm? On the Weather? Whatever!

The weird rites don’t stop there. The responses we received included rituals inherent in the word’s definition. In addition to rain dances, snake dances, candle rituals, sand paintings, score summonings, and grade worshipping, there are numerous other rituals.