What Is an Academic Weapon? The TikTok Meme Explained

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Plus, learn how to avoid being an academic victim
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Forget TikTok brain rot; there’s a new viral trend that applauds students for doing well in school. An academic weapon is someone who is perceived as scholarly and is a productive, diligent student. If you want to learn how to be an academic weapon, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explain what an academic weapon is , how to become one (with study tips from academic tutor Jennifer Kaifesh and test prep tutor Bryce Warwick), and how the meme started . Plus, learn the difference between being an academic weapon and an academic victim.

What does academic weapon mean?

An academic weapon is a student who is productive, diligent, and does very well in school. They’re known for using effective study strategies and habits to succeed in school. The term became a popular TikTok meme in 2022, after many users began posting videos using the phrase.

Section 1 of 4:

What is an academic weapon?

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  1. The term “academic weapon” is frequently used online to describe a highly productive and diligent student who excels in their studies. Academic weapons are typically perceived as scholarly and driven, and they’re known to use effective strategies and good habits to succeed in school. [1]
    • For example, when describing a good student, you might say, “He totally aced that math exam. He’s an academic weapon!”
    • The term “academic weapon” has been used since the 2010s, but became a popular TikTok trend in 2022.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Be an Academic Weapon

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  1. 1
    Actively participate in class. It’s one thing to go to class, but paying attention and actively engaging can improve your understanding and get you on your way to becoming an academic weapon. Ask and answer questions to improve retention. Many classes also factor participation into your grade, so being engaged can even boost your grade. It will also leave a positive impression on your teachers and show them how much you care. [2]
    • If you’re too shy to ask questions during class, ask your teacher after class or during office hours.
    • If you have a question, other students are likely wondering the same thing! Never feel embarrassed to ask about something you don’t understand.
    • Kaifesh adds, “Teachers are more likely to round up and offer extra credit to students who seem to truly care about the class.” Class participation can be beneficial in more ways than one!
  2. 2
    Take good notes. Taking notes in class helps ensure you have the correct information and helps you remember it more easily. There are lots of note-taking strategies, and some may work for you better than others. In general, though, aim to take notes in your own words, highlight key information, and structure your notes with headings and lists so you can easily find what you’re looking for. [3]
    • Write phrases and abbreviations rather than full sentences so you can keep up during lectures.
    • Try out different methods, like Cornell notes or mind-mapping , to find a strategy that works best for you.
  3. 3
    Stay organized. Keeping your notes and assignments organized will help prevent you from missing anything important. Write the date at the top of your notes every day, and keep track of all due dates. This allows you to prioritize any upcoming assignments. Organize all your notes, assignments, and other papers in a folder or binder for that specific class. [4]
  4. 4
    Make a study schedule and stick to it. Create a study schedule so you don’t have to cram for tests and assignments at the last minute. Prioritize important assignments and subjects that require the most attention. Block out time for specific subjects and topics, and try to study at regular times in a regular place so you get in the habit. [5] “What matters more than anything is consistency and making sure that you’re getting the repetitions at practicing the material,” says Warwick.
    • Remember to factor in time for breaks, meals, and having fun!
    • Use a physical or digital planner or calendar to help you make and adjust your schedule.
    • Don’t be afraid to make changes if your schedule isn’t working for you.
    • “Don’t wait until the night before [an exam] to study,” stresses Kaifesh. “Make time to organize your notes, research confusing topics, and make flashcards.”
    EXPERT TIP

    Jennifer Kaifesh

    Academic Tutor
    Jennifer Kaifesh is the Founder of Great Expectations College Prep, a tutoring and counseling service based in Southern California. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience managing and facilitating academic tutoring and standardized test prep as it relates to the college application process. She takes a personal approach to her tutoring, and focuses on working with students to find their specific mix of pursuits that they both enjoy and excel at. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.
    Jennifer Kaifesh
    Academic Tutor

    Do your homework right away. Procrastinating until late at night when you’re exhausted will generally result in lower-quality work and prevent you from getting enough sleep. Treat things like watching TV or playing around online as rewards for finishing your work. Don’t do it until you complete all your assignments.

  5. 5
    Try different study methods. There are a lot of different ways to study , so try several methods until you find what works best for you. “Engage in active (instead of passive) studying,” explains Kaifesh. “For instance, rather than reading or rereading a chapter, create physical flashcards that cover the material and quiz yourself.” Additionally, try explaining the concepts to a friend or family member to see how well you understand the information. [6]
  6. 6
    Ask for help if you need it. Just because you’re an academic weapon doesn’t mean you have to be perfect at everything. It’s okay to ask for help if you don’t understand something! Make use of office hours, tutoring, and study groups to address difficulties before they escalate. Studying with friends can also make school more fun! [7]
  7. 7
    Stay focused when studying. Taking good notes won’t matter very much if you’re too distracted to study them! When you’re getting ready to study, Warwick says, “Find a space that’s quiet and away from the things that are going to distract you…[somewhere] you aren’t going to be distracted by your phone going off, notifications on your laptop, TV, or people talking in the other room.” Take all your study materials with you so you won’t have to take any unplanned breaks.
    • If you don’t trust yourself to stay off your phone, leave it in another room or give it to a friend or family member until you’re done studying.
    • It’s okay to take short breaks to check your phone or do something else. Just make sure that you’re ready to get focused once that time is up.
    • “A lot of focus is just built by habit,” adds Warwick. “So if you have a hard time focusing for a three-hour test, start by planning on being focused for half an hour, then work up to being very focused for 45 minutes, and then an hour. That’s something you can build over time.”
  8. 8
    Get enough sleep. While you may be tempted to pull an all-nighter to study, this isn’t a good idea. You’ll be too tired to concentrate, and it will be more difficult to recall information. Aim to get 7-9 hours of good sleep each night (and especially before a big exam) so you’ll be wide awake and ready to take on the school day. [8]
  9. 9
    Balance your academic life with your social life. Some people may think they have to study 24/7 to achieve good grades, but this isn’t true. If you spend all your free time studying, you may get burned out, which may cause you to do poorly in school. Instead, set aside time in your schedule to do things you enjoy. Spend time with friends and family, join a club or a team, and make time for your hobbies. Balancing your school and social life will help keep you happy and healthy! [9]
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Section 3 of 4:

Academic Weapon Meme

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  1. The academic weapon meme was popularized on TikTok in 2022. It is unclear who coined the term, but it quickly gained popularity online after Pennsylvania State University student Bradley Kraut posted a TikTok video on September 13, 2022. The video shows Kraut in the front row of a university lecture hall with the caption “ACADEMIC WEAPON. FIRST ROW 700 PERSON LECTURE 🤝.” This started a trend where other TikTok users called themselves academic weapons in videos and memes. [10]
    • The term “academic weapon” was first defined on Urban Dictionary on September 21, 2016. [11]
    • Kraut also posted a video on September 12, 2022, where he asked two women if they were academic weapons.
    • On October 2, 2022, TikTok user @khaithesnail posted a video captioned “academic weapon,” in which she shows herself studying while watching Minecraft videos. The same day, Total Frat Move, a college lifestyle publication, published an article about the term.
    • Rapper RTS Jay even released a song called “Academic Weapon” in 2023.
Section 4 of 4:

What is an academic victim?

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  1. While academic weapons are perceived as highly successful students, academic victims are students who may struggle to keep up with classwork and experience burnout. This doesn’t necessarily mean they get bad grades, but they may struggle with poor time management skills and study habits, which can lead to stress and anxiety. An academic weapon may become an academic victim if they sacrifice other aspects of their life and focus solely on doing well in school, as this negatively affects their mental health. [12]
    • To avoid becoming an academic victim, create a consistent study schedule and don’t be afraid to ask your teachers, parents, or peers for help.
    • While it’s important to have a strong work ethic, don’t let school take over your life. Take time to do things you enjoy so you’re less likely to feel burned out.
    • If you dedicate all your time to studying, you may slowly begin to detest what you’re doing and forget why you’re working so hard in the first place. This may cause you to slack off and become an academic victim.
    • Many people have made memes about starting out as an academic weapon only to become an academic victim as the semester goes on and they start to fall behind on their work.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.trillmag.com/life/college/academic-weapon-vs-academic-victim/
      2. ↑ https://www.snow.edu/blog/how_to_be_a_better_student.html
      3. ↑ https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/notetaking-tips
      4. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/getting-organized-for-school-work-and-life
      5. ↑ https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/guidelines-for-creating-a-study-schedule/
      6. ↑ https://thrive.arizona.edu/news/active-recall-memory-rescue
      7. ↑ https://www.snow.edu/blog/how_to_be_a_better_student.html
      8. ↑ https://www.snow.edu/blog/how_to_be_a_better_student.html
      9. ↑ https://www.snow.edu/blog/how_to_be_a_better_student.html
      1. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/academic-weapon
      2. ↑ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Academic+Weapon
      3. ↑ https://www.hercampus.com/school/u-mass-amherst/academic-weapon-to-academic-victim-the-downfalls-of-student-perfectionism/

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