November. The only thing you may be excited about for the fall-filled month is stuffing your face with turkey and a follow-up snooze, and for good reason. With November comes the looming threat of failing final exams and skipping lecture because no one enjoys the Fayetteville wind while waiting at the bus stop. I’ve come to find that the Sophomore slump is a very real, and very frightening, serial killer that placed me at the top of its “hit list” for the semester. Believe me, if you think you are the only Sophomore struggling, you most certainly are not. Thankfully, and not too late, I have stepped up to the plate and realized that, while a b!tch, the Sophomore slump can be tackled and taught a lesson of its own. With my learning experience, I wanted to share with you all some easy methods for finishing your semester strong, no matter your current classification or GPA.
1.) Realize that you are not a failure. I believe I can speak for us all when I say that most weekdays, I just want to curl up on the couch and cry when I look at my most recent Spanish exam grade. The great news is that, really, it will be okay. A few bad grades here and there can be mended before the semester is over, and the key to perking up your points is understanding that, while you may have had a rough start, it’s high time you took the semester into your own hands and stop letting it beat you to a pulp. Everyone has “those” semesters, and this may just be one of them. You “can” even, and you can get through college. Stop considering the drop-out scheme and waitress life and take advantage of all the time you have left. Two months can leave room for plenty to happen, good or bad, and that decision is all your own!
2.) Write down all of your current grades. Yes, all of them. Honestly. That 89.9 is still not quite an A, you still have a B. Writing down each of your class grades and calculating your current GPA is the easiest way to evaluate where you are and where you need to be. By sticking it in your binder to see every day, it is also a constant motivator to improve. Every two weeks, re-evaluate and add another sticky. Remember that the final day of classes is December 11th, so the time is now. Schedule appointments with your professors in their office hours (no, they really don’t enjoy sitting there and twiddling their thumbs) and give it to them straight – “This is what I have in your class, and I’m unhappy with that. I need to know what I can do to improve.” It also may be a good idea to question the reality of actually receiving an A in the course if your grade is low enough. It may even be that, at this point, an A is beyond your reach – that is perfectly fine. The important key to remember is to do your very best, and receive the highest grade you know that you could have possibly received.
3.) Go to class. Yes, that 7:30 Spanish class. Go. Sit in the front. Do everything in that classroom that you can do to gather as much information as possible. That night, review what you discussed in your lecture before bed or during your free time. Do not forget about that 10% attendance grade that will be added at the end of the semester. Missing out on easy points is a definite no-no, and could be the end of your grade if you fail to attend class. Alternatively, it could easily make your grade. Just do your part.
4.) Set your school hours from 9-5. If you have an earlier class, make it start then and go until 5. School hours include library time and studying, as if you were actually in the workforce. School, currently, is your job. Utilize every hour of free time during these hours to complete your studying for the day. Everything else can wait and come after that. It will be well worth it in the long run.
5.) Create to-do lists. Create one for every day of the week, and set reminders for yourself to complete certain assignments. Keep a calendar with deadlines for papers and exam dates, so you aren’t cramming at the last minute because you totally forgot about that 8-page composition due tomorrow. Believe it or not, this will affect your grade. Poorly. Highlight items on your list once they are completed, and revel in that sense of accomplishment you get when your list is totally highlighted for the week.
6.) Take study breaks. “Study smarter, not harder”. That was always one of my favorite quotes. Never forget that your brain needs some time off – hitting a brick wall while studying is getting you nowhere. Take an hour away from the books for every two hours that you study and do something enjoyable. Getting back to work is the hard part, but not the actual content.
Remember that your personal best is all that you can do at this point in the semester. Set goals for yourself and achieve them knowing that you did all you could do – you have only failed yourself when you neglect your opportunities. Happy studying, ladies and gents!