Maybe you struggled a bit last fall or maybe you really want to convince your parents that you are responsible enough to have your car on campus next year. After all, while college is a lot of fun, we must remember the reason we are all here in the first place: to get an education and a degree. Here’s how to boost your GPA and get the grades you want.
1. Start Off On the Right Foot
The first month of the term can influence your final grade significantly. While it can be hard to fall back into a routine, make a serious effort to get to know your professor and develop a study plan. Traditionally, the material at the beginning of the semester is the most simple and easy to grasp; use this to your advantage, even if that means going above and beyond to convey your understanding of the content and the commitment to the course. You’ll be grateful to have a solid safety net going into midterms and as the content becomes more challenging.
2. Get Organized
We’ve all been there: you actually did the assignment but you left it in your room. In the real world, a.k.a. college, that careless mistake just earned you a zero. To prevent this from happening, find a system that works for you. I can’t believe I made it through high school without a five-subject notebook where you literally only have to remember to bring one thing. This is what I’ve found works for me, but is all personal preference. Take some time to find what’s best for you.
3. Take Better Notes
Studies have shown that students retain information better when they handwrite notes. If you are old-fashioned like me, make your notes a little bit more exciting by using colors, drawing diagrams, and experimenting with different note structures. If you can’t bear to part from Google Drive, you can use the same strategies above. All that matters is that your notes are as interesting and interactive as possible and, before you know it, you’ll be acing those exams.
4. Beat Procrastination
As a fellow college student, I fully understand the battles with procrastination. However, some of my most stressful assignments in college have been a result of waiting until the last minute. When you do this, you are creating obstacles for yourself. Professors aren’t going to be up at 11:30 PM, the night before an assignment is due, to answer your questions. That being said, it is hard to break a bad habit. Start by picking your least favorite or most work-heavy class and being writing those essays the week before they’re due and studying a little bit every night. After a few Sunday nights with a much lighter work load, it will be very easy for you to fight away procrastination in all of your classes.
5. Take Care of Yourself
While the four tips above are important, this one is the most significant. In order to well in school, you MUST get rest and take care of yourself. If your body is not healthy your mind is most certainly not going to be focused. You don’t have to make big changes to see results, just make sure you limit the amount of junk food you eat and go to bed regularly at a decent hour. In order to become a better student, you must work to be the best, healthiest person you can be.