The Struggles of Earning a Good GPA
So everyone asks me, how do you have such a high GPA? Well now I am finally going to write down my strategy for all to see. I do warn you that it is not an easy way out to earn a good grade. It will take lots of work and time on your part, but in the end it is worth it, and I guarantee that you will see great results and learn much more from your classes.
University and Me
I wanted to start out by telling you about my schooling. I currently have a double major in art education and psychology with a minor in art therapy. My GPA is currently a 3.88 and the lowest grade I earned was a 3.3 once. The rest have been all 4.0's with a few 3.7's. I attend SUNY Potsdam and am about to finish my junior year.
I highly suggest parents making their children help pay for school. A child should be invested in their education. It is motivation to continue to learn, since many students end up dropping out or barely scraping by. I am responsible for paying for my entire education, groceries, gas, etc... I really do think that the personal investment has helped me strive to do the best I can since it's my own money I am spending.
I normally overload or max out my credits for each semester while having two part time jobs so the excuse "I don't have time" does not work because I have been able to do well with that heavy work load and I know other people can do it too.
This is how I manage my time and get the grades I do... I hope you can take something away from all of this...
Basic Materials
These are the things I highly recommend having each semester:
- a single subject notebook for each subject
OR
a big binder with dividers for each subject along with loose leaf paper
(this option is good for people who have trouble organizing their work. This way you need to remember only one major thing, besides text books, to bring to class)
-pens (blue and black)
-pencils
- folder with multiple pockets
(label each section with your different subjects and keep important papers here)
OR
(hole punch the papers into your big binder)
-highlighter
- download the app "Evernote"
(It is free and a great place to type notes. This app is used for the desktop, but can be connected to any Android or iPhone device to look through notes on the go!)
-planner
In Class
Sit in the front of class. You will pay attention more and the teacher will notice you. If you are a struggling student it will pay off having the professor see you put in as much effort as possible. Also, always sit in the SAME seat. Studies show that consistency is key. Your mind may remember particular information better by sitting in the same place in that class.
Do NOT have your phone out. I have noticed that many kids, even if they were not texting, still had their phones out and turned down on the tops of their desks. Put the darn thing on silent (or turn it OFF) and away in your bag! This way it will be less of a distraction and, again, I feel like it will looked better in front of an instructor.
Take notes. Don't just sit and listen. Memory fades over time. Trust me. I know. We have been conducting studies in several of my psychology classes. I recommend in your notebook (or binder) using a black pen to take class notes. Always start on a new page for each class and label the date somewhere towards the top.
Talk to the teacher. If you have questions about the lecture or homework, always stop and talk to the teacher. Make a point to go to their office hours at least once. Also, you can always say good bye when walking out of class. Your teachers are people too!
Read the syllabus. Most colleges require a syllabus or outline of the semester. Normally many assignments, papers, exams, and more are clearly written out. Do not be caught off guard when a teacher starts talking about a paper that is due in a week! If it is the syllabus it is fair game. The teacher technically doesn't have to tell you about it. It is your duty as a student to read through it. If there are any questions or confusion, contact your teacher.
Go to class!!! Many students forget this rule. There are many reasons to go to class and you really should strive to go every single day. You are paying for college and each day you miss is money thrown away. There is information that will be missed which may be key for papers, tests, and quizzes. Many teachers have a policy of 3 missed classes then automatic failure or grade deductions. That is something to look for in the syllabus, but again, save those days for sickness because they will not have mercy on you after you break their attendance policy! Plus, if you are failing a class and haven't been attending class, the teacher is not going to have any sympathy. If you are at least in class and struggling, most teachers are happy to help. I have found that some teachers will give out extra credit on days that many people skip which many be a saving grace for some students!
Do your homework and assignments! Homework usually has a decent percentage of your grade and is great practice for tests and quizzes. If you feel you are struggling this is also another point when you may want to contact a teacher, teacher's assistant, or tutor for some additional help.
Make a friend. It's good to make a new friend in your class. This way if you are out sick, he or she can lend you the notes that were missed, plus you have a study buddy! Exchange cell numbers or add each other on Facebook, BUT do not misuse your classroom friend. Do not continue to skip classes and rely on him or her for notes and constantly bug them for answers on homework you do not feel like doing or procrastinated on.
Write your assignments down. Have a planner. Write down assignments and know when they are due. Write in test dates ahead of time that way you will not forget!
At Home
Plan ahead. Look in your planner and put boxes next to assignments that you should finish for the day. This helps to prioritize and create goals. When you finish an assignment put a check in the box and cross out that assignment. This helps to show you what work has been finished and what work still needs to be completed.
Do the homework. Don't be lazy. Do your homework to the best of your ability and don't procrastinate. If you are reading a very long chapter, I suggest breaking the chapter up into smaller sections to read. I tend to watch tv, as a break, and then during the commercials I will mute the tv and read/ take notes.
READ. When you are assigned a reading assignment or recommended chapters to review, DO IT. You bought that $100+ text book so you might as well use it and learn as much as you can!
Take notes. Take notes on your reading assignments. I tend to use blue in for my reading assignments. This way in a notebook (or binder) it is easier to tell which notes are from class lectures and which ones are from home. Try to keep some sort of organization in your notes. I recommend writing the chapter number and title at the top. I then continue my notes my making headers for sections and writing any relevant facts as bullets below them. ALWAYS copy down the vocabulary words and the definition the book gives you. Underline vocabulary that way it stands out.
Chapter 18: Substance Abuse
What is the difference between Abuse and Addiction
- tolerance: (insert definition)
- alcohol is a drug
Type your notes. Using Evernote, type up bother your class notes and book notes. Evernote is easy to use and you can create multiple notebooks to stay organized. Your notes are automatically saved and can be seen when downloaded to your smart phone or tablet on the go. It is a free app that I have been using for three years now and it really has made all of the difference. Typing your notes helps improve your memory and recall of information later on tests.
STUDY. Study whenever you can and don't wait a day before the test. I have a two step procedure for studying. First I take time to make a study guide. I look over my notes on Evernote and copy and paste information I think is relevant in a separate document. Many teachers will give you a guideline of what will be on a future test. This is where Evernote kicks butt! You can type in the search bar terms and it will find that word for you in your typed up notes which makes it much easier to find, copy, and paste that information into your study guide. After making your study guide, make flash cards for each of your bullets on the guide. Making the study guide and flash cards in its self is another way to enhance your memory recall skills. Of course, in-between classes and at home, review your flash cards. It is also hand to have a printed version of the study guide at hand to leaf through when you have down time in-between classes as well or to quickly look up a fact. Be sure to keep your study materials throughout the entire semester because they may come in handy for midterms and finals!
Test Taking
Of course I recommend studying, as I had stated above. Most tests you will take will consist of multiple choice. Always bring a pencil to fill out the bubble sheet. I also like to bring a pen, normally blue to contrast the black ink of the test, and a highlighter.
If the professor lets you write on the test booklet, DO IT. Read a question. Highlight the important part whether it be a key phrase or something that may stick in your mind. Think of a potential answer ahead of time and write it down if you can remember with your pen. Then look through your options and cross out any information you find to be incorrect. Circle the best answer (hopefully it was close to what you had in mind) and write the number/ letter next to the question number.
I like to do the entire test first with my method of highlighting and writing in pen before I bubble in my answer sheet, but filling it in as you go is not a bad idea either.
Use the test against itself. Many questions on the test will actually lead you to a right answer on another section of the test to keep your eyes open. I like to put a star next to questions I am unsure of because of this that way at the end of the test I can go back and make a decision.
Be sure to watch your time, but most students rush and finish too quickly. Don't make a mistake because you are rushing. Many teachers will allow you extra time so there is no need to feel rushed.
And I feel bad I need to even mention this... but it still happens... be sure to bubble/ write in your NAME on your answer key (and booklet if necessary).
Have Fun
Remember to have fun. School should be your priority, but everyone needs some time to relax and let loose. Just remember to keep your priorities straight. If you work on a paper well in advance, you will never find yourself in a situation where you had to skip the semester's best party to pull an all-nighter! Get together with friends and do an hours worth of good work on a Friday afternoon and then go out and have fun! That way you can't say you didn't do anything all weekend! ;)
Recap
As you can see there is quite a bit of work I put into my studies. This work pays off though. You will see your GPA increase and you will also be retaining much more information that should be knowing for your job field. Pass this onto other students to help them realize their full potential and maybe find something to take away from this article!
If you have any questions on other topics that I may have skipped over, feel free to contact me at misskrystalynn93@gmail.com! I wish everyone a successful next semester!
