Tips for Making Good Grades in College by Dr. Mia Y. Merritt

Tips for Making Good Grades in College by Dr

Tips for Making Good Grades in College by Dr. Mia Y. Merritt

By reading this article, you are ahead of the game in many areas. You know what to expect and you are taking the bull by the horn in terms of planning for your future. This article is written to help you avoid many of the pitfalls and mistakes that were made by those of us who are much older and wiser now. Those mistakes can be very costly. Below are some tips for you to help you stay focused and maintain good grades while in college:

Get to all your classes on time. This shows responsibility and commitment. Punctuality is also a quality that will carry over into your career. If you are careless about getting to class on time, then you will be careless about getting to work on time.

Get to know all your professors. Find out what their expectations are. Ask questions. Show that you are interested in their class. Get involved in classroom discussions. Communicate with your future professors if you are struggling. They will not know that you are struggling if you don't tell them. They will be more inclined to help you if you reach out to them, but do not wait until the last minute to let them know. The earlier you communicate with them, the better for you.

Take good notes. Notes help you to remember what was taught in class. Write the most important details down so that you can refer back to them when you are studying. A tape recorder is also useful. If you take good notes, then when you go back to review them, you will have a better chance of memorizing the most important details.

Develop good study habits. Designate study time for each of your classes. Turn off phones, television, radio, ipodiPod, etc. and just focus on your course work. Remember that this is the reason you are in college to earn a degree with honors. Study time is a must, a necessity. It is not an option; it is mandatory. When I was in college, I would read essential information into a tape recorder and just listen to it over and over until I fully understood the material or until I took the test. This was my method of studying. Everyone has different techniques for how they study. There is no one best way. There is only a best way for you. It does not matter how you study, so long as you study!

know your CourseGuide & Syllabus.The syllabus is usually given to students on the first day of classes. This outlines what the course entails, which chapters are to be covered in class, explains the assignments and projects, and gives due dates. Know what is due and never wait until the last minute to get your assignments completed. Stay ahead of the game. Work on your assignments in advance if possible.

Exceed all course expectations.Go over and beyond. Never strive to simply pass a course. Strive always for an "A" in every class. If you fall short, then you will get a "B". Never settle for mediocrity. Mediocrity is for underachievers.

Don't wait until the last minute to get assignments done.I mentioned this already, but it bears repeating. Last minuteness is not working in a spirit of excellence. That is working in a spirit of mediocrity. Start on a regular assignment at least two weeks before it is due. Start way before that for an extensive research paper. If you have a big term paper due at the end of the semester, break up the paper into smaller chunks and assign deadlines to each part.

Stay organized. This is the only way to stay prepared. Have a notebook or binder for each course and have everything pertaining to that course in each notebook or binder. It is also a good idea to have a weekly/monthly calendar that you can see "at a glance". Write when each assignment is due, dates that the next semester starts, when it ends, deadline to add/drop courses, etc. The more organized you are, the better for you.

Overcome your fears and master your weaknesses. If you must take a class that you are intimidated by, then pursue it head on. Get tutoring if necessary. Ask the professor to stay with you after class or make an appointment with him or her to receive extra assistance. Never let the fear of a subject overtake you. Master your fears by studying, practicing, and working at it until you get it. Let Eleanor Roosevelt's words on fear resonate in your spirit: "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

Do not overextend yourself. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, step back, analyze your life and find out the reason why you are overwhelmed. Is it because you have partied too much and now are cramming to get assignments completed? Is it because you have not studied and now haveare experiencing anxiety because you have an upcoming exam? Are you taking too many classes and can not keep up? Are you socializing too much? sSpending too much time with your boyfriend/girlfriend? Be honest with yourself and identify the reason(s) why you are overwhelmed, then make the necessary changes. There may be some obstacles in the way, but you must surmount those obstacles and keep moving forward.

Follow good rules of writing. A good college student should be a good writer. Writing is the catalyst of the college academic experience. If writing is a weak area for you, then you absolutely must do what you can to enhance your writing skills. Get old high school English and language books if necessary. Proofreading and editing is mandatory when it comes to writing. Every good writer proofreads, edits, and rewrites. No one is a good enough writer to whip out the final draft in one sitting. Know how and when to use punctuation marks. Transitional devices also enhance your writing when used correctly. Take writing courses if you need to. Every professor has a specific way that he or she wants a paper organized and it is best to know it before you start to write. Be sure that you understand the reference format and all the mechanics of the paper (fonts, spacing, margins, cover sheets, footnotes, etc.).

Practice good communication skills.Speaking correctly is just as important as writing correctly. College students articulate intelligently. Try and eliminate the use of "um" as much as possible. Pronounce your words clearly. Use lips, teeth, and tip of the tongue when speakingpronouncing words. Let people figure out that you are a college student even before you tell them. College should change you in meaningful ways. Many of your classes will have a presentation component. This is a good opportunity to practice your communication skills.

Always save your work and back it up. We live in a world of rapidly changing technology and we rely so much on it, but computers sometimes crash. It is important to save your work periodically as you are working on it, but also save it on a USB drive or external hard drive. You can even e-mail your work to yourself. This way you know that even if you have lost a little of it, you have not lost it all. This is especially important for research papers (and dissertations).

Use your time wisely.The difference between those who are successful and those who are not is in the way each manages their time. If you are not careful, you can easily get caught up in the "college life." It's ok to have a little fun from time to time, but always keep your priorities at the forefront of your decisions. Your ultimate goal while in school is to earn your college degree with honors. You must be balanced. Otherwise, the time that you did not use wisely will pass you by and you will find that you have accomplished nothing. Don't let that happen to you.

A college education is a benefit and a legacy that you leave behind for your children. Research shows that children of college educated parents are healthier, perform better academically, and are more likely to attend college themselves than children of those with lower educational attainment. Education is the cornerstone of progress. The relationship between a college education and success will become more significant in our information-driven global economy. A higher education is increasingly important for landing high-paying jobs. Be sure to apply every tip listed above so that you can graduate with your college degree with honors. Much luck and much love. Always remember that, Prosperity is Your Birthright!

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