Tips for Rescuing your GPA
How could Carrie’s efforts have paid off? How can you rescue a plunging GPA?
Assess yourself –We often say that “what’s past is prologue.” This means that history can prepare us for the future. Take a good, hard look at your past practices and academic performance. What are your trouble spots? Look over your graded work. Do you fair better with exams or with papers? If you have access to previous exams, review them for error patterns. For example, do you have better success with multiple-choice questions than with short-answer responses? If writing essays or reports are your weaknesses, review your instructors’ comments.
Find your strengths – Identify your weaknesses early enough and you can turn them to your advantage. It’s a strength, not a weakness, to seek academic assistance early in the year. Review the concepts that you struggled with last year and master the skills you began to develop.
Meet with your advisor – Not only should your advisor know what’s up, he or she can help you determine if your courseload is top-heavy, suggest which course you could drop and take the following semester, or even if you should rethink your major.
Reduce your courseload – Your program may require that you take courses in a prescribed sequence, and sometimes you won’t be able to avoid those challenging classes, but don’t be too anxious to rack up those credits. Pace yourself and don’t take on more than you can handle.
Talk your professors – So many students suffer low grades, not just because they have trouble comprehending the course content, but because they don’t understand the expectations of their assignments. Discuss your questions about assignments, course readings, and find out how you can do better on projects and exams. Ask about tips for study techniques that work for their courses.
Sharpen your study habits – Refine your study techniques and develop new study skills. Fine-tune the good habits you have already developed, such as test-prep skills, notetaking techniques, textbook study skills, and time management strategies. If you’re a chronic procrastinator, tackle the hardest stuff first.
Use all available learning resources – Nearly every college has academic learning resources, such as a Learning Center. Whether your school has a central location for services or a key contact person to connect you with resources, seek the help that’s available, whether it’s tutoring, formal study groups, academic skills workshops, a writing center or math and science center, or technical support. Enroll in an academic recovery program if it’s offered at your school. And ask about any mentoring programs that might be available.
Join a study group – Or form one if material looks difficult. Don’t think that you have to work alone. Ask your classmates to meet regularly to review material and study for exams. The social support of an organized study group can improve study habits and really boost grades.
Join a club – Your school is likely to have student organizations that focus on academic or professional interests. This is another type of social network that can lead to academic support.
Think Summer School – To reduce your credit load during the regular academic calendar or to re-take a course in which you did poorly, consider registering for summer courses.
Repeat a Course – If you repeat a course in which you did poorly, you’ve got a crack at raising your cumulative GPA. Check with your advisor for the rules and procedures.
Meet the “pros” – The students, that is, who are academically successful. They’ll share tips and strategies for navigating the challenges of specific courses and programs of study. Ask them about what works, what doesn’t, and you’ll learn from their successes and mistakes.
References:
Dement, William C. “Sleepless at Stanford: What All Undergraduates Should Know About How Their Sleeping Lives Affect Their Waking Lives.” Stanford University enter of Excellence for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders. Sept. 1997
“Sleep Deprivation More Likely In College Students Involved In Extracurricular Activities.” Medical News Today. 11 June 2008