Maintain a High GPA in College
College can be tough, but you want to have impressive grades so you can get a good job or go to graduate school. Here is how to maintain a 4.0 in college.
Contents
Steps
- You have to want it. This is the most important step. If a 4.0 is your number one priority, you will get it. This means you will be ready to sacrifice things such as going out with friends, keeping up with your favorite television shows, and sometimes sleeping.
- Always show up for class. If attendance is part of the grade, always show up. You should attend class regularly regardless if attendance is required.
- Remember that studying is similar to working out--it's done best in shorter periods regularly. This means study consistently (it may be daily) and don't crash study. Learning to study for long periods of time is an important skill as well. It may be hard or impossible at first, but it can be mastered.
- Make college your priority. Only go out when you don't have work to do.
- Get organized-make sure that you know when tests are and exactly what you have to study.
- Having a full-time job may keep you on track and make sure NO time is wasted. However, if you are at a point where you are not sleeping regularly, a job may be a good thing to cut out. I recommend finding a job where you can study like university library or secretary position.
- Take a full course load but level it out. Take a hard class or two with two easy classes. Don't take chemistry, calculus, zoology and trig all in the same semester. Be careful of the tricky 1 or 2 credit courses. They can be very time consuming, even more so than a 3 or 4 credit class. Sometimes, you will have to take a full course (generally after higher level major classes have started and gen eds have ended), and a study schedule becomes critical.
- And lastly remember why you are in college. You are there to learn so don't moan about going to class -- see it as an opportunity to improve yourself. Take pride in your commitment to your studies. However, do not neglect the fact that you will become depressed and will have no friends if all you ever do is study. Staying sane is half the battle, and having friends should remain a priority.
Tips
- Pay attention in class.
- Stay on track with your amount of absences. Those also count against your grade!
- Balance fun and studying! Being stressed out all the time is not healthy.
- Keep an eye on your grades.
- Pick a major that plays to your strengths. For example, a chemistry major who loves that field of study may work a lot less and be more successful than other students who chose the major for different reasons.
- See a counselor if you find yourself becoming depressed.
- Make sure your professors stick with the grading terms they gave on the syllabus. Contact the appropriate authorities if they don't follow the terms they set. However, if it is not the end of the year do not alienate your professor.
- Have some "information cards" with you. Just write information you need (Test,studying,etc) and study with them on the go.
- Utilize the school library. Study rooms will isolate you from the world's distractions and allow you to better focus on your assignments. One hour of work completed in the library is the equivalent of three hours in the dorm room.
- Join a study group.
- Learn to work with perfectionism.
- Keep yourself mentally and physically fit.
Warnings
- Don't overwork. If you are stressed it will make it more difficult to study.
- Don't push one class off to the side for too long.
- DO NOT pull an all nighter. Know that you will be able to critically think better and be more productive the day of if you sleep.
