In college, many factors can lead to whether or not you pass or fail a class. There are many simple things that you can do to improve your comprehension of your studies and to overall get the grades you are looking for. These things, in my opinion, can help you perform better and score better in school:
1. Set a goal for yourself and remind yourself everyday of that goal.
Set a goal to make honors at your school or get a certain GPA. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed or not wanting to study for a test, remind yourself that you can achieve your goal.
2. Sit in the front row.
While not a very fun seat, you are right in the action. Everything the teacher says is right in front of you along with all the distractions being behind you.
3. Ask the teacher questions if you don't understand something.
If you do not understand a topic, you better ask before the class moves onto something else, leaving you in the dust.
4. Study groups are very helpful.
Whether it is with one person from your class or a collection of students, group discussions are very informative. They can help lead you in the right direction. Odds are, if the whole class is studying it, you should too.
5. Test preparation is key.
Study at least two-three times before the test. The more you study, the easier the test will be. The less you study, the more you leave it to chance that your brain has retained information from weeks ago.
6. Make flashcards, take extensive notes, etc.
When reviewing information from class, it is best to write them down again to further reinforce your brain with that knowledge. I've noticed that when teachers give me the opportunity to use a note card for a test, I do not need the card half the time. I do not need it because I memorized the information just by writing it down.
7. Compete.
Do not take grades lightly. Each homework, quiz, test or paper adds up to your final grade. If you slack on one thing, at the end of the semester, you may be thinking that if you just did that assignment to the fullest, your grade would be "x" amount greater.
8. Do your homework correctly.
As my dad would always say, homework is free points. You take that assignment home and have access to your notes, the text, the internet and other students. There is almost no reason you shouldn't do well on the homework. Plus, it helps reinforce that information in your head.
9. Don't give up.
But take a break. When you feel overwhelmed by schoolwork, do not give up, keep pushing until you are done. However, maybe stepping away from the work for a couple minutes can do you good. You don't have to complete everything in one sitting if you provided yourself enough time to work on it.
10. You are in school to learn and succeed, not fail.
You are attending college to learn. There are many resources available to help you, so use them. At the end of the day, you aren't alone, you have the tools to help you pass that class.
If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media so others can try these methods that helped me in college. -Chris
