Mid-February means to me, as I am sure it does to many of you, midterms. Either they are approaching or you just had them hoping you slipped by enough to pass.
I hate to admit it, but I am the one on sorority probation for grades. Yep, that's me, guilty! Since I transferred this past year many of my credits did not transfer with me. Thus I have many more credits to complete and one very important thing to do, raise my GPA.
School can be rigorous and keeping up with homework, papers, tests and quizzes can certainly take its toll. I am a busy person and I like it that way. I am in a sorority, I have taken on more credits, I work at an interior design studio in addition to maintaining my daily dose of shopping (yes, I’ll admit I am a bit of a shopaholic).
After I have gone to classes, work, attended a sorority function and do whatever else that is pressing during the day, I really am exhausted. However, my work is not nearly fulfilled because it is time for homework! Nothing has sounded better than after a draining and taxing day! However, I muster all the strength I have inside of me, crawl to my barstool chairs, pour out textbook after textbook on my kitchen island and begin the trek to completing that night’s homework.
Raising my GPA, which I will admit I let slip, has been a tedious chore. I would enjoy reaping the rewards of a boost in my GPA, but I know that means giving up certain things I would rather do. I have missed sorority functions or a night out with friends to finish econ homework or study for a psychology test.
I have listed below a few helpful tips for raising your GPA
1. Organize. By organizing you can keep everything straight from class assignments to social events.
2. Go to class. I know it’s a struggle, but especially in a class that requires attendance, go. You will not only understand what you are doing, but you may be given extra credit for simply just showing up! Next time you are debating going to class, even if you went out the night before, contain yourself and go.
3. Do your assignments! Honestly, this should be self-explanatory!
4. Seek outside help. Going to a large school it’s hard to get one on one attention on assignments but seriously take a trip to your professor's office, it will benefit you in the long-run especially when he/she gets to know you and understands your efforts.
5. Take the right classes for you. I know how fun it is to take a class with a sorority sister, but when it comes to taking the right classes for your major, take the right ones and the ones you will enjoy and succeed in.
6. Take a hard class during the summer. Taking a really hard class at your local community college is a good idea and typically is not as hard and is less expensive.
7. Find ways that suit you best for studying. If it hurts you studying with a group, don’t. If you could benefit from studying with a group, do. Find the right way to study that will benefit you and allow you to retain more material.
8. Weekly reviews. I try to do a daily 15-minute review of material I need to learn. Take a few minutes each day or a few times a week to review rather than cram everything in the last minute.
9. Always check grade distributions. It helps to know how that professor has graded in the past for a class and what other students have scored.
10. Sit in the front of the class. Your professor will love your thirst for knowledge and appreciate your participation. You will be such a trendsetter rocking your newest outfit or old Juicy tracksuit. Be front and center, loud and proud for all to hear.
What are some ideas you have for raising your GPA? Remember your GPA is that friend that will never abandon you during college; it is with you from freshman year to graduation.
