5 Foolproof Ways To Keep Your Grades High

One of the best things that you can do to make sure that you are successful as a university student is to keep your grades high. It’s hard, of course. What with the multitude of other things that might be going on at the same time, such as making money and adjusting to living away from home. But that doesn’t mean that maintaining a high GPA is impossible. Here are some ways to raise your GPA, from time management to building relationships with your professors.

Organization and Time Management

Staying organized is an essential part of your academic success. If you stay organized and keep a clear calendar, then it will be easier for you to manage your time. This way you won’t be missing assignments or be surprised when your professors give you quizzes or exams. You can get organized by using a physical calendar, or a very well organized student planner. You can block off times in your schedule for studying and school work. You should also try to pencil in social time here too, as it will help you see just how much time you can spend with friends or family without it impacting school too much.

Attend All of Your Classes

When some professors say that they don’t care whether you’re in class or not, it’s not actually an invitation to be absent. Whether if attendance is graded or not, you need to be in class. It is one of the best things that you can do to maintain good grades as the professor may be clearing up difficult homework or reading assignment, or provide additional information to help with understanding the materials. This will ensure that when it’s time to study for your exams, you won’t have to cram as much. Additionally, and this is a big one, you’ll be able to participate in class and build relationships with your professor and classmates.

Take Good Notes

Being a good note taker is one of the keys to doing well in class. If you take good notes and go over them every day, then you will have an easier time retaining the information. You do not have to try to write down everything that the professor says. As long as your notes highlight the key points, then you will likely have everything that you need. There are plenty of note-taking methods out there, but it’s all going to depend on what you have on hand and how you like to learn. Taking good notes also helps you learn where you are in terms of learning the class materials. This will give you a good idea of where your grades might be heading for the semester with a GPA calculator. You can decide if you’re happy with your projected semester GPA, or make plans accordingly to put a bit more effort in difficult classes. Good notes and attention in class will always pay off.

Avoid Cramming

Many students believe that it is a good idea to cram, but really, it’s a faulty way of learning and a bad study habit. If you cram for hours the night before, then you may have a harder time retaining the information because you are stressed. And while sometimes it’s a bit of an inevitability, that doesn’t mean you can minimize the amount that you cram by studying two or three weeks in advance of an exam.

Other Strategies to Keep Your GPA High

It is crucial for you to have a good relationship with your professor. Meeting with your professor shows that you are interested in your studies. This is something that they will likely take into consideration when it is time to grade you or when you need to ask for an extension. Later on, you can even see if you can ask them for recommendations or reference letters, which can be invaluable when applying to scholarships or grad school.

Another strategy is simply retaking courses. Got a C+ in a class you knew you could have gotten a B in? If you have time to retake that course, it could drastically bring up your GPA. Of course, it will also stay in your record, so it’s not like you can completely erase that it ever existed, but it can make a difference if you’re willing to put the work in.

So, Now You Know

Maintaining good grades will help you during university, as well as after it. You can keep good grades by going to class, staying organized, taking notes and avoiding cramming. These skills will transfer over to the workforce in terms of organization, writing, and time management.