If you want to ensure a bright future ahead of you in the career of your choice, you should not just be content with getting passing grades in college. You should make the effort to make higher than average grades. An excellent Grade Point Average (GPA) is the gauge by which potential employers determine which applicants are suited for their companies.
Students who are about to enter college and who are already dreading the amount of studying that will be involved should take note of the following tips on how to get good grades in college.
Do Not Skip Class
Once you enter a college class for the first time, you will observe that your professors are not as strict as your teachers in Grade School or High School. Some don’t even take attendance. If you want to get the most out of your college education, you should always attend your classes. Unless you are sick, it is never advisable to skip even a single class. Always remember that a large part of exam questions in midterm and finals are obtained from the lectures, with a smaller percentage from the assigned text books.
Note Taking is a Skill
Make it a point to take good notes while in class. You don’t need to take down everything that your professor says, but be sure that you jot all the important points that he or she has stressed. Copy the diagrams and charts that he or she has made on the blackboard. If your professor made PowerPoint presentations, you may consider approaching him or her and ask if you could copy it on your flash drive for future review.
The key to getting good grades in college is by knowing how to manage your time wisely. For this reason, it is highly advisable that you purchase a journal or a diary to keep track of your daily activities. Aside from noting down your class schedule, determine specific time periods during the day wherein you can review and study your notes and textbooks and do your homework. Psychology studies on learning have shown that studying is more effective during the daytime when your mind is more alert. Evenings are best reserved for quick reviews and reading of assignments for the next day.
A lot of people will probably advise you to keep socializing to a minimum while in college. However, it is not advisable that you don’t get any rest or free time at all. When you have free hours in your schedule and you have finished your homework and reviewed previous lessons, go out and relax with friends. An exhausted mind needs to be refreshed and what better way to do it than to do activities that you love.
Always have a positive attitude when it comes to studying in college. If you don’t do well in one exam, don’t be disheartened. Study harder, particularly focusing on the points that you don’t understand. You may even consider talking to your professor so that he or she can explain the parts that you don’t fully understand better.