by Matt Bird

Created on: May 08, 2009

Unless you're a certified genius or somebody returning to post-secondary education, your first semester in college is probably going to be disappointing. This doesn't necessarily apply to everyone, of course, but those moving from high school to college don't know how much tougher it is until they get their first set of grades.

Luckily that first bundle (hopefully found at midterms) doesn't have to set the trend of your year, and there are plenty of ways to boost your grades to something more reasonable - as long, that is, as you're ready to buckle down to some serious work. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

- Go to every class. This is especially tough considering most teachers don't give a hoot whether you're in class or not. You really do need to attend every lecture, however, or risk falling behind; a single key concept can mean the difference between passing and failing that final test, and if you miss the class it was explained in you're pretty much sunk.

- Increase your volume of notes. If you're doing badly then you might not be paying enough attention. Take note of everything the teacher says, and learn to write more quickly through sheer practice.

- Get a peer tutor. Most schools offer them, and most are quite capable at helping boost your grades. Tutors have been through the program before, often with the same teacher, and they know what they're doing.

- Talk to the teacher. Perhaps you're confused on certain concepts, or just want to know what, exactly, they expect of you. Tons of students are too afraid to ask their teachers for help - to which I ask, why? They're the ones you have to please. Besides, it's their job to help you, and the majority aren't the drooling ogres you might think them to be. They'll help as long as you ask it of them. (Most probably feel flattered that their vast knowledge is being tapped.)

- Study your notes after class. This only takes ten to fifteen minutes and it will help your information recall by leaps and bounds. Knowledge is seldom absorbed by the brain unless taken in repetitively.

- Set strict timetables for your assignments. If your assignment is due one day, get it done for the day before. Then you have an entire day to go over it again and make sure everything's squeaky clean. You should never be struggling at the last minute to get something finished, and teachers always give plenty of time to prevent that from happening.

- Set aside time every night for homework. Whether you have any or not you should still dedicate a certain portion of your time for study. College requires retention of an incredible amount of information, and trying to take it all in on the day before a test is foolhardy. For that matter, study well in advance of tests so you'll be thoroughly prepared.

- Seek a councilor for help. Most campuses have learner support centers centered specifically on helping students develop good study habits. Students tend to shy away form these resources, thinking they're an automatic brand of stupidity; I consider that kind of thinking stupid in and of itself. Councilors can offer invaluable advice on how to boost your marks regardless of your course.

- And, finally, acknowledge to yourself that it's time to work your butt off. To achieve everything I've written above you really need to get into the proper mindset. Treat school more like a job than just education. Would an employer accept anything less than excellence? Not likely. You shouldn't be satisfied with a sub-standard performance either.

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