by Greg Smalec

Created on: April 06, 2010

When it comes to being prepared for class, whether it be on a high school or college level, there are several things that could (and should) be done that can change a semester filled with hair-pulling and mundane grades into one of simplicity and higher marks. The most redundant answer in regards to preparation is to study, and have the needed materials for the course. As I see it, these are more of a requirement than a recommendation. The real recommendations aren't things you need to do, but rather, things you ought to do, that will prove to make your academic life much easier. If you're the type of person who wants better grades, and if the repetitive cycle of studying isn't enough to yield the results you desire, then I urge you to read on.

One of the biggest problems in the academic field, that often leaves students unprepared, is miscommunication. To truly know what is needed to receive good grades, you must first understand what is expected of you. Many courses you'll take will begin with a syllabus of some sort, outlining learning objectives. While good professors will mention what they expect from you as a student, many students (especially those already knowledgeable in that field of study) often overlook such details. As a student myself, I can understand that, after reading countless syllabuses, it's easy to consider them interchangeable and generic. However, a professor's expectation will have a huge effect on your grade, so if you can understand and meet these expectations, your grades will surely improve.

Another important tip in terms of preparation is to be sure you fully understand the material. While this tip seems to tie in to studying, it is actually a whole different story. There is a big difference between understanding information, and just memorizing it. When you truly understand material within a course, you'll be able to do much more than reiterate words from a textbook. The goal is to actually understand said words to the point where, you can explain it to others in your own words, and if applicable, be able to use such material in practice. Now, I realize the intensity of some courses makes this difficult, but even if you can only grasp some of the material on your own, there are plenty of methods to understanding it all, even if you need to call the aid of a tutor. Sometimes we forget that, through taking courses, it's our goal to learn more and understand a certain field of

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