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discover that your grades will follow naturally.Most of the time...if not, then:

USE SUPERFICIAL TACTICS CAREFULLY

There are the usual "superficial" tactics you can follow for better grades.These can come in handy with oddball professors, exams that seem to test something other than what you're supposed to be learning, or when you are simply struggling to keep your head above water. You will discover these tactics quickly from your classmates or personal experience, and you will be tempted to use them to avoid doing the "real work."Be careful with this trap, and remember that "playing the system" will only take you so far.Your education must catch up to your grades.Use these when knowledge can only take you so far, but remember that in the end, you're still responsible for having learned everything the course was meant to be about.

PRIORITIZE

Prioritize, do it often, and do it right.There will be times when you simply cannot finish everything you set out to do.Realize this ahead of time to avoid frustration and breaking down at the worst time possible, and always keep a list of prioritized "to-do's" handy.Under time pressure, do those things which will have the greatest effect on your grades.However, always be sure to go back and catch up on those "less important" items, as more often than not, they have an equal or greater educational value than the "hot" items.Accept your limitations as a human being and know that in the real world, you will need to play the same prioritizing game or fail miserably trying to fit 20 hours of work into an 8 hour day.In the same respect,

DON'T SKIP SLEEP

The temptation for "all-nighters" is great. It shows dedication to your field of study and gives you bragging rights to your friends.Your adrenaline runs high as the deadline approaches, and you decide that you will stay up all night to finish.There are times when this is the only option and not completing the work would have significant adverse effects.However, most of the time, it goes something like this: knowing that you have the extra time, you go out for a nice dinner and drinks first, and return to start your work at 2 in the morning.The problem with this is clear. First, if you need to pull an all-nighter, it is usually already too late.Your lack of planning and sleep will probably adversely affect a slew of other things for the following few days, so don't do it to yourself if you don't think it will make a significant impact.Secondly, never use an all-nighter as an excuse to delay doing the inevitable.Most all-nighters happen because we procrastinate work to the point where we compress it, and the time required equals the time remaining.Instead of going out for drinks, get your work done quickly and efficiently.You willhave more energy the next day, a better grade, and time to go out the following night without worrying or collapsing of exhaustion.

TRUST YOURSELF

No amount of advice can tell you how you get good grades. Learn to trust your intuition, and whether you follow it or not, it will often tell you how to proceed, and will be a realistic judge of your own limitations.

...AND ENJOY YOURSELF

Take the time to enrich yourself on a personal level outside of the classroom, and the rewards will help you become an all-around achiever.As you enter the working world, perspectives will change, and you will look back and sometimes things you have done will seem comical.Talk to people who have been through it, and you'll discover some interesting points of view that will no doubt be helpful.

Learn more about this author, Peter K.
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