Better Grades in College

Better Grades in College

How to Get Better Grades in College

Hello, everyone,

So, you want to know how to get better grades in college? The simple answer: study more. But, that would be a waste of time, and no one has a lot of that during college. You need to study more efficiently, so that way you can still be involved in activities, have a job, and have some fun, while also maintaining a great GPA. I would like to give you some tips on how to study more efficiently, prioritize better, and select courses in order to get a higher GPA.

Why should you listen to me? I am currently a sophomore Meat Science major at THE Ohio State University, an Honors student, a 3.79 GPA-maintaining student, an undergraduate research participant, a member/officer of nearly ten collegiate clubs, and I also work an average of 15-20 hours a week. Oh, and I also manage to have some typical college fun–including parties, studying abroad, and trying to graduate college debt free (because that’s fun). So let’s talk about your grades and how to kick ass in college.

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Selecting the Right Courses

Getting better grades in college and maintaining a higher GPA all starts with selecting the right courses. This can be very dependent on your major and your post-college goals, so I am just going to give you a general review of how to select the “right” courses in order to help you boost your GPA that should apply to almost all academic paths.

1. Construct a degree plan.
   During my freshman year of college, as an Honors student at The Ohio State University, I had to regularly meet with my academic advisor in order to compose a Degree Plan. This is the outline that I used. As you can see, there are sections for all aspects of your degree including general education requirements, major requirements, minor requirements, and free electives, and there is also a section where you plan when you will take each class. This is incredibly helpful as it lets you see how much time you really have for other classes, if you end up needing to retake a class, if you can add in a study abroad, etc. It also makes you look at your options for certain courses and start considering which ones would be best for you. Do this while consulting with your academic advisor, as they will know best how to help you meet your goals and select classes that will be best for you and what you want to accomplish.
2. Select a major and a minor about which you are passionate.
   This is going to sound like cheesy “follow your dreams” hooplah, but you really should be at college studying something about which you are passionate. Major and minor classes are not often easy, but they are courses that you have to take, and you will not do well in them if you are not passionate about the topic; since the classes are so specific, you have to really care about what you’re learning in order to get good grades. (Also, in some cases, like mine as an Honors students, minors are not required. It may be beneficial to your GPA if you have more flexibility with classes, which can be achieved by not committing yourself to a certain minor.)
3. Organize your schedule according to your capabilities.
   If you know that you’re required to take two Maths, two Biologys, an Econ, and a Chemistry, and you know that these are all work-intensive classes, you should know to avoid scheduling these together as much as possible, and, if you do have to schedule any together, you should schedule other classes with them that are absolute cake walk. Or, if you know you hate English and writing essays and doing research papers, you should be sure to separate writing-intensive classes as much as possible.
4. Organize your schedule according to overlapping materials.
   My first semester of college, I ended up having to drop a 5 credit hour course, which really kind of put me behind the game. In order to catch up, I knew that my next semester would have to be as fully packed as possible, but I also needed to not be so overwhelmed that I couldn’t maintain the GPA I wanted. This was my schedule that semester:
   Notice something? All of the classes were very, very similar. All of my classes were related to Animal Science, all were fairly low-level courses, and all were classes that were comfortable to me. There were some exact lessons I got two or three times in different classes because they were all that similar. You can normally tell if classes are going to be similar by reading their summary in the Course Catalog or comparing syllabi, but you should also definitely get consult from your academic advisor or department head if you feel that you need it.
5. Select the “right” courses.
   This is a very individual decision and depends on your preferences, your special talents, you major/minor, your interests, your comfort zone, etc. If you have options between courses, some elective spots, or whatever it may be, and you want to select courses that will help boost your GPA, there are some things you need to do. Review professors of courses and courses themselves; do students or online reviews say that this professor/course is easy or that it is literally impossible to get more than a C-? Ask your academic advisor about difficulty of courses and professors, as they will usually be honest with you. Select classes that you would enjoy going to do and doing work for, as that will be a refreshing compliment to all your required courses you may not always be super thrilled to be taking.
   An example I think of is from my second semester my freshman year. I was required to complete a second-year writing course, and, knowing that writing is one of my strong points and that it should be a walk in the park for me, I opted to take an online version of a course. This is normally advised against, simply because in-person instruction is a huge aspect of college and you might be able to get more specialized attention that way, too. However, I knew that an online course would take less time, and I picked a version of the course that was on topics I was passionate about, and I needed this to balance out with harder, more time-consuming courses I was taking that semester. I also heard the professor of my online course was very nice and helpful, which is also how I dictated many of my other course choices, as well.

How to Prioritize Better

This section is probably going to be the hardest to swallow for a modern-day college student, but you need to hear it. If you are lucky enough to be afforded the opportunity to attend college, you need to make the most out of your time there. And, while, yes, that does mean making memories and friends to last a lifetime, it does not mean spending every moment you can in a drunken-sex-filled-risk-taking blur. Believe me, there is plenty of time for drunken-sex-filled-risk-taking blurs, but you have to really think about why you are at college. My whole life I was looking forward to college, to studying what I want, to learn awesome things from awesome professors, to making decisions on my own, and I wasn’t interested in giving up opportunities like joining organizations, studying to get awesome grades, and networking just because I was too busy stumbling back to the dorm with a stranger. You are in college to learn, to better yourself, to get an education, to network professionally, and to figure out what you want. If you want those DSFRT blurs then maybe you shouldn’t spend $20,000+ a year to get them.

Once you have appropriately aligned your goals and actions, you will find that it is very easy to prioritize better. For me, I always scheduled my school, academic, and studying commitments first, and then my club involvement, and then I left the open space for social outings. I was so focused on being successful that I had to get my roommate to help force me to at least go out to dinner with friends once a week, and that is where you want to be in college. You need to be so focused on your pursuit, on your chase, on your dream, on your education, that sometimes you might even forget things like going to clubs and parties. (PSA: I’m not saying don’t socialize or party ever, just make sure that you focus on what you want.)

There are many specific methods, tools, and techniques you can use to prioritize better, but that’s a whole different topic… which is why I wrote a blog post on that, too! Click here to read my post about how to schedule time in college. *Edit: post currently being written, check back soon!*

Study More Efficiently

These tips to studying more efficiently and getting better grades in college are ones that I personally use and that I know for a fact have helped me to maintain all my successes, including a 3.79 GPA. I have separated these tips into categories, so that way you can easily look for the tips that you specifically could make use of but also so you can understand that depending on the class or situation there may be better studying methods.

• General Lecture Courses
  • If there is an assigned reading, read it before the week you are going over it in class.
    If it’s a long textbook chapter, your better bet may be just skimming the chapter and reading the reviews at the end of the chapter. This is really dependent on the course, though. I have had some professors before who want you to read the chapter word-for-word and memorize the most unimportant details, and in that case you should read and note-take on the chapter. Usually, though, you are safe to skim and just ensure that you understand the main points.
    If it’s from a book or an article, just read it, and take your time to understand it and reflect on it.
  • If applicable, record vocab and do practice questions.
    This can really be done while you’re reading the chapter before the week of lectures, or when you’re studying after the lectures are over. I like to record the vocab before the lessons, do the practice questions that are within the chapter while I’m reading, and then do the practice questions at the end of the chapter after the lectures when I’m studying. Vocab and questions in the textbook help you to ensure that you understand the material or fill in spaces of confusion, and are also good potential test material points.
  • Take good notes in class.
    Assuming that the lecturer isn’t one of those professors who expects you to remember and recite her lecture word-for-word for the test (and yes, there are some of those), then I would recommend just taking notes on the main points. I use the Cornell method personally, which is a three column note-taking system that utilizes the categories of cues, notes, and summary. In the cue section, you will record question that you have during the lecture, and even if you don’t use the Cornell section, I strongly encourage writing questions as they come to you during lecture as this a huge part of the learning process. In the notes section I will write notes about things I find important or that are emphasized during the lecture. Then, at the end of lecture while it’s still fresh in my mind, I will write a short summary of the lesson the best that I can. By writing questions and then summarizing at the end, I am exposing gaps where I might not have understanding on the topic, which leads to…
  • Get questions answered.
    You will likely have questions from your reading and your lecture, and you should get them answered as soon as possible. When preparing to ask your questions, be sure to be ready to explain what you do understanding and the exact moment where your understanding stops. This will ensure that you are learning the material, and will also help the professor or TA to better understand and help you with your questions.
  • Rewrite notes.
    I like to handwrite my notes in class, as I believe it helps things stick better in my mind and also help me to follow along with the lecturer. However, when I rewrite my notes, I like to type them as it makes them more cohesive and easy to study from. I will do outline style notes, looking at my Cornell note sheets, ensuring that I can regurgitate the whole lesson/all the main points. I also refer back to my reading notes/question/vocab and incorporate those lessons into my typed notes, as well. Also, by viewing the material again, you are already studying.
  • Study!
    The main point of the article! So, how do you study more effectively? Well, spoiler alert, you have already begun studying by writing and rewriting the notes and information the way that you did. But how do you practice for tests and ensure you understand the information? Some things I do include: ANKI, study guides, explaining the material to others, practice problems, and go to tutoring.
    • ANKI is a studying tool very similar to Quizlet, however it also has a free-version of a premium feature on Quizlet. This premium feature is timed repetition. ANKI recognizes what terms or questions you are easily answering, and which you aren’t, and will give you the terms more often or less often depending on your ability to remember them. You probably have done something similar to this for years, but it is just night because it is a lot easier to do with a tool like ANKI, and it should actually help you learn/remember.
    • If a professor or TA is nice enough to give you study guide, you had better damn well treat that thing like a holy text. You will study that study guide, you will practice that study guide, you will probably memorize that study guide, you will make your own practice questions based on that study guide. And, if it’s a normal situation, you probably won’t have a provided study guide… soooo you should make your own! Use example tests online, questions in the book, conversation you had with your professors and TA in office hours (because, yes, you should go to those sometimes!), and your notes to make questions that will help you review the material.
    • I can’t tell you how many times I called my mom during my freshman year of college to tell her about something that I learned in college that day. She might have gotten annoyed with me, but by me trying to explain my lesson to her, I was actually helping myself learn. Call your parents, talk to your roommates, do study sessions… The more you talk about what you are learning, and the more you try to explain it, the sooner you will master it. This is an easy, very effective cheat to getting better grades and studying more effectively! (Bonus points for making one of those cheesy raps about your lesson and posting it on YouTube.)
    • Do the practice problems at the end of the chapter! Ask your professor or TA for practice problems! Find practice problems online! Just do it!!!
    • Annnnd tutoring. You could have been one of those kids who never had to go to tutoring in high school, and you would have that in common with me. But, I can’t tell you how many times I take advantage of free tutoring opportunities now that I am in college. Normally it will be undergraduate students doing the tutoring, so sometimes they will be better able to understand you and you them, as compared to older (and smarter) professors and TAs, and you can feel less embarrassed. You can also just stop in, ask a question, and leave, or just ask them for study tips. Tutoring resources are definitely, definitely underutilized.
• Lab Courses
  • Make sure that you prep for your lab by reading the lab manual, preparing your lab notebook, watching videos, asking questions, and finding all the information you need.
    When prepping for your lab, your goal should be to understand the how and the why of the experiment that you will be doing. What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Why are you using the things you’re using? If this lab is associated with a lecture, how do the two classes relate? You can do this by reading the lab manual, watching videos on the specific experiment or similar experiments/topics, asking questions to professors or TAs or tutors before the lab about things you don’t understand, and reading your textbook and/or online information to fill in gaps. Also, make sure you neatly organize your lab notebook (if applicable) to ensure that the lab goes as smoothly as possible. I used to think that it was cool to put together my lab notebook ten minutes before class, and that was definitely part of why I was so clustered when it came time for the lab.
  • During lab, make sure that you ask questions, take good notes, and pay close attention to details.
    I can’t tell you how many times I tried to get through a lab without having any clue what was happening, always turning to my lab partner for simplified instructions. If you have questions, ask them, and ask until you understand. Take good notes about what you see in the lab, for both assignments and also your own benefit. Also, pay close attention to details like measurements and observations, as these are the most important parts of labs and can sometimes be easily overlooked in the interest of just wanting to know the bigger picture.
  • When writing a lab report, pay close attention to rubrics and the lab manual. Also, go to a tutor or writing workshop/tutor if possible.
    I have always considered myself a superb writer no matter the topic. Lab reports were the first thing that no matter how hard I tried, how many times I tried, how much time I dedicated, how much I poured over the rubric and lab manual, that I just couldn’t master. Once I swallowed my pride, I realized that I just needed to go to a writer tutor. Now, every week, once a week, I go to a tutor who reviews my first-version lab report, my lab manual, and my lab rubric to ensure that I write the best possible lab report. Lab reports are “easy points” are there is no reason that you shouldn’t get them. Get extra help if you need it, if reviewing the rubrics and lab manuals and online instructions aren’t enough.
• Specific Assignments
  • Writing Papers
    There is no reason to not get an awesome grade on a paper in college. Even though the expectations are more rigorous in college, you will almost always get rubrics and laid-out expectations. You also likely do many drafts and get them reviewed with feedback, and if you don’t, I have two words for you… Writing Tutor!! A writing tutor will review your drafts and give you feedback to ensure that you are writing the best, most complete paper that you possibly can.
    I have a written a piece specifically on how to be a better writer, if you are interested in reading that for more in-depth tips and pointers!
  • Group Work
    Group work is a whole different animal, which is why I wrote a whole different post on how to best handle group work assignments in college. In general, though, this is another assignment that should be an easy grade, as there are normally specifically outlined expectations. Anytime that a teacher is telling you very specifically what he or she wants… these are easy ways to get better grades and boost your GPA!
  • Participation Points
    Ask. Questions. — It is not dumb.
    Answer. Questions. — Even if you are wrong.
    Go. To. Class. — You are paying too damn much money to not show up.
  • Extra Credit
    Your professor offers an extra credit assignment? Do it, if only to get in the good graces of the professor or to give yourself some wiggle room for that final exam. Extra credit questions? Try and answer them. Unless it says on the syllabus or out of the professor’s mouth “no extra credit” ever, just ask. Don’t ask if they say they don’t do it. Have an idea for a paper, for an assignment that you think you should get extra credit for? Think you’d do better on a quiz the second time around because you were really confused on a main point? Talk to them, impress them, convince them. The worst they can say is no and you back to sinking in your class chair, sulking until you can get drunk later that night and make all the pain and embarrassment go away.

College is a place to learn, to better yourself, and to learn how to be a busy, productive, badass member of society… so do it! A lot of the tips that I have offered are subjective and may work for you and your classes and may not. However, one thing is for sure… there is no easy way. You have to work hard, but you also need to work smart. Don’t stress yourself out more than necessary. Be organized. Be focused. Be determined. Avoid distractions. Be a hustler, a learner, a better person that yesterday.

My goal of this website is to help you conquer the world, and, in this post, get better grades. I want to help with both of these things, so if you have any questions or want any more information, or maybe have tips of your own, feel free to comment them below. I look forward to hearing from you, and happy learning!