A lot of college-bound high school students get completely stressed out about the college admissions process.
In particular, the stress seems to really go up a few notches when there is discussion about GPA and grades.
In this article, we're going to discuss some strategies that you can use to improve your grades and earn the GPA that you'll need to get into a top-notch college.
1.
Ask for Help - Teachers, Classmates, Friends, Private Tutors, etc.
Even though you're not in elementary school anymore, you don't have to go it alone.
There are plenty of resources available to help you.
If you're too afraid to ask questions during class, don't be afraid to stay after class to meet with your teacher.
If he or she doesn't have time to answer your questions right away, I'm certain that they will set up an appointment to meet with you on a one-on-one basis.
Also, you might want to get a "study-buddy.
" This could be either a classmate or friend that you meet with on a regular basis to study.
Studying in groups can sometimes help you stay motivated and on task.
Your goal should be to keep each other encouraged, particularly during mid-terms and finals week.
If you can't find a "study-buddy" and your teacher just doesn't have time to give you the one-on-one assistance that you need, consider a private tutor.
These can sometimes get costly, but depending on how bad you're struggling in your classes, it just might be worth it.
2.
Pay Attention - Take Good Notes, Sit In Front of Class & Participate You'd be surprised how much of a difference it would make if you just tried a little bit harder to give your undivided attention to your teacher during class.
I know that it's a lot easier to think about what's for lunch today or how you can't wait to see your girlfriend/boyfriend in the hallway in between class, but try to put those thoughts on the back burner if you can.
Here are some tips that might make it easier to pay close attention in class.
Sit in the front of the class.
I know the "cool" kids like to sit in the back row, but the closer you are to the teacher the less likely you are to lose focus.
Also, you might feel more inclined to participate and get involved in the lecture.
The more involved you are, the more you learn and the better you get at retaining information.
Additionally, don't be afraid to ask questions during class.
Remember, no question is a dumb question.
Besides, there's probably someone in the classroom who has the exact same question as you.
Also, the better you understand the information, the better notes you'll be able to take.
3.
Flashcards & Study Guides - Why You Should Use Them...
Worried about your upcoming exam? Try creating flashcards to quiz yourself on key dates, topics, vocabulary words, etc.
Writing things down on flashcards helps reinforce what you learned and better allows you to store the information in your long-term memory bank.
If you don't like flashcards, how about study guides? A study guide is basically like an outline that you use to highlight the key topics on your exam.
This will allow you to identify which topics you know well and which topics that you should focus on more closely prior to the exam.
And similar to flashcards, writing things down in study guide format helps you commit the information to memory.
4.
Get Organized - Clean Up If your locker and bedroom at home looks like a zoo, it's a no brainer why your grades aren't as good as you would like them to be.
Take some time to clean up your personal space.
If you can't find your geometry book because it's buried at the bottom of your locker, chances are you won't do too well on the exam.
Also, if you study in a clean area, you'll be less likely to get distracted by all the clutter.
5.
Go To Bed I know high school students like to stay up late at night to talk on their cell phones (oops, I mean to study...
), but you need to get your rest if you want to be alert in your classes the next day.
Don't get me wrong, you shouldn't be slacking on your homework, but try to set aside a certain amount of time dedicated to homework and studying when you get home from school.
This will allow you to get to bed at a decent time.
Granted, this won't always be possible...
and that's okay.
There will be times when you have a 10 page paper due tomorrow that requires you to be up a little later than normal, but try not to make this a habit.
If you start implementing these strategies into your life, you'll see an improvement in your GPA in no time.
It's time to buckle down and take your education seriously...
after all, this is your future that we're talking about! Good luck future college student.