Tips For Getting Great Grades In College

Do you get less-than-perfect grades in school? Do you need to raise your GPA? Would you like to earn some merit-based scholarships, but your grades are keeping you down? Want to stop failing and re-taking classes? Or would you like to raise that B to an A?

Following are some super-simple tips and tricks for instantly improving your grades. College can be hard, but these few easy tips that anybody can handle will give you a head start and help you raise your GPA sky-high! These tips are tried-and-true, and come from an actual student with a 3.9 GPA! Stellar grades, here we come!

(photo by NoRulesStock on deviantArt)

It may sound silly, but attending every single class is the biggest thing you can do to improve your grades. Some teachers count attendance as part of your grade, but more importantly, you'll be present for all of the information being taught.

Keeping a perfect attendance record is definitely a good goal to have. Don't miss a class unless you're really sick or there's a family emergency. It may seem like now that you have independence in school and can make your own decisions, it's okay to miss some classes or slack off, but if getting great grades is one of your main priorities, try to go to school as much as you can.

Sitting close to the front of the classroom ensures that you can see the board/projector properly, hear the teacher well, and make eye contact with the professor while they are lecturing. This helps you get all the information that the professor is trying to relay, and helps keep you less distracted.

I recommend writing down (or drawing) everything the teacher puts on the board (because those will be the key points he or she wants you to remember), plus as much additional information as you can. Write lists, keep a separate page for assignments due at the next class, and draw diagrams if that helps.

Perhaps you will never refer to your notes, but it helps solidify the information in your mind. Reasons you might need your notes include open notes tests; writing papers on the information covered in class; and creating projects based on things you've learned. Referring to notes will help you study for quizzes, as well.

These pencils, pens, and notebooks will help you take ideal notes for your classes. Different-colored pens can help you organize information.

Keeping a weekly list of homework due can help you keep track of priorities, and help so you don't forget deadlines and due dates.

I recommend writing a list, sorted by class, of every little thing that's due (papers, homework, worksheets, lab pages, projects, etc) and drawing stars by the most important and urgent things to do. You can type up your list on the computer, if that's easier for you, and delete each assignment as you turn it in, or you can write it on paper and check/cross off each point as it's done.

It's hard not to get overwhelmed when going to college full time, but just remember, when you're in the middle of an important assignment or studying all night for a midterm, that the most important thing is taking care of yourself. Learning is important, and getting good grades is awesome, but if you deprive yourself of sleep or proper nutrition, you'll just get more stressed out. Also, keep your head up and try to have fun with school. Getting stressed out only makes life harder, so roll with the punches and just try to enjoy your college experience!

Do you have any additional tips? How are your grades? What are your best tricks for getting good grades at school? What do you think of my tips? Talk to me!! :)