Even though there are students who say they don’t really care about their grades, the truth is that a great number of students really do care. While perhaps not being the most important thing in a life of a student, good grades will mean a lot in the future, and this is why it’s a good idea to put in more effort and earn good grades during your studies. If you are looking for different ways to improve your grades, read on, because we’ve put together smart tips to help you get better grades the following semester.
Be present
One of the first things uni students realize is that they don’t actually have to attend classes. On the other hand, they realize sooner or later that attending the classes was the right thing to do. Things move at a different pace at uni, and if you skip a lecture, you’ll find yourself struggling to keep up with the material and the assignments. So, the easiest thing is to be present – attend lectures and pay attention to what your professors are saying because when you get back to your dorm you’ll notice that you understand the material better than you would if you attempted to learn on your own.
Use the internet wisely
The internet is here for entertainment, mostly, but if you use it wisely and responsibly, you’ll be able to get better grades and better results in different classes. Use Google Translate’s ‘read aloud’ option to listen to your papers before you send them so you can catch any weird phrasing. There are plenty of useful websites such as ThinkSwap for swapping notes with other students, WordHippo for finding words you can’t think of but can describe, or EasyBib that helps you cite other works and makes a bibliography for your papers. You will also be able to find websites that offer used textbook for much lower prices if you only know where to look.
Stay on top of things
Even if you’re disorganized by nature, you can trick yourself into becoming more organized and achieving better results. When you get to uni, you’ll have to multitask a lot in order to avoid being overwhelmed with due dates and research. Using a planner has to be one of the easiest ways to stay on top of things. A simple day planner will help you remember things more easily, and you can virtually see when you have crammed too many things into a single afternoon, so you can reorganize your days more easily. Make sure all your tests, class papers, and essays are in a central position in your room and on your desk, that way you’ll be reminded of all the work that has to be done and you won’t procrastinate as much.
Notes, notes, notes
The main reason why you should attend all your classes is being able to catch notes directly from your professor rather than copying someone else’s. When you attend a class, you’ll notice what the professor is passionate about and which parts of a lesson they focus on the most. What is more, when you write something down in your own handwriting, you’ll be able to read it much easier later. In order to get the most out of your notes, re-write or re-type them once you get back to your dorm because it’s the easiest way to memorize the material, and you’ll be able to decipher them later when the course material isn’t as ‘fresh’.
Find your style
Being a student is about finding yourself, but you should also try hard to find your learning style. Just because your friend, your significant other, or your siblings have an effective way of learning and doing things, it doesn’t mean that the same method will work for you. On the contrary, when you stick to one of such ‘foolproof’ methods and don’t get good results, you’ll become frustrated and angry. Instead, try out different learning methods until you find the one that works for you, and stick with it.
Being a student is a strange mixture of fun and stress, but you’ll soon realize that even the people who seem to be keeping it all together at all times are sometimes under a lot of pressure. When you’re feeling stuck and you’re not sure what to do to get better grades, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Make a study group with your friends or hire a private tutor, but most importantly – never give up!