4. 0 is an “A” average and indicates excellent performance, 3. 5 is a “B” and indicates good performance, 2. 0 is a “C” and indicates average performance, 1. 0 is a “D” and indicates below average performance.
Always be friendly and respectful over email and in person. Your teacher will be way more likely to help if they feel appreciated. Before you reach out, look through course materials (or anything else they’ve given you) thoroughly. That way, you don’t accidentally ask about something they’ve already clarified. Introduce yourself to them early on. That way, you’ll create a rapport immediately (which will make them more likely to help down the line!).
Break up your readings into chunks for each of you to cover, collect individual notes, then share those out with the group. You could even plan to present the content you covered like a mini-lecture—that way, you’ll master all the material super effectively. Make it a habit that if something doesn’t make sense, each member feels comfortable asking about it.
Tutoring can help you get individual attention on topics or subjects you find especially tricky. Plus, tutoring can increase confidence as well. The more comfortable you are with the material, the more likely you are to engage in class.
Some classes have participation points, too—don’t lose out on these. If you’re shy, talk to your professor about turning in notes relevant to your discussion (you might be surprised by their flexibility!). If you do have to miss class, plan for it. Let your professor know ahead of time and ask a fellow student for their notes, too.
Use shorthand, symbols, and diagrams that make sense to you (for example, an “up arrow” might mean something increased). When you’re done with each lesson, go back and highlight concepts by colors. Themes in pink, dates, in blue—you get the idea! If you miss something that your teacher mentioned, write the term down and circle it so you can revisit later on.
Find empty windows of time that you’d normally waste and fill them. Spend those extra 15 minutes between classes looking over your syllabus, for example. Don’t spend more than a couple hours on one subject at a time. That way, things stay fresh, even if you have tons to do. Plan study sessions right after lecture when the material is fresh. This is by far the most effective way to soak up new info.
Plan your daily study schedules around what needs to be done, when. For instance, set page goals for each day or week. Leave some cushion before the deadline. Sometimes, unexpected things come up. Plan to be done a little early, and you’ll be prepared. Plus, organization is a skill. The better you get at setting these routines now, the better you’ll be for the rest of your life!
Choose a specific goal. You might have a career, aware, or undergrate school in mind—and when you imagine getting it, you feel amazing. Identify a value you care about. Maybe you value passion, hard work, curiosity, or lifelong learning. By studying, you’re honoring that! Work to become your dream self—maybe they’re smart, capable, and accomplished. Studying helps you become who you’d like to be.
To start embodying this mindset, remember that the research supports it. People with growth mindsets are more likely to succeed! Reign in negative self-talk. Part of getting better means taking your failures lightly, but then letting them motivate you. When we fail, it’s sometimes are best chance to learn new lessons that could define our future success. Celebrate your failures!
Consistency helps you fall and stay asleep more easily. Aim to wake up (and go to bed) at the same time each day. Caffeine can seriously mess with your sleep cycles. If you’re a big coffee drinker, make sure to have your last cup at noon. Try a light, relaxing nighttime ritual 20 minutes before bed. Do some reading, meditate, or listen to calming music.
Relatedly, choosing to take certain courses as pass-fail can be a big help, too. Most colleges allow you to take just a few courses pass-fail, so you should save them for classes you feel you might not earn top marks in.
If you’re not sure what that might be, spend your freshman year trying out different courses. That way, you don’t miss anything! And you can always swap majors if you need to. Say junior year rolls around and your major is too tough, you can change it to something you think is easier.
