Bad Semester
 

Ok... I survived the semester.. I am looking for some tips and hints to up my GPA... I am hoping to get a 2.0 ( i know that is sooo bad) anyways I am going to be a senior and spent the last semster partying my ass off... just to give some more info.. I am not living in the house I have my own apt and I also will be working full time... I am taking some summer classes that will help to improve my QPA so any tips and tricks would be great... I would like to get in to Order of Omega but as it stands now not looking like such an option.... also our scholarship chair is non existant so... i don't know i am just very upset at my grades and how bad i did ....
Just wanted to give an update.. this was actually one of my better semster to date at my school, I did MUCH BETTER than expected, but there is room for improvement as always and I can't wait to implement the new study tips you guys gavve me for my summer classes... Also I found out that I am totally going to Graduate next Spring!!! I am soo excited.... thanks you so much !!!

Hey !!
As scholarship chair for my chapter... I can say that you have already over come the most important factor that keeps most people's grades down... wanting to do something about it. You can have all the study advice ever... but if you just don't do it, your grades aren't going to improve. here are 10 tips that I am handing out to my chapter at my meeting on Monday.
1) Prepare and ask at least one question at every class, this of course means you must GO TO CLASS
2) At LEAST three times a semester visit your professor during office hours. Let them get to know you by face and name.
3) Sit in the first three rows of class
4) Review readings and the prior classes notes before class
5)Use the hours of 9am to 5 pm for school. If you have a job sometimes during these hours, take a look at your schedule and make sure to set aside blocks of time for studying. STICK TO THESE HOURS, don't let anyone bother you... and DO NOT GO OUT. Treat school work like a job.
6) Re-copy or re- read notes from each class later that day.
7) Start a study group in each of your classes of between 3 and five people.. get their contact info and meet once a month.
8)Post goals for each class on a desk, mirror, or in the notebook you take to that class so you see them all the time.
9) Use note cards to study instead of highlighting
10) ALWAYS do any offered extra credit.
As I said since you seem to want to improve... as long as you stick to it your grades will improve. GOOD LUCK :D

I've been in your shoes before. I partied my butt off my freshman year and I have grades to prove it. http://www.plaudersmilies.de/sniff.gif I ended up with a 2.0 the second semester of my freshman year and I had some very, very angry parents. It was weird because I had always been a straight-A student. My parents wanted to ship me back home and go to the University by my house. I said "No way!" I told myself that I would never get less than a B in any of my classes ever again. And I haven't. You need to set a goal of what GPA you want and stick to it. Even if that means you stay home on a Thursday night. Believe me....I know it sucks when your sisters are out partying and you need to catch up on your studying but you will be so happy with the results. Here's some things I did that help:
1) Read the books. It sounds so simple but I never bothered to read; I just reviewed lecture notes. Many professors pull test questions out of the book and the books will reinforce what the professor said during lecture.
2) Study at the library. Your apartment is too distracting. I have a computer, TV, and bed in my room which sound so much more appealing then a book. Go to the library and you'll have nothing else to do but study.
3) Take classes with friends that do well in school and have a study group with them. I had a study group for my Finance and Business Cornerstone class and I honestly believe that it is the only reason I did so well. Not only can they explain to you what you don't understand but you can help them as well. Teaching someone else is the best way to learn.
4) Let the professors know who you are. I'm not saying suck up to them! Go to their office hours if you don't understand something or ask if you could review with them the mistakes you made on the last test. Let them know that you are really intent on getting an A in their class. You'd be surprised how much they'll help you if they know you want to do well. I had an 89.6 in one my classes this semester and the teacher stresses that she will never round up. Well, she did for me. :D
5) Go to your classes.
6) If studying means you need to stay home instead of going to a party then that's the way it goes! The reason why you're at college is to get an education. Don't lose sight of that.
7) Do have fun. Maybe allow yourself one or two nights a week to have fun with friends. If you're always doing school work, you'll get burnt out and all your studying will be counter-productive.

I find that something that really helps me study is writing note cards or index cards with key items. This helps because if you keep some in your backpack or purse at all times, you can pull them out and study for a few minutes. You'd be surprised how much you remember when it's time to take a test.

The other thing that I find helps is if you write tests for yourself. You really have to think about the issue in order to write a test question, and then taking that test will show you what you need to concentrate more on.

Writing test questions also shows you more how the professor thinks when they write test questions.

If it is a theory, think of an example that would work with that theory, then that way when it comes to essay quesitons, or examples on the test, it will be easier to apply that theory by comparing your examples. It also gives you something to discuss with your profs when you go in to see them during their office hours and shows them that you are really trying to understand rather than just suck up. Plus you learn more and sticks in your memory better.

Here is a suggestion. Look at school as your full time job. Most people work 40 hours per week. You need to commit the same amount of time to your academics. For example if you take 16 credit hours in class, you need to study 24 hours outside of class. Good luck!

I would suggest taking a course or a couple of courses that will be an easy A. For example in my curriculum of biomedical science we had to take microbiology which is an easy 5 hr A-that helps with the GPA a bunch.

Try and take classes you think you will do well in for the next semester to get that GPA up. An ex. of this is I was going to take archeology one semester and I went to the first day of class and they had at least 10 books we had to read by Feb. 12th-well I HATE to read and new rt. off I would not do well in this class so i immediately dropped this class.

Also the notecard thing is great-really helped me in organic chemistry.

Honestly, 10 years from now who's gonna look at your grades? If you wanna boost your GPA take some easy courses: like Liberal arts or some other BS. and if you get a D then take the course again.
I'm a Comp Sci major with a 3.2 GPA. my advice is just try do what you love, and have fun.



Oh yeah, and don't drink before a test.

Academics
 

In my fraternity we use the system of networking through the brotherhood. Those of us that are Math/Science majors help out those right-brained brothers. You'd be surprised what a little asking can do. When I transferred to my current school from New England I hadn't taken a math course in soooo... long. One of my brothers that was really good at math stood by my side and made sure that I understood all the concepts. One night he stayed up with me till 4a.m. making sure that I finished my homework and understood every problem. That brother was also operating on only 3 hours of sleep from his own school work. Needless to say I made an A. This was unheard of for me because in high school I was always one of those who just barely scraped by or ended up going to summer school to redeem myself. My left-brain has since fine tuned. I'm actually working on a Physics minor now and I'm pretty fascinated by it. Work for your sisters and your sisters will work for you.