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How do I achieve getting a good gpa in college without getting sidetracked?
I love to have fun but know my limits when it comes to it. I value school very much. I hope I don’t get carried away. #school #engineer #environmentalengineer
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Stephen’s Answer
Great question! Balancing school work and social life, when at college can be very challenging. Things can be extremely difficult if you go away to school and this is the first time you have some independence from your parents. Recognizing you are an adult and there is nobody watching over you is the first major step. I recommend you put together a schedule outlining when you are going to study and have social time. Having it written down will be helpful to hold yourself to it! Another tip, don't procrastinate. Make sure you look ahead and see when assignments are due and balance your school work on your schedule. Its much more stressful if you delay doing the work until the last minute, so avoid that at all costs! Good luck!
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Aimee’s Answer
Getting sidetracked in college is an easy way to have your GPA at a low average. Stay focused on your school work find friends who are in your major use them as study partners. Attend all the classes in person or virtually. Do not make it a habit to miss classes professors see this as a negative. Stay focused and study hard. Use all of your
resources that are available at the college. If you need to use a tutor do not be afraid or hesitant on this option they are there for a good reason.
resources that are available at the college. If you need to use a tutor do not be afraid or hesitant on this option they are there for a good reason.
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Preston’s Answer
I just graduated from college this Spring so your question is a great one! In college there's a lot to balance from the school-work, and studying you have to do, a job, and having a social life or College clubs.
What helped me the most in college was dedicating different times of the day to a certain class outside of being in actual class. For example I took 5 classes my last semester in college and I would dedicate time every single day 30 minutes to an hour or more to each individual class. This way I was caught up with any of the homework, or reading I needed to do for the class. So when it came time for the tests I was already on track for the other classes I did not have tests for so I could dedicate all of the time I could to the class or classes I had a test in. Having these dedicated times every day or multiple times during the week to do your classes is very important in my opinion, it allows you to focus on one class at a time making your workload more manageable.
Another thing that helped me was how I approached studying. In college I was an Accounting major. Accounting is arguably the toughest business major and requires days and days of study for each test I was going to take. What helped me keep a good GPA(3.7) was reading the text book and watching videos before I got to class. So when we were in class I had already seen the material and known about it so I could focus on the fine details or ask more detailed questions to the professor. After class I would work on all of the homework I had as soon as I got it so the material was fresh in my head after class. Before tests I would read the chapters front to back doing as many practice problems as I can until I could do every problem. This allowed me to be successful in all of my classes.
What helped me the most in college was dedicating different times of the day to a certain class outside of being in actual class. For example I took 5 classes my last semester in college and I would dedicate time every single day 30 minutes to an hour or more to each individual class. This way I was caught up with any of the homework, or reading I needed to do for the class. So when it came time for the tests I was already on track for the other classes I did not have tests for so I could dedicate all of the time I could to the class or classes I had a test in. Having these dedicated times every day or multiple times during the week to do your classes is very important in my opinion, it allows you to focus on one class at a time making your workload more manageable.
Another thing that helped me was how I approached studying. In college I was an Accounting major. Accounting is arguably the toughest business major and requires days and days of study for each test I was going to take. What helped me keep a good GPA(3.7) was reading the text book and watching videos before I got to class. So when we were in class I had already seen the material and known about it so I could focus on the fine details or ask more detailed questions to the professor. After class I would work on all of the homework I had as soon as I got it so the material was fresh in my head after class. Before tests I would read the chapters front to back doing as many practice problems as I can until I could do every problem. This allowed me to be successful in all of my classes.
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Laura’s Answer
As a recent college grad, below are a couple of tips that I found helped me maintain a high GPA while still enjoying my time in college.
First, I would suggest planning your course schedule in advance – even for the next few years if you can. Although the exact schedule will likely change, if you can map out what you need to take you can make sure you balance your schedule so you aren’t taking all of your hardest classes in the same semester. For me, I tried to plan out all of my semesters to make sure I not only took everything I needed to graduate, but that I never overloaded myself.
Studying or working with friends is a really great way to get work done as well. Sometimes if you’re studying or doing homework alone you can run out of steam. If you meet with friends in another environment like a café or the library, it can make the time a lot more enjoyable. Even if you aren’t working on the same thing, having others there to talk to is great and you’re less likely to get burnt out as quickly.
Another recommendation is to give yourself planned mental or 'fun' breaks. For me, I tried to keep my Fridays free of studying so I could do things like hang out with friends or go out. This incentivized me to get my work done throughout the week and helped me avoid procrastinating.
Finally, prioritize and be honest with yourself. If you have an upcoming test or a big assignment, prioritize that and get it done. Then you can reward yourself with time off or time with friends. The same goes for studying – recognize when you’ve done all you can and don’t overwork yourself. Find the balance that works for you and keeps you mentally healthy :)
First, I would suggest planning your course schedule in advance – even for the next few years if you can. Although the exact schedule will likely change, if you can map out what you need to take you can make sure you balance your schedule so you aren’t taking all of your hardest classes in the same semester. For me, I tried to plan out all of my semesters to make sure I not only took everything I needed to graduate, but that I never overloaded myself.
Studying or working with friends is a really great way to get work done as well. Sometimes if you’re studying or doing homework alone you can run out of steam. If you meet with friends in another environment like a café or the library, it can make the time a lot more enjoyable. Even if you aren’t working on the same thing, having others there to talk to is great and you’re less likely to get burnt out as quickly.
Another recommendation is to give yourself planned mental or 'fun' breaks. For me, I tried to keep my Fridays free of studying so I could do things like hang out with friends or go out. This incentivized me to get my work done throughout the week and helped me avoid procrastinating.
Finally, prioritize and be honest with yourself. If you have an upcoming test or a big assignment, prioritize that and get it done. Then you can reward yourself with time off or time with friends. The same goes for studying – recognize when you’ve done all you can and don’t overwork yourself. Find the balance that works for you and keeps you mentally healthy :)
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Carson’s Answer
Howdy, I'm entering my senior year of college and this is a great question. Your first few classes may not be too hard, but try your best to create a schedule and stick to it. Once your classes become more demanding, it is crucial to stay on top of things. Do not fall behind! It is terrible trying to catch up. Some advice I received was to treat school like a 9-5 job, then do other things after. Good luck!