What do I do if I'm low-average in school? Will I still get into a college? Any college? I'm in ninth grade currently

Hi Daria,

First off, there are thousands of colleges out there for you to apply to - ones that you need a near perfect GPA to get into and ones that you don't need the best grades to get into. The BEST advice I can give you is to try your hardest to do well in your classes now. The earlier the better and the good news is you're only in 9th grade! You have plenty of time to do well in high school and get into a great 4 year university. Alternatively, if you apply to a few colleges and do not get in you will always have community college to fall back on. If you attend a community college right out of high school (& do well in your classes), after a year or so you can apply to those same colleges and have a better chance of getting in.

Study tips: What worked for me was flashcards. It sounds simple, but it truly is effective. The time it took to write out each and every question/answer on a flashcard was studying in itself. Then I would review those cards over and over until I knew it all by heart. I also recommend reviewing your notes daily rather than cramming for tests. On that note, TAKE GOOD NOTES! Always ask questions when you don't fully understand something - never be afraid to speak up when you need additional explanation.

*I also suggest getting involved in extra curricular activities early on (join clubs, or better yet start your own club! get involved with the school newspaper or a sport). This won't just look great on your college apps but it will be a great learning experience for you!

I hope this helps. Best of luck to you Daria! Let me know if you have any follow-up questions.

Hi Daria,

There are plenty of options for you even if you're not the valedictorian - and almost everybody is not the valedictorian. You and everyone else can still get into plenty of colleges and learn the skills necessary for a career job and a good living. R-E-L-A-X.

First, there is absolutely nothing you can't accomplish or overcome through hard work. While I don't have a single specific studying strategy for you, you can only get out what you put in. There is no substitute for working toward your goals. In terms of finding particular best study methods for you, I would ask teachers and other students (who are familiar with what classes you are taking or a particularly troublesome course for you) how to go about studying. But most importantly, I would take their advice and apply myself and follow their advice. Ask the right people and follow their advice.

If you apply yourself and work hard, and don't get upset at temporary set-backs, you will do better in school and get better grades. Do not sell yourself short - believe in yourself. If you get better grades in 10th-12th grades, colleges will not care about 9th grade. And you do not have to be at the top of the class to get into college.

Life is about doing the best you can with what you have. And it's not about where you start, it's about where you finish. You can do an excellent job in high school if you really try, no matter how difficult school is for you. You can overcome any challenge - your life is not decided by how well you do in the 9th grade. Life is about how you react to set-backs and challenges, not what challenges happen to you in the first place. Everyone has challenges - it's about doing everything you can to overcome them.

Hi Daria,

Definitely do the best you can do. I agree with Lindsey's suggestion about flashcards and good notes. Study or review your classwork every day so that you have time to really learn the material. If you need additional help, you might want to consider asking others in your class to form a study group. You can also ask your teacher or school guidance counselor for assistance during study hall, or before or after school.

Good luck!

Heidi