There you are standing next to your mailbox you probably don’t lock, gripping that one quiz you took last week, and the score is more than disappointing. “What could I have done better?” The question flutters through your mind, and not for the first time. This question may run through your mind after a failed quiz, disappointing exam score, or hours of study during which nothing was retained. Let’s take a moment to try and answer that question. What can be done for forlorn students, who just can’t break the D or C barrier?  Well, here are a few simple tips that, when put into practice, can help you break the barrier and find academic success on the other side.

1. Find your study time.

Everyone is a little bit different; our study times range from late at night to early in the morning.  But no matter what, if you’re a student, you need to study. Find your time and take advantage of it! Sometimes we have to wrestle with our schedules just to get a small amount of free time, let alone study time. Because school is your full time job right now, put aside the hours to actually do it. Like a date, information you need for an exam will only stick around if you spend time with it and give it the attention it deserves. Take your textbook to Starbucks, treat it to a latte, and spend some quality time together.  Maybe even make it a double date with a study partner!

2. Be proactive.

Sometimes we daydream about what it would be like to have a magical map available for each class –one that would show me the exact path to take and what to do to succeed. Though there is no such magical map, we are given a syllabus for every class that (most of the time) tells us exactly when things are due and what we will be working on. Haven’t read your syllabi before? Take a gander, because you are missing out on the opportunity to plan ahead and see potential roadblocks.

Read through your syllabi, write down due dates, and communicate with your professors about issues you have with the material. Professors cannot extend grace to you if they don’t know you need it, and you probably don’t deserve any grace if you have put zero effort into understanding the course. It is always better to be proactive rather than reactive, clarifying misunderstandings and communicating concerns before they become a problem.

3. Sit in the front of the class.

Let’s be real; sometimes we want to mess around in class, so we sit in the back with our computers and our loud snacks. However, if you apply this simple tip, you’ll find a surprising and useful difference in your study habits. An article by writers for Penn State says, “Studies show that students who sit in the front and center (middle) of the classroom tend to achieve higher average exam scores.” Win, win… just move up a few rows. This necessitates actually coming to class, so don’t use those skips just to sleep in.

4. Take notes in the classroom.

Each professor teaches differently – some with PowerPoints and some with physical handouts. Either way, you can always take notes in a class. Maybe you don’t really like to write things down. That’s fine, but pay attention and jot down key elements. It helps with your long term memory. Are you an artist or enjoy doodling?  Draw along with taking notes, making mini pictures that fit in with the subject being lectured on. This will help you focus and retain the knowledge your professors are sharing.

5. Actually read your textbook.

I (Cassie) remember in junior year when I was walking out of class into the hallway as Dr. Ebersole and a group of English students simultaneously came out of a different classroom. I was focused on getting to my next class, but as all awkward hall walks go, I obviously heard the conversation between Dr. Ebersole and her students:

“Well, no I haven’t read the textbook yet, but I’ll probably get there,” a loose tongue within the group of students said. This unwise statement to say in front of a professor elicited an immediate response.

“You pay 30,000 dollars a year; you should read the textbook.” Dr. Ebersole pointed at the student while communicating her point. So let me just briefly requote this amazing professor, because she knows how to succeed: “You pay 30,000 dollars a year to be here. Read your textbooks. “

Sometimes, we replace what we are actually here for with what we think we are here for. Friends over studying or studying over friends? Hiking with Ascend or finishing that research paper? Preparing for a Bible quiz tomorrow or going to Chick-fil-a?  Every day we find ourselves making these decisions, as college is a mixture of the education we came for and all of the campus life activities that keep us coming back for more.  Going to the movies, playing glow in the dark capture the flag, and hanging out in the Great Room at Heritage are not in themselves bad, but allowing any activities to take precedence over school work can be. Remember, you are in a relationship with academics… if you ignore it and spend all of your time doing other activities, your relationship is going to go south fast! So I pose a simple challenge: think about your motivation for being here. If the answer is to get an education, think about spending more time on that education. Finish that paper, study a little bit more for that exam, tell your friends you are too busy to go out tonight, and continue to work on that project.

For more great tips and resources check out:

http://slc.berkeley.edu/study-and-success-strategies

http://studymagazine.com/2010/11/22/creating-productive-work-study-environment/

https://quizlet.com/ – use this to create online flashcards and study help!

http://www.academictips.org/