Improve Your GPA Grade-Point Average

Improve Your GPAGrade-Point Average A 12-Step Recovery Program for Poor Grades Counseling Services Pellissippi State Technical Community College

12 Steps to Recovery • Take Responsibility For Your Grades • Know Your Learning Style • Calculate Your Grade- Point Average • Manage Your Time Wisely • Prepare Thoroughly • Visualize Success • Choose Education with a Purpose • Be Classroom Wise • Make Smart Work/ School Trade-Offs • Keep Track of Your Grades • Identify the Causes of Poor Grades • Take Difficult Courses Individually

Choose Education With a Purpose • Why are you in college? • To get career preparation • To get a “good” job that pays “good” money • To avoid working full-time (right now) • To learn a particular skill • To become a more cultured person • To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas • To improve reading and study skills

Classroom Observations • Attend class every day. • Do not plan a vacation during the semester. • Save “sick days” for real emergencies. • If you have excessive absences, consider withdrawing from the class. • If you must miss class, contact the instructor ASAP to find out what was missed and the deadline for making up work.

Make Smart Trade Offs How might this student plan differently for the next semester?

Typical scenario: Student “A” wants to “get to UT as soon as possible” but must work to make tuition, gas and car payments. The student signs up for 15 credits (5 classes) and works 20 hours per week. Student passes 3 classes, gets a “W” in one class and an “F” in the other.

Keep Track of Your Grades • Review your class syllabus for the grade calculation formula for each class. • Ask about your grades – before the withdrawal deadline. • If you are doing poorly, talk with your instructor about what effort is required to pass the class. • If it appears that you cannot make up the work to achieve a passing grade, drop the class.

Identify the Causes of Poor Grades • What are the causes of your poor grades? • Attendance • Academic skill background • Preparation and study • Notetaking • Classroom participation • Motivation • Tutoring • Personal or family illness or emergency

Choose a Different Approach for A Difficult Course • If a particular subject gives you trouble, consider these options: • Take it as an only class. • Take it in a different format. • Speak with an instructor or counselor about how to study for this course. • Attend stress management, test-taking workshops. • Hand choose the instructor whose class you will take.

Take Responsibility for Your Grades • Stop making excuses. • Repeat classes in which you earned a “D” or “F”. • Be prepared to make compromises. • Choose wisely. Your choices will either have positive or negative consequences. You often control the outcome.

Know Your Learning Style • Explore how you learn by taking a learning style assessment. • Maximize your learning style (audio people recite, hands on people write, visual people draw). When necessary, use all of the learning modes. • Talk to your instructor about his/her style of teaching and the strategies you can use to adapt to this style of learning.

Calculate Your Grade-Point Average

Manage Your Time Wisely Base hours per week 168 Sleep -56 Meals -20 Classes (15/hr) -15 Study (2/hr rule) -30 Personal maintenance - 7 Balance +40

Prepare Thoroughly • Start studying for 10-15 minutes at a time and then build up to longer periods of time. Take adequate breaks • DO NOT CRAM! • Eliminate distractions. • Sit near the front of the classroom. • Ask questions. • Keep up with assignments

Visualize Success • Keep sight of your goals – expect to achieve them. • Do your best, then let go. • Combat negatives thought with positive self-talk. • Take care of yourself (eat well, get necessary rest, exercise, etc.). Remember, what you decide to do today affects your long-term goals.

Improve Your GPA Grade-Point Average