You got your grades. Now what?

Once you have seen your semester grades you have some decisions to make before the start of the next semester.  Here are some different scenarios and things to think about:

Your grades are great!  Congratulations!  Take some time to enjoy your success!  Then think about:

• What went well this semester that helped you earn such good grades? 
• How did you manage your time? 
• Where did you study?
• What study strategies did you use that worked?
• Think about your schedule next semester.  What did you do this semester that you can repeat?
• What class do you think will be your biggest challenge next semester?  How will you handle that?

Your grades are disappointing.  Think about:

• Where were your problems areas?  Time management?  Study environment?  Knowledge of how learning happens?
• What happened in your hardest class?  How did you study?  Looking back, what strategies might have helped?
• Did you seek help by talking with your professors or going to tutoring? 
• Examine the classes you struggled with.  What made them difficult?  Are there any indications that you should change your major to focus on classes in which you did well?
• Look at your schedule for next semester and plan exactly when and where you will study. 
• Review previous blogs on this site to get information about study strategies you can use.
• See if you should retake some classes to erase low grades and bring up your grade point average.
• Look for a Learning Strategies class at your institution and enroll.

If things are really bad:

• If you are not returning, check with the financial aid office to see if there is anything you should do to put any type of aid or loan on hold.
• If you are going to take some classes at a local college, be sure they fit into your course of study.
• Take a class in learning so you do not repeat the same  mistakes.
• Examine your priorities.  Is college one of them?

Whatever your situation, be sure to set yourself  up to be successful.  Focus on what went well and change the roadblocks that held you back.
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First Semester Success: Learning  Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Successful Finals Week Strategies

Students tend to get stressed during Finals Week, but if you are prepared there is no need to do so.  Often students relieve their own stress by talking about it and giving it to someone else!  You are calm and prepared, so don’t let someone else share their stress with you!  Here are some things to keep in mind:

* Do NOT stay up all night!  That is the worst thing you can do.  A tired brain does not function well and the lack of sleep will not only affect your performance on the exam you studied for but the future exams as well.

* Shower, eat breakfast and scrub your teeth before going to the exam.  It is amazing how better you will do if you feel awake and alert!

* Get to the exam early so you are not feeling rushed.   If the exam is given in a different room than the class it is helpful to get there extra early in order to get a good seat and review the information in that particular setting. (If the exam is given to a large group in a lecture hall it is very helpful to go there a few days before the exam to be sure you know where you are going and also, if possible, to sit in the room and study.  We do better on tests if we take them in the environment in which we learned the material!)

* Continue to maintain your exercise schedule.  Only positive things happen with exercise!

* If you are feeling stressed, focus on a positive event that will happen after exams.  Or think about how great it will feel to look at your grades and see your hard work pay off!

* Maintain a positive attitude.  If you do not know the first answer move on until you find a question you do know.  That will activate that knowledge center in your brain and the information will start to come to you.

* If you do feel especially stressed when the exam is distributed, pause and take a few deep breaths.  This will help you relax and think.

In the next blog we will look at strategies to consider if you grades are great and if (unfortunately) they are not.  Work hard and enjoy your success!

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.