How to Get Good Grades in College
Participating in Class and Other Tips for Improving a GPA
Feb 7, 2009
In college, most final course grades are based on several different factors. A few of the common factors that help to determine a student’s final grade are homework completion, exam grades, and paper grades. These factors are often based on numbers, which can be difficult to dispute.
However, if a student’s final grade falls between two grades, the instructor must choose the grade to assign to the student. Therefore, other factors can influence a student’s final grade. The following tips provide other ways students can improve their course grades (which influence the GPA).
Go to Class
If you are ever teetering between two grades, and the instructor must decide which grade to choose, your chances of earning the higher grade are greater when the instructor can remember you had a good attendance record.
Also, some instructors devote a small percentage of the overall term grade to class attendance. If you attend every class (or you do not exceed the allotted number of absences), then you will secure a perfect record for at least that particular percentage of your final grade.
Introduce Yourself to Your Instructor
In smaller classrooms, you will most likely be obligated to formally introduce yourself to the instructor and to the class on the first day of school. However, this is uncommon in larger classrooms. Therefore, it is helpful to introduce yourself to the instructor.
An introduction is important, because, in a class of over a hundred students, it is difficult for an instructor to match a student’s name with his or her face. If your name is known and you attend class on a regular basis, this might benefit you when final grades are decided.
Get a Good Seat
A “good seat” refers to one that is near the front of the room. Sitting near the front helps you to focus on the instructor and not the other students sitting in front of you. Secondly, if you sit in the same seat throughout the term, this will help to ensure that the instructor sees your face and knows that you are in attendance (this is especially relevant in large lecture halls).
Also, many students believe that sitting in the same seat throughout the term is helpful when taking exams, because they are better able to recall lectures and notes they have taken.
Participate in Class
Similar to attendance, if a student regularly participates in class, an instructor might favor the student if his or her course grade falls between two different letter grades. Also, some instructors dedicate a small percentage of the final grade to class participation, which is most common in smaller classrooms. If you participate in class often, you are securing yourself a perfect record for that percentage of your final grade.
Schedule an Appointment During Your Instructor’s Office Hours
If you ever have a question about something you are studying, you should make an appointment to meet with your instructor during his or her office hours. The instructor will most likely remember this when assigning grades.
Also, even if you do not have a particular concern, it is still beneficial to meet with your instructor at least once during the term. You can ask for a suggestion on additional reading materials or for an explanation of an assignment sheet. Making the effort to speak with an instructor is another way a student can attempt to improve his or her grades.
While it might be difficult to perform well on exams in a particular course, performing well in other areas of that course, such as by regularly participating in class, might help to improve a student’s final grade, as well as impressing the instructor.
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