Some may not think that getting good grades and putting in the work now will have any effect on future plans, but I am here to tell you that it does matter. The little habits that are being built now will have a lasting impact on how you do things in the future. I am here to inform you of study tips and ways to improve grades that have helped me throughout my time in college.

Entering college was a shock for me. I did okay in high school and passed all of my classes, but college is a whole different ball game. I started college in 2016 at Northern Kentucky University in hopes of earning a degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Marketing.  I thought that I would be fine by doing the bare minimum and doing enough just to get by. Let me tell you, I was mistakenly wrong. Not only are the courses more challenging, but college sets you up for your future and if you are doing the bare minimum and barely passing what will that look like to a future employer? I would like to share with you study tips and ways to improve grades that have helped me out throughout my time in college. With this being my 5^th year of college, I do have a little bit of knowledge, so I hope you will take the time to read this and incorporate a few of these tips into your studying habits.

Here are a few tips that I would like to talk with you about when it comes to studying and improving grades. Mindset, organization, take good notes, find a routine, and take charge of your learning. These are all things that I started doing my sophomore year of college that helped me maintain a high GPA and improve my grades. All of these tips are attainable if you are ready to put the work in. It is important to start small by changing your mindset. Like I said previously, I thought I was going to just be able to cruise by in college and not have to put a lot of time and effort into my work. Once I changed this mindset to a more positive and determined one, I saw progress. Mindset is everything and the first step to become a more effective studier. A positive mindset will allow you to overcome hurdles and obstacles to success while welcoming them as challenges and opportunities.

Organization is also a key factor when it comes to studying. Having the work and study materials organized for each of your courses will allow you to stay focused and on topic. One thing that I have found that helps me is to write out a weekly schedule at the beginning of the week. On this schedule I include all of my courses with the respective assignments and exams due for that week. After I draft that, I then write out a separate schedule specifically for studying and what days/times I will be able to study for upcoming exams. This has helped me stay organized and make sure I am getting done what I need to get done for both the current and upcoming week.

Taking good notes is always important because if it is spoken from a professor’s mouth or included in a PowerPoint, then it is going to be information that you want to remember. I take bullet point notes of the most important information. Everyone has different processes for note taking but I have found it helpful to take notes during every class so that you have something to reference from that conversation.

Routine is equally as important as all of these other study tips that I have thrown at you, because it creates consistency and fluidity. Something as simple as creating a schedule at the beginning of the week can be part of a routine and it is important that you find out what kind of routine works best when it comes to your studying habits. Some people go to the same place to study every time, while other people like to mix it up. They can both be effective, but you have to figure out what is the most effective and efficient for you.

Lastly, taking charge of your learning will allow your confidence to grow and improve your study habits and grades. Once I took charge of my learning, I saw noticeable improvements. Little things such as going over an exam with a professor or asking questions during class have an impact on the habits you are building and allow you to see growth and learning. Start by making the little but necessary changes and you will see an improvement.