We’re about half-way through spring semester now and on many campuses mid-term grades have been posted. If you’ve followed and adopted the GradeUP! Challenges you should be satisfied with your performance this semester. However, if you want/need to do better, don’t try to improve on your own. Remember, no one gets through college alone. You need help because it’s hard to be objective about what needs to be done – especially if it’s going to be a challenge. Go see your professors right now!  They have graded you on enough work to know what you’re like as a student and can use all of their expertise and experience to make recommendations on how you can get better.

Unfortunately, students who need help the most, are least likely to talk to their professors. They’re embarrassed about their performance in class and don’t want to admit their short comings to anyone, especially their teachers. This attitude will just make things worse. Instead of trying to hide your performance in class, take these steps to better grades with the help you need to improve:

• Mid-term grades tell you exactly where you stand – look at the midterm grades you earned then go talk to your professor to know what you have to do to get the final grade you want;
• Study your performance up to mid-term to know what you did to get the grades you have;
• Go see your professor and talk with him/her about your performance in class and what you learned from evaluating it – show your professor you are serious about doing well in the class – don’t procrastinate or hope things will be different even though you don’t know how to change your performance;
• Write down your professor’s advice, use it to make a plan to do better and share that plan with your professor to make sure it’s what you need to do;
• Work your plan and see your professor often to get more advice based on results as the semester progresses – you’ll never know how much your teachers can help if you don’t give them the opportunity.

All previous GradeUP! Challenges are available on the GradeUP! Challenge Week by Week page.

You can learn more about getting the help you need to do better in your classes in Chapter 13 of College in Four Years; Making Every Semester Count.

Click on the  hyperlink to learn more about College in Four Years; Making Every Semester Count.