GPA: How to Keep It Up! Go to class When you skip class, you miss out on important things like detailed verbal explanations that are key to understanding the material, the chance to ask questions and opportunities for extra credit. Take notes by hand The problem with printing out a professor’s PowerPoints or typing notes onto a laptop is that it’s mindless. Taking notes by hand will improve your grades because it forces you to pay attention, and the physical act of writing aids memorization. If you take notes, you’ll find it much easier to stay engaged. Prioritize It can be hard to put a paper before a party, but prioritization is often the difference between an A and a B. Putting school first puts you on track for a high GPA.

GPA: How to Keep It Up! Take a full course load, but level it out For every hard class you take, balance it with a lower-level class or an elective. You’re much more likely to have a successful semester with 3 hard classes and 2 electives than taking 5 hard classes all at once. Online homework Some courses allow you check your answers after turning in online assignments. Use this tool to your advantage and make exam study sheets!

The impact of a low first-year GPA YearSemester GPA Cumulative GPA Freshman2.0 Sophomore Junior Senior3.5 Final This student started her college career with a low GPA. Even though she made a 3.0 or higher for the next three years, she was never able to break a 3.0 Cumulative GPA because she did not start on a good note. YearSemester GPA Cumulative GPA Freshman3.5 Sophomore Junior3.3 Senior3.5 Final – 3.4 Because this student started strong, she was able to maintain a high GPA throughout her four years of college. Note that after the first year, both of these students earned the same grades for their last three years of college. Even with identical GPAs for their sophomore, junior and senior years, their initial GPAs made a big difference in the end.

When to drop a class You should only consider dropping a class after you’ve exhausted your other options – talk to your professor during office hours, form study groups and make sure you’re attending every class. If you’ve tried everything and you’re still doing poorly in a class, it might be wise to drop it. Know what the final drop date is. Mark it on your calendar so you have plenty of time to make the decision.

When to not drop a class Dropping a class should be a last resort, not a quick fix. Ask yourself the following questions:  Am I attending every class?  Do I put my academic responsibilities before my social calendar?  Have I visited my professor during office hours to talk about ways to improve?  Have I talked to my academic advisor about the course and ways to improve? If you answered ‘‘no,’’ you’re not in the best position to consider dropping the class.

Academic Forgiveness Every school has a different Academic Forgiveness policy. Some universities allow students to re-take a course in which they received a low grade. They do not earn additional credit hours, but their new grade replaces the old one on their final transcript. Find out your school’s Academic Forgiveness policy so that you may use it to your advantage! Remember though: Academic Forgiveness should not be an excuse to do poorly in a class, and at many universities it can only be used a limited number of times.

Academic Resources On Campus Insert your school’s academic resources, such as the library, study groups, tutor tables, etc. Include information about campus study centers Point out good places to study, get materials, etc. on campus.

Kappa Delta Academic Resources AX Chair, insert information about study guides, quiet hours, study rooms, computers, sisterhood library hours, professor files, sisters’ academic support groups, etc.

The Reward for Academic Success AX Chair, insert information about Kappa Delta scholarships, local scholarships and campus scholarships