There are many strategies that a student can use to raise their GPA. A simple strategy a student can participate in is self-care. Whenever a student’s grade starts to suffer, so does their mental/physical state. I experienced this during my first year at college I quickly realized if I improved my mental/physical well-being, I was able to refocus and boost my grades. I’ve always enjoyed going to the gym, this has helped me to relieve stress and refocus when things got challenging. Studies have shown that “Moderate-intensity exercise can help improve your thinking and memory in just six months.” I enjoy working out and learned that taking a break from studying just to either go for a run or ride my bike has helped me tremendously stay focused on my studies..

Effective time management, has allowed me to prioritize my daily tasks. I created a study schedule, with breaks built in, and stuck to it as much as possible. Allotting more time on my tougher subjects sometime throws a wrench in my built schedule, but I strive to remain flexible and not frustrated. There are times when I underestimate how much time I may need so adjusting my schedule to being more realistic has been key.

Another strategy I’ve learned during my first year of college is to be an active participant in class discussions. I’ve witnessed other cohorts struggle in the courses, but since I attend all classes and actively engaged with the material by asking questions and additional help if I need don’t fully understand the topic at hand. At first, there were times I hesitated to ask questions or for additional help, which had a negative effect on my understanding of the topic and impacted my grades. I overcame this fear of asking for help, especially when I quickly realized that other students in the class were also struggling with the material.

One last strategy I’ve adopted within my first year of college is good note taking and regular review of the course material. I’m continuously revising my system of note taking and quickly realized that each of my classes I’ve had to tweak and tailor it to the presented material. I find that sometimes rewriting my notes from class into a format that is more understandable and I’m able to retain the material more effectively. I will admit at first, I struggled to find a note-taking method that worked best for me. Once I figured out a system that worked, it allowed me to review lecture notes and course material in a more effective manner. I had to learn to set aside sometime after each class to review the lecture notes, make adjustments and clarification notes when needed. Initially, I didn’t realize how much time it would take to review lecture notes, but once I allotted myself a little more time it’s helped me from having to cram before an exam.
In conclusion, through my own experience in boosting my GPA had required me to combine integrating self-care routine, effective time management, active class engagement, and regular review of class lecture notes and material. My first year of college has given me the opportunity to experiment with different strategies to find what works best for me in boosting my course grades. I also have had to learn to be flexible but consistent and persistence in staying on top of my studies which are key to my academic success.