Getting a college education is a great way to increase your knowledge and skills and be better prepared for life and a career. However, there’s more to doing well in college than just attending classes and taking tests or writing papers. How do you get the most out of your undergrad years? How do you get the best grades? Start thinking strategically and not only will your grades improve, but you may actually find yourself liking school more and more.
Attend Class
You’d be surprised how many college students skip classes. Sure, you can get notes from a friend, but making a habit of not showing up tells your professor two things: you’re not a serious student and you’re not worth their investment in you. If for some reason you absolutely must miss a class session, email your instructor before the class to let them know you won’t be there. Apologize for missing and make sure you tell them you’ll cover the readings and keep up on what you missed.
Ask Questions
Attending every class is a good start, but you also need to show your professor that you’re listening and making the effort to understand and learn. If you don’t ask questions, your professor won’t know that you’re working to assimilate the material and master the new information. Ask questions, request clarifications when you don’t understand and offer your viewpoint when asked.
Read the Material Being Covered Before Class
If your professor has assigned three chapters of reading before the lecture, make sure you get the readings done. You’ll be able to ask much more intelligent questions because you’ve read the material and the professor will know this. You’ll get lots of bonus points because this tells your professor you are taking their class seriously.
Visit Professors During Office Hours
You need to have face time with your professors if you’re going to get good grades. During the first two weeks of the semester, you must visit every professor during their office hours just to say hello and talk about the class or just to get to know the professor better. If you have specific concerns about the course and are anxious because you don’t remember your high school physics, share these concerns and most likely, your professor will be able to alleviate these fears.
Find Out Your Professors’ Research Area or Publishing Specialization
You will learn the most about your professors when you find out the areas of their subject they are most interested in. Ask them what got them into that specialization, where they went to graduate school and where they got their Ph.D., and ask about any research they are doing and what they expect to discover.
Respect Your Professors’ Time
Professors do much more than teach undergrads. Many are involved in their own research area, they may be publishing a book and have deadlines to work on, they have department obligations such as committee work or they may even be working on a multi-million dollar grant that helps to keep your education affordable. Keep these time restraints in mind when visiting your professors. Ask if it’s a good time to talk, and don’t over-extend your welcome.
Let Your Professors Get to Know You
The more your professors know you personally, the better you’ll do in their classes and the more they will help make sure you are on track and doing well. In the long run, you may also need to line up mentors or have faculty to write letters on your behalf for scholarships or for graduate school, law school or medical school applications. Start early to build these relationships on your campus so that when the time comes to ask for these recommendations, you’ll know you have several great professors to ask.
Remember that Professors are People Too
Sure some professors live and breathe for their research or their latest book, but most are real people with real lives outside of campus. They have families and real life problems just like you. In fact, they were once an undergraduate too, so they do understand many of your struggles.
Universities are great places to gain knowledge and skills that will further your career and boost your confidence. Getting to know your professors will help you have a better undergraduate career, you’ll get better grades and chances are, you’ll find your niche by learning more about what others study and are passionate about.
