Post-secondary education is a wonderful opportunity for any individual that decides to embark on the journey. Some of us come into it with the best of intentions, but we can instantly be distracted by so much around us. Things like a new school, peers, jobs, even cities can leave us dazed by all the “new-ness” around us.

It is not surprising, that as many as 25% of first-year college students end up in questionable GPA territory after completing two semesters. The new college experience can throw curveballs to students, and habits that got them passing grades, or even As in high school, will not get similar results in college.

Just by being a proactive student and doing a little legwork at the beginning of the semester can help ensure your GPA doesn’t fall into the 2.0 or below range.

1. As soon as all your course syllabi go online, copy the dates into a planner, even if you don’t think you will use it. Just writing the dates will re-enforce the due dates into your brain, rather than just skimming through the dates electronically.
2. If you commute to campus, find a parking strategy and stick with it. Personally, I concede to the fact that I will not likely find close parking, so I spare the 15 minutes I would spend driving around, stressing, getting irate, with no luck. Although the walking distance is longer than it would be if I parked close, I find that arriving to class on-time, and in a less-anxious mood will help me pay attention more.
3. Establish where your academic resources are on campus early on, so there is no scrambling later. Find where the tutorial center is, the on-campus health clinic, testing services, all before the need arises. Cramming for a Chemistry midterm the day before it is proctored is full of anxiety on its own – do not allow the stress of finding the tutoring center and realizing the tutoring hours are over for the day to add to it. Knowing where your health clinic is can help you get a pain reliever to make it through an important class review session, and achieve satisfactory results on the exam the next day.
4. Learn how to write emails. SERIOUSLY. Many problems encountered with a course can easily be solved in an email written in less than ten minutes. A well-written email can establish a clear communication channel that is open for the entirety of the course. A professor is much more likely to take a well-written email seriously than one that reads, “Hi I wanted to know about my grade. I got a D on an assignment and I think I deserved an A”. Include a greeting, state your name, the class you’re in, and why you’re emailing them. Proper grammar and spelling can only help you more in your inquiry. Include a nice closing, such as “kind regards, [insert name]”. Common courtesy for a response is 48 hours plus or minus weekend days – follow up after this period has passed lacking a response.
5. If you are uncertain about your success in a class, drop it sooner rather than later when you have received your D or F grade. A professor who isn’t optimal for you can wreck your academic career with one bad grade, setting your graduation back a semester potentially. If you are lucky, you can switch into a different section of the same class, with a different professor.
6. Watch your finances carefully. Managing finances properly means one less source of stress and anxiety in your life.
7. Straight As are nice, but having a proper work/school/social balance is good too. A 4.0 is an achievement worthy of commendation, but without workplace skills, you may have to concede to an entry-level job upon graduation. Conversely, a student with a 3.6 GPA, 4 years of work experience, and marketable skills will be much more equipped for a job after graduation. This is not to say you Dean’s-listers are in a bad spot post-graduation but realize you may not graduate with the job of your dreams waiting for you as you walk off the platform.
8. Carry a water bottle with you – you’re in class for hours at a time, and you can be dehydrated and not even feel thirsty. Give your body what it needs to make it through the day.
9. One of the most important tips of all: do not be afraid to ask for help. Resisting and not seeking clarification on a concept from your professor or a tutor could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and sends you to probation for a semester, or worse.

Obviously, this is not an all-inclusive list, but these are ones that I think are often understated. It is often difficult for students to let their pride down and ask for help, and it requires a sense of humility many of us prefer not to encounter. Your resouces are there for YOU – use them!