In honor of the new school semester, I will be sharing my tips and tricks on how to get A's in college. Reality slapped many of us in the face when we came to college. A's are harder to get in college than high school. In high school, showing up and doing your homework was enough to earn an A or at least a high B. In college, showing up and doing your homework isn't enough. Here are my top 5 tips to earning A's in college:

1. Go to Class

If you learn anything from this article, learn to go to class. Lectures can be helpful, especially if you are an auditory learner. Professors like to include suggestions and tips in their lectures. If a professor makes a suggestion, you should take it as a requirement, it will only help you. Depending on the professor, you may get a detailed tentative schedule of the semester. This will be your best friend. Knowing what to expect for each class will help you plan your absences. Every once in a while we get sick and need a doctors appointment. Plan ahead!

2. Ask Questions

If you have a questions, ask them! If you are shy, go to the professor's office hours. There is no reason why you should not ask questions. You are paying a good chunk of money for classes and not asking questions because you are lazy or shy is not going to help you. Most professors will help you any way they can. But, they won't know you need help if you don't ask for it. I personally email my professors with questions about homework and visit their office hours for help on exams or projects.

3. Have An Agenda

Having a detailed agenda will keep you organized. Write down every assignment, due date, and daily to do list. By writing everything down, it will help you remember important dates and keep you from forgetting about assignments. Just make sure you write it down! Having an agenda and not using it will not help.

4. Sleep

Sleep is so important to remembering learned information. Although 8 hours is the recommended amount of time a person should sleep each night, it is not for everyone. Learn what is best for your body. Some people only need 6-7 hours a night. In the same respect, some people need 9+ hours each night. Your brain cannot function to it's best ability if you do not get enough sleep.

5. Plan Your Study Sessions

By planning your study sessions, you can more easily plan the rest of your day. If you know you like to have that 2' o clock nap, plan a lunchtime study session. Another helpful study tip is to review the material within 20 minutes of bedtime. It is proven that if you review the material right before bed, your brain is more likely to commit the material into long term memory rather than short term memory.

I hope that these 5 tips help you get an A this semester! Remember to bring your 'A' game and go get 'em tiger.