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
Year
Semester
GPA
Cumulative GPA
Year
Semester
GPA
Cumulative
GPA
Freshman
2.0
2.0
Freshman
3.5
3.5
Sophomore
3.0
2.5
Sophomore
3.0
3.25
Junior
3.3
2.77
Junior
3.3
3.3
Senior
3.5
Final - 2.9
Senior
3.5
Final – 3.4
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.
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