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Your grade-point-average (GPA) in college is still a very important statistic. Many employers will look at your GPA before deciding whether or not to hire you, and graduate schools will definitely look at your GPA before deciding whether or not to admit you. It’s important to have as high of a GPA as you can get by the time you graduate college.

If you calculated your GPA and you don’t think you have a good GPA, you should definitely consider trying to raise it, no matter what year you are in your studies. If you’re a freshman, keep in mind that it feels a lot easier to maintain a decent GPA than it does to bring a low one up. If you’re near graduating, every bit can help out, and raising your GPA a tenth of a point could still make a pretty big difference.

Raising your overall GPA

Because your GPA is based only on the grades that you earn in college, there’s only one way to raise it: get better grades. If your GPA is around a 2.2, then any grade that counts for more than 2.2 points (a C+ or higher), will help increase your GPA. Vice versa, any grade that counts for less than your GPA will lower your GPA (if you have a 2.2, a C or lower will hurt you).

Any grades that are way above (or below) your GPA will make a much bigger change — an A will raise your GPA much more than a B. And any grades that are pretty much the same as your GPA will keep your GPA where it is. To improve your GPA, you need as many of the best grades that you can get.

This is pretty straight-forward and obvious, but how you go about getting better grades can definitely vary. The key to raising your grades isn’t just “get better grades”, but to identify why your grades are low in the first place. Take a minute to think and ask yourself, “what is the major reason my grades are low?” Keep reading »

Jay Willingham writes a college advice blog at CampusByte. His site’s main aim is to help people develop Study Skills by incorporating new technology.

Are you the type of person who starts every semester with that little promise to yourself – “I’m going to make this my best semester ever!” Do you start the semester strong, get lazy during the middle then cram when it comes time for finals? Maybe you’re the type of person who feels like they do everything right but just can’t seem to make the grades they desire.

If you can relate to any of the above questions then this article is for you. Most students start the semester strong because they have a fresh slate to work with. Then, as the semester drags on, apathy kicks in and students loose sight of their goals.

In this article I want to address the 5 main reasons students fail to make the grades they desire. I hope these points help you see where you might be going wrong. Keep reading »

If you thought your GPA stopped mattering once you entered college, I’m sorry to tell you that you’re wrong.

Colleges themselves will use your GPA for a variety of things — you’ll need a good GPA to stay in good academic standing, and your financial aid and scholarships will probably have a minimum GPA that you need to stay above. Sports may require a specific GPA, and other awards and bonuses will be given out according to your GPA. At graduation, different honors may also be assigned to you as well.

After college, your GPA may be used to help employers decide whether or not to hire you. A strong GPA shows that you were on top of your game, while a low GPA shows that you did the bare minimum. Graduate schools also require a GPA, just like your undergraduate applications did. Keep reading »

Colleges use GPAs for a variety of things, such as determining academic standings, and so it’s important to know how to calculate your GPA as necessary. Calculating your GPA in college is a little bit different from calculating a high school GPA, so it’s important to know the differences.

The pluses and minuses matter in a college GPA.

In high school, you could normally round off your grades to the letter — an A- counted as much as an A. But in college, you have to factor those in.

A “+” adds 0.3 to the number for that grade, and a “-” subtracts 0.3 from that number. So if you have a B-, the B counts for 3, but you subtract 0.3 for having the minus and you count the grade for 2.7. Likewise, a B+ is considered as the original 3 plus 0.3 for the plus, counting for 3.3 in all. The only exception is an A+, which counts the same as an A: 4 points. Keep reading »

For some people, college clicks right away and they never turn back. For others, the college life takes some getting used to, and they end up thinking longingly of going back home for the first several months. When you first arrive at college, you definitely have to step back and let yourself get used to it before the homesickness will go away.

That can take a while, though, so here are a few ways to help feel less homesick:

#1: Give your family & friends a call.

Your family will definitely be pleased to hear from you, and your friends will love to hear how you’re doing. You can talk about how things are back home, or you can talk about how you’re doing. You’ll probably feel a bit better if you talk more about yourself, since talking about home might make you miss it more. Instead of talking about the past, talk about the future — talk about what will happen the next time you come back.

Other ways to keep in touch will help as well — text messaging, Facebook, instant messaging, and so forth. Keep reading »

If you’re taking a look at your dorm supplies checklist and your jaw is dropping at all the stuff you may need, you’ll inevitably wonder, where am I going to put all of this?

College dorms are not known for being spacious, so you’re going to need to resort to unique storage solutions to find a place for everything. Bear in mind that you shouldn’t be bringing too much to college — the idea is to live moderately simply for a few months, not to take your whole bedroom with you. Talk to your roommate(s) to see what you two can double up on to save space.

Here are some places to put everything:

#1: In and on your desk and dresser.

Fairly obvious, but still very true. If you take some time to organize everything and set all your dorm supplies down neatly, you’ll find you have a lot of room in your desk and dresser.

Use the drawers appropriately: If you have one large deep desk drawer, it makes more sense to fill it with notebooks than it does with smaller items. For items that you don’t really need that much, consider putting them elsewhere to free up space for more essential items.

#2: In your closet.

Hanging closet organizers like this can provide you with a wealth of shelf space, useful for storing shoes, folded sweatshirts, or jeans. One (maybe two) should be all you’ll need. Be careful how much you load these up, as the weight might become too much for the hanger or the bar.

Some closets will also have a few shelves. These make great storage for items that you use semi-frequently, such as laundry detergent or additional towels. The floor of your closet can also be put to good use. Small shoe racks or other storage containers can help you out here.

#3: Under your bed.

There are lots of under-bed storage containers like this that make great containers. Many have wheels that allow you to quickly slide the container under or out from your bed. The average dorm bed could probably have three of these storage containers under it, or you could simply put stuff under there loose.

I recommend putting items under your bed that you don’t use much — things like spare sheets and unused college textbooks. This way, you’re not constantly dragging the container in and out.

#4: Remote corners of your dorm.

If you have spare nooks and crannies that are unused and you still need some space, consider buying some storage containers to fill those up. Storage containers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and you can easily find one that will match your room nicely.

Being a new student anywhere is tough, and college is no exception. College is a great place to meet people and find friends, and you’ll find that you enjoy college a lot more if you have some solid friends right there by your side. Making those friends, though, can be the tough part. Some people are lucky and able to make friends easily, yet for others it takes a bit of work.

Although you can make friends any time, it’s easiest in the first couple weeks of school, before many groups of friends become solid.

The key to making friends is to open up. College students are generally a lot more open to making new friends than high school students, and there’s no need to be afraid of everybody. All you need to do is put yourself out there. Here are a few ways to do just that: Keep reading »

I think the reality of living away from home really sinks in when your parents leave for home on move in day.

I remember mine: we had just enjoyed a nice dinner at Chili’s, and it was just starting to get dark. I gave my mom a second hug, shook my dad’s hand, and they got in the car and drove off. I walked back up the stairs to my dorm, and as I looked at the buildings on either side, I realized it: I’m on my own. This was both a cool and unnerving thought.

Once your parents leave, you’re going to be on your own too. You might feel lonely, homesick, and nervous. How you choose to spend your first night is up to you, and you should do what you feel most comfortable doing, but here are some things I recommend: Keep reading »