The Ultimate Guide to Help You Get Good Grades in College

The main reason why many students, myself included, struggled a lot in their first few years of college is because we don’t know how to manage our time. We think we have more free time than we did in high school, so we don’t allocate our time effectively. How do you jump this hurdle without turning to coffee and all-nighters to get you through last-minute papers and exams? Say it with me— CALENDAR APPS! Keep track of your job shifts, your class schedule, your professors’ office hours, exam dates, all in a calendar that you can see ahead of time so nothing catches you off guard. Most of my friends use Google Calendar, but I personally prefer another free app called TimeTree!

Read the syllabus! Take note early on of what assignments or exams will count the most and prepare accordingly. The hardest class I ever took in college was a class I could’ve aced if I had just gone to my professor’s office hours more often. Your TA and your professor will be invaluable resources. Your TA most likely had your same questions when they took the class. Don’t forget they have office hours when your professor can’t be reached.

Additionally, never feel like you have to struggle by yourself. Everyone has different study habits, but I found that studying for a difficult class with a group of peers is better than struggling through the material by yourself. There’s always someone in the class who understands one topic that someone else may not. Don’t be afraid of asking for help.

If there’s only one thing you’re going to take away from this entire post, let it be this: Take care of yourself! You’ll always see the classic college memes of not sleeping for days at a time and running only on a venti latte macchiato from our best friend Starbucks. The truth is, your college experience doesn’t have to be like that at all. Especially don’t forget to eat at least three times a day, it happens more often than you think. Maintain your hygiene and keep your living space clean, it’ll do wonders for your motivation! Don’t forget to take breaks from long hours of studying. College isn’t all about doing hard work 24/7. It’s just not realistic! Put yourself first, and if you ever feel like the pressure’s too much, NYU’s Wellness Center is there for you.