How to Improve Academic Performance

Don't Quit

Do not stop coming to class because of a personal crisis, problem, or frustration. AMSC faculty and staff can help you determine how to manage or cope with these situations. The Coordinator of Academic Advisement can tell you the best resource on campus to help you. If you stop coming to class you will earn an "F," which will lower your GPA.

Be Present and Prompt

Avoid being absent or tardy. You are required to attend classes from the first day that classes begin for the semester. Good attendance will give you first-hand knowledge of your instructors' comments and responses to questions. Also, good attendance shows

Help Yourself Then Ask for Help

If you are not keeping up in class, do all that you can do to help yourself to improve your academic performance. (For example: increase your study time, form a study group, study with a partner, and use all support services available to you at AMSC.) If you continue to experience difficulty, make an appointment with your instructors to talk about your academic performance.

Manage Your Time

Manage your time well, so that you allow time for your personal responsibilities and time to study. Remember procrastination is a subtle thief that will steal your academic success.

Discipline Yourself

Discipline yourself to study everyday at least two hours or until you understand your assignment. Study to know and to understand, not merely to get a particular grade.

Accept Responsibility

Remember that you alone are responsible for your academic achievement. Your instructor is your guide and your classmates may help you to understand your assignments; however, you are responsible for your own success.

6 Keys Instructions to Academic Success

Hire a private tutor

It is no shame to ask someone for help. It could be your older sibling, your mom, or your cousin. However, kids tend to feel shy or uncomfortable around their siblings or cousins. As a result, you should hire a tutor that could help you understand the material, teach you new study skills, and work with you to improve your grades. Many students have a fear/embarrassment to ask their peers or relatives for help so a private tutor may be the solution for that.

Take short breaks

Studying may become an overload and at times impossible to comprehend. As a result, make sure you make your study sessions about 45 minutes each. After each study session, take a short break (about 5-10 mins) and do something different such as a short walk, watch a motivational clip, or a small workout.

Make learning fun

Parents usually confuse fun with failure however they miss an important point – the enjoyment of learning. Your attitude towards education and learning will be different if you find ways to enjoy your learning experience. For instance, if you like sports, implement it in your studying schedule. Also, give yourself (or your kids if you are a parent) incentives for achieving things. It is important to be motivated about something in order to succeed in it.

Have a positive attitude towards learning

Surely lower than expected grades will bring a negative and disappointed feeling. You may feel depressed or down however it is important to defeat this feeling with positivity. For any challenge you face, it is helpful to approach it in a positive attitude because this is the only way you will be able to bring a change to the situation. You have to always tell yourself that “I can do it”, “I will do”, “I will not give up”, “I’m not a failure”.

Start organizing

Probably the best way to improve your life in general and your academic life in particular is to get organized. Make a folder/binder for each subject and put all papers that are related to that subject in it. It’s important to keep your backpack clean so make one day a week where you go over your folders and discard the papers you don’t need. Also, start making use of your planner as to homework deadlines, exams dates, and other important things.