How to Get Better Grades in College

In college, your grades affect your academic standing and your ability to finish your degree. But they can also affect the way you feel about yourself, according to Casey LaMarca, an associate creative director and instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) who teaches courses both online and on campus.

"Earning good grades in school can change your life," he said. "I've seen people go from not having any confidence at all to getting an A on an assignment, and it completely changes their perspective of what they're able to accomplish to the point where one good grade can really get a student on track."

With a pro-active approach and a growth mindset, you may find yourself experiencing the same.

First: Is It Normal to Struggle in College?

If your grades aren't where you want them to be, you're not alone. College students can struggle with grades for a number of reasons, according to Diane Riggins, a peer tutor with the academic support center at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) who holds an Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing and a Master of Arts (MA) in English.

"One is procrastination in doing their work," she said. "Another is they feel overwhelmed when looking at the guidelines for their assignments and might be afraid to reach out to get clarification or help from someone."

LaMarca noted that he tends to see students stumble a few weeks into a term when the workload starts to increase. "The first two or three weeks maybe in a class, they seem to be on a good pace, they're getting their assignments on time," he said. "Then there's that one week where maybe a main project is due or a milestone, and that's where they start to struggle."

Being aware of common trouble spots for others can help you avoid them yourself.

So, What is the Best Way to Get Good Grades?

Like running a marathon, getting good grades can take effort and endurance. Although there aren't any shortcuts, these 5 tips can serve as a roadmap:

Be Prepared

Being a good student can be a balancing act, but according to Riggins, it all starts with preparation. First, Riggins recommends reading your course syllabus so you'll know what you'll need for the course and what you have coming up. It's important to have all required course materials, like your textbooks, ahead of time, too.

LaMarca suggested preparing in advance if you know a certain week of your course will be more demanding. This can be especially important for your milestone assignments and final projects. "Stay ahead of the curve," he said.

Make a Schedule and Practice Time Management

Procrastination is an issue for many students, but time management strategies can help. Riggins said you can make a schedule based on when assignments are due throughout the term to help ensure you don't miss any due dates.

If you're having a hard time staying motivated and on schedule, LaMarca suggested reminding yourself of why you're pursuing a degree in the first place and what you hope to achieve. That's what he did while earning his master's degree in communication.

"And with that knowledge in my brain, as I'm having a study session, I feel more motivated to want to succeed," he said.

Review Assignment Guidelines Carefully

Nobody wants to lose points on an assignment as a result of an avoidable mistake. Reviewing any instructions, guidelines or rubrics can help you make sure you're meeting expectations.

"If you have access to the guidelines for the assignment, especially if it's the final assignment, look over it," Riggins said. "Print out guidelines and rubrics, if possible, to have handy."

LaMarca agreed that paying careful attention to the rubric is essential. "The way that Dorothy followed the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz, follow the grading rubric," he said. "It's your North Star to keep you on track for your best chance of success."

Incorporate Feedback

If you aren't receiving the grades you hoped, reviewing and implementing any feedback your instructor has provided could help you avoid making the same mistakes or omissions in the future. You can also ask for clarification if you need it.

Accepting feedback can be difficult, but it can help to remind yourself that your instructors want to see you succeed.

Reach Out for Support

Finally, it's important to reach out when you're having a hard time. Whether you're struggling with your academics or a personal problem is preventing you from completing your assignments, you should communicate any issues as they arise.

"You have a lot of support (at SNHU)," LaMarca said. "Whether you're reaching out to your advisor or your instructor, you'd be surprised how much they want to help."

How to Improve Your Grade in a College Course

Riggins and LaMarca agreed that reaching out to your advisor and instructor should come first if you want to improve in a course. They can give you insight on how to move forward and get the best grade you can.

"Don't let one bad grade turn into two bad grades," said LaMarca. "Don't get discouraged."

If you have work missing, LaMarca said to check the late policy at your school. He recommends completing your missing assignments if you can still get points for them, but you might need to adjust your schedule to keep up with your current work, too.

"Try to get your assignments in on time, but remember, a late assignment is better than a missed assignment," he said. "Don't be afraid to say, hey, you know what? I might've missed that deadline. What can I do to make it up?"

There are also resources that can support you with specific types of assignments depending on what you need help with. For example, at SNHU, the Shapiro Library offers a research guide with information on how to find, evaluate and cite sources. Or, if you find you have a difficult time with quizzes and exams, it might be worth exploring different study strategies and learning how to effectively take notes in college.

Where Else Can You Get Help?

In addition to reaching out to your instructor and advisor, you can take advantage of the other academic resources available at your school.

At SNHU, the online Academic Support Center offers:

• 24/7 drop-in tutoring
• Academic coaching
• Scheduled peer tutoring
• Written feedback

"Workshops are also offered through Academic Support on a variety of topics, from writing and revising (your) essays to Introduction to Statistics," Riggins said.

Remember, these resources exist for you to use them, and your instructors and advisors are there to help.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.