Why is my College GPA Important?

Some people have a habit of putting forth only minimal effort in all of life’s endeavors. In college, aiming to simply earn a passing grade in each course is not enough. What you may not realize is that your GPA can follow you for years after you have graduated college, attesting to your determination and ethic to potential employers. Though an employer may not rely solely on your GPA to assess whether you should be considered further for a job opportunity, a respectable GPA certainly speaks more highly for your character than having barely fulfilled the minimal requirements of your degree. Not only will a poor GPA be a glaring imperfection on your resume when you enter the workforce, a low GPA could cause you to lose a valuable scholarship or financial aid, or waste valuable student loan funds. Achieving a respectable GPA involves consistent effort and relentless dedication in every single class, and making up for a bad start is more difficult than getting on the right track from the beginning.

One important step toward earning a great GPA is being aware of how your grade is calculated in each class. Each professor should outline the system by which your grade will be calculated at the start of the class, and the grading system can vary greatly from class to class. Be sure that you are aware of each component making up your grade and work to diligently fulfill every requirement. If pop quizzes administered during class make up a percentage of your final grade, attend every single class meeting so you will not miss one. Failing to take advantage of every opportunity to earn credit will hurt your class grade and thus your GPA.

You may need to adjust your study habits to fit each class. Attending every class meeting and diligently paying attention to the professor’s comments about exams will give you an edge when it comes to testing in a particular class. Exam and quiz formats vary greatly, from multiple choice to essay to word problems, and studying in the wrong way can be detrimental. Also important is knowing what material will be covered on each exam. Does the exam strictly cover textbook material, or is all subject matter covered in lecture also fair game? Professors often incorporate a bit of both into their exams, so attending class and taking detailed notes goes a long way.

In addition to knowing grading policies and adapting study habits, earning a high GPA requires that you be consistent. Being prepared sometimes and winging it other times is not a good strategy for building your GPA. Earning a degree is not supposed to be easy, and the students who excel are those who are consistently prepared in every class.

The numerous distractions and temptations surrounding the typical college lifestyle can make it difficult for students to remain focused on their grades. Inevitably, many college freshmen do not make it past the first year. In order to rise to the top in college and beyond, you must set high goals and be relentlessly dedicated to accomplishing them from start to finish.

About the Author: Edmund Rogers, a graduate student in English, is the editor for iStudentLoan.com, a student loan and student loan consolidation provider which also supplies a free online resource for learning about and applying for a student loan. For more information, please visit http://www.iStudentLoan.com

Dorm Life – Survive the Transition

Many college students live in a dormitory for at least their freshman year in college. Student housing can be an economical living arrangement for students that provides opportunities to get involved in campus activities and make new friends. For students making the inaugural move away from the comfort and discipline of their parent’s home for the first time, dorm life can also be quite a shocking lifestyle change.

When moving into a dorm room, it is important to pack appropriately for the space you have available. Dorm room space is usually quite limited, with a few drawers, a small closet space and community bathrooms. Dorm living may require paring down a bit if you are accustomed to a massive wardrobe and ample storage. If your dormitory does have community bathrooms, be prepared with a caddy to transport your shower items to and from the restroom conveniently, as well as a pair of shoes you can wear in the shower. You will also need some type of basket or hamper in which to transport laundry between a common laundry facility and your room. Collapsible hampers make an excellent choice for living quarters with minimal storage space. To save space, coordinate with your roommate in advance to avoid bringing duplicates of items that you and your roommate can share, such as an iron, microwave or television.

Dorm living often involves sharing close living quarters with a roommate, a first for most college freshmen. Having a roommate is just one of the many drastic changes to which college freshmen must adjust in order to make the most of their college experience. Whether the roommate is a friend or a random pairing, some compromise will likely be necessary in order for each party to get the most from his or her living arrangement. Respecting one another’s wishes can be particularly challenging when two roommates operate on different sleep or study schedules. Maintaining a patient and polite tone when expressing your concerns or making requests of a roommate can go a long way toward creating a living environment in which both parties can thrive. And remember, if you request that your roommate alter any aspect of his or her behavior to accommodate your lifestyle, you must be willing to do the same for him or her. On the other hand, you do not want your entire year to be affected if you have a roommate with whom you cannot work out your differences. In this case, you may speak with your Resident Advisor about getting a new roommate or transferring to a single inhabitant room.

Since an individual dormitory can house hundreds or even thousands of students at once, dorm life offers ample socialization opportunities for students. Engrossed in their newfound freedom, many freshmen fall prey to the abundant distractions and neglect academics as a result. Adjusting to dorm life and to college in general involves striking a balance between academic responsibilities and having fun. If you fail to focus on your education, your GPA can suffer, causing you to lose a scholarship or financial aid, and student loan funds are wasted if you do not earn credits. You may have to make the effort to go to a library or another quiet location to study if the noise levels in your dormitory are too distracting. While some students love the constant activity in a dorm setting, others dislike it and cannot wait to take the next step. Regardless of which group you fall in, try to appreciate dorm life for what it is—a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience college life to its fullest.

About the Author: Edmund Rogers, a graduate student in English, is the editor for iStudentLoan.com, a student loan and student loan consolidation provider which also supplies a free online resource for learning about and applying for a student loan. For more information, please visit http://www.iStudentLoan.com