The Dean's List: Earning Your Best Grades in College This Semester
By Kristen, age 19, Massachusetts
Sweet Designs Staff Intern
Before giving advice about getting onto the Dean's List, or Honor's List at college, I would like to give the readers a heads up: at my college the Dean's List is similar to the Honor Roll in high school - all you need is a 3.3 GPA and nothing below a B as a final grade. However, you should check your college standards to see if they are different. Some colleges are higher or lower, depending on the type of college you attend.
The first rule to getting on the Dean's List starts with this: go to all of your classes, especially if your professor has a strict attendance policy. You are more likely to learn the material if you do not play hooky. Simply doing all of the assignments may not sink in the material enough. Also, some professors give extra points if you do not miss any classes.
Secondly, take detailed notes every class. I have a hard time concentrating on what a professor is saying unless I am writing it down at the same time. This is very difficult to do, especially if your professor speaks quickly, but the payoff is worth it. If you have difficulty taking notes, your campus may have a Tutoring Center. Or simply find a study buddy and exchange notes with a friend or fellow classmate.
My final piece of advice is to study. This is a very broad term, but every student, young and old, has some idea of what this means: making time outside of class to review what has been done in class, and even beyond the limits of the professor's lesson plan. A few quick tips for studying: study in a quiet environment free from distraction, use flash cards or other ways to quiz yourself on what you need to know, and study with a buddy!
Remember that in college there are endless resources to help you achieve the great grades you deserve, but it takes effort to find them. You are your worst critic - try to not get too frustrated with a difficult class. Also, aim higher than just the minimum to make Dean's List. Why not try for that 4.0 GPA and make summa cum laude?
Happy studying this semester!
