So, you had a not-so-great freshman year? You’re likely reading this because you ended your freshman year with a less-than-stellar GPA or you just felt like your performance was lackluster. It happens, and we commend you for searching out information to better yourself in the future. It’s better than getting to senior year, realizing your GPA sucks, and frantically Googling, “how to get into college with bad grades.” (Yes, we wrote a blog post with this title.) The first step is admitting you have a problem! We’re here to tell you: it’s going to be okay. We know that you are capable of more and we want to help you get on track. Here are three easy steps to getting out of a freshman year hole:
ONE: Take a good, hard look at your study habits and revamp them
Organizational methods are very personal and they look different for everyone. For some, it’s paper. For others, it’s online/web-based. For additional groups of people, it’s a combination. But, be honest about what keeps you organized and what gets crumpled up at the bottom of your bag. There’s no shame in admitting you can’t figure out iCal for the life of you. What’s shameful is missing homework assignments because you “forgot” and you had no back-up system. You cannot rely on your brain to remember everything. Spoiler: no adult does. We all have various organizational systems that we’ve honed over the years as a result of failure(s) to meet deadlines. So do some internal work there.
And also, procrastination is universal, but avoidance is not a good look. Avoidance leads to a lack of preparation which means you’re barely eking by with a C+ on your math test. Old habits die hard, and clearly yours did not work for you. The good news is that you can change that by reconsidering your time management decisions. Maybe those two hours you’re spending re-reading something that you loved for class can be better spent reviewing those biology concepts that were challenging. Or, maybe setting a goal of finishing your homework by 7pm so that you can watch 1 hour of your favorite show each day will incentivize you to be productive. Hot tip for success: leave your phone in another room while you do your homework, by the way. It’s not a “research tool.” Sorry, not sorry.
TWO: Ask for help
This is probably the hardest one to swallow. So, naturally, it’s also the most important takeaway. We have no doubt that you have an eager and willing support system that stands at the ready to help you however they can. These people include: your caregivers, your teachers, and your peers, though the list goes on depending on your community and chosen family. It’s the *asking* for help part that has to come from you. Know that there is no shame in acknowledging your areas for improvement and working hard to strengthen them. No one can go at the endless challenges of life alone, and you’re no exception. So, talk to your teachers about getting extra help. They’ll either help you themselves (you might need to *gasp* give up your lunch break to do this. Be grateful. It’s worth it) or know where to point you. You might even inspire them to host office hours for students who are also struggling. Or, tell your parents you need some tutoring help. Oftentimes, local libraries offer low-cost tutoring resources if the cost is a barrier.
THREE: Create an accountability method
Similar to study methods, this also looks different for everyone. Oftentimes, it’s helpful to enlist a peer who has similar academic goals to yours to help with this because accountability can be a two-way street. Schedule check-ins and even share study sessions (in person, not via FaceTime) where you both decide on a goal and try to finish it side-by-side. Knowing that someone else is counting on your productivity to keep them focused will undoubtedly trick your brain into being just that: productive. Other accountability methods include: creating a dynamic to-do list each day on which you can check off or cross out items, or creating standing tutoring sessions by which you have to get a certain amount of work done in order to arrive prepared.
Now that you feel like you’re in good shape moving forward, be sure to revisit this senior year. It doesn’t go away! You must now explain this inconsistent smudge on your transcript in the additional information section of the Common App come senior year when you’re filling out college applications. We know that it feels a long way off, but just because you initiate and maintain an upswing in your GPA and overall academic performance, doesn’t mean that freshman year goes away. That’s what the additional information section was made for. It’s perfect for this. In fact, if you don’t use the section to explain what was going on in your life during this time (even if it means explaining--artfully--a lack of organizational cohesion and commitment to your academics that you then found through meditation, Jesus, music, fear of your parents’ wrath, etc. etc.), then colleges will assume the worst: laziness.
You’ve worked hard up until this point, so don’t lose sight of a central aim of the Perfect College Application: a complete one. Everything should be understandable and comprehensible, with no holes, unaddressed inconsistencies, or question marks in your college application. If you think that this will go unnoticed, we’ve taught you nothing. You know that thing when your parents tell you that you won’t get in trouble as long as you tell the truth? Well, that’s what we’re saying. But we’re actually serious because we don’t have access to your WiFi or cell phone to change the password or take it away.
Let us know if we can help you streamline your study habits and get on track by emailing or calling us.