Getting the most out of college: In the classroom

 At Arizona State University, there are classes.  And, despite what you might have heard, it actually helps to go to them.

Some people probably don’t see the point.  You need good grades to get into college (and you may or may not have had them and got into ASU anyway), but what’s the point of getting good grades in college?  High school is over!

While high school is over (that’s an article for another time—stay tuned!), that doesn’t mean the need for good grades goes flying out the window.  While some may take the “C’s get degrees” motto to heart, I urge you not to be one of those people.

Good grades get you scholarships; good grades get you noticed by teachers who, believe it or not, normally know people in the field.  This isn’t high school anymore; the classes you take actually help you on your way to your chosen profession.  Take the classes seriously and they will help you in the future.

So, let’s assume that everyone here wants to do well, get good grades and keep those student loans down, get a good job, and just generally be awesome.  You may be thinking, but how do I do that?

Easy.

1. Go to class.  It sounds like such a simple little thing, and it is, but so many people don’t do it.  Most teachers offer around three sick days before they start taking off points.  Anyone that doesn’t get 100% in attendance points has always confused me, because often that is the difference between a B+ and an A-. 
2. Schedule classes around your life.  If you’re the kind of person that stays up late and wakes up at noon, think through it and don’t give yourself a nine a.m. class.  No matter how much you tell yourself you can do it, you will not go, and that’s a pretty clear violation of rule #1.
3. Take classes with friends.  As a first semester freshman, that’s not something to worry about too much, or something that you can necessarily control.  You make friends in classes that first semester, and then take them with friends for the rest of your college career.  Makes studying a lot easier, and makes going to class easier, too.
4. Get familiar with RateMyProffessor.com and take advantage of it.  There are so many teachers at ASU that there’s really no reason to ever take a class with a bad teacher, not if you use this website.  And if you end up having a teacher that didn’t have a rating, go ahead and write your own and help future students know if they should take a class or avoid it at all costs.
5. Be friendly with the teachers.  “Teachers like it when you talk to them, outside of class and in office hours.  Build the rapport and it could make a difference,” says senior Tony Pomposelli.  Teachers are much more likely to bump your grade up that half of a percent you need to get you the next grade if they know who you are.  Helping your GPA by stopping in on office hours once is worth it. 

In short: go to class.  Take classes at times that fit your sleep patterns (and enjoy the sleep you do get), and take them with friends to make sure you end up going—or for someone to grab your notes if you don’t.  Take teachers you want, and if you develop a relationship with them, you will benefit. 

And after you learn something, you can go have fun.