7 Tips for Bringing Up Your GPA in 2023

A good goal to have each new semester is to improve your GPA. However, you can’t just will this to happen — to see results, you need to put in the effort. To make 2023 your best year yet, use some proven strategies to bring up your GPA.

1. Receive Support from a Tutor

If you’re struggling with a particular class and are worried it will bring down your GPA, seek extra support. Find a tutor who can help you understand the difficult concepts, work through problems with you, and give you advice before you turn in your assignments.

2. Stick to a Study Schedule

It’s easy to fall behind if you only study when you feel like it. Dedicate a certain amount of time to each of your classes to do homework, complete the required readings, and review your notes. An added benefit of studying regularly is the material will always be fresh in your mind, which can help with retention for tests.

3. Commit to Finishing Assignments on Time

If you fail to complete an assignment on time, your GPA will definitely suffer. Your professor may still grade your paper, but you’ll likely receive a penalty for being late. Using your study schedule to give yourself plenty of time to complete homework should ensure you never miss a due date.

However, if something does happen outside your control, let your professor know as soon as possible. You should find that if you give your professors at least a couple days’ notice that you’ll be unable to finish an assignment on time, they’ll be lenient and give you an alternative to avoid a drop in your grade.

4. Join Study Groups

Another way to ensure you stay up to date is to join a study group for each of your classes. You can use the opportunity to quiz each other, talk about your ideas for projects, and clear up any doubts. As well as meeting on a weekly basis, you can set up group chats to discuss class material at any time.

5. Take Better Notes

You won’t remember much if you just passively read textbooks and listen to your professors speak in class: you need to take notes. Experiment with different note-taking tactics to find out what works for you, whether that’s bullet points, short paragraphs summarizing the material, or mind maps. You should also figure out how detailed your notes need to be — this may differ between classes.

6. Ask More Questions

If you don’t understand something during a class, ask your professor. Remaining confused could mean you understand the material incorrectly and make mistakes in your assignments.

7. Meet with Your Professors

Your professors are there for more than just giving classes. If you have a problem that’s too personal or requires too long an answer to ask in class, meet your professor during office hours. Together, you can discuss how to approach studying and what you need to do to improve assignments.

The only way you’ll be able to study effectively is if you have a quiet space at home. You won’t find this in dorms, but you can create the perfect study spot if you live in off-campus housing. For apartments near McMaster, there’s West Village Suites. You’ll receive a private room in a fully furnished apartment with two to five bedrooms — we’ll match you with roommates who study like you. Plus, you can use the onsite WiFi study spaces, which are ideal for individual and group study. Apply now to secure an apartment that meets your preferences.