should i just give up?

intparent
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:40:48 +0000

So… some things to think about… Other posters are right. You can dig your way out of a hole from freshman year, but start now. Like, second semester of freshman year.
But it is easy to SAY you are going to get better grades, but how are you actually going to do it? Here are a few suggestions:


Look at your course selections. Are there courses you are really struggling with where you are taking honors courses, and maybe you should drop back to the “regular” level of class? If you do that in a couple of subject areas, that is okay (try to keep at least a couple of things at the honors level, though). For the schools you are talking about, it is probably better to have good grades than to take the very hardest schedule.
Do you have sufficient time to study? Are you in too many extra curriculars? One of my kids had to drop a few activities spring of freshman year, she was just doing too many things. Focus in on 2-3 things as ECs and do them really well. Forget the rest. My kids would have MUCH rather done ECs than go to school at all. But we couldn’t let them do that…
Can you lighten your schedule and add a study hall? We made sure my D1 always had a study hall during her sport season so there was some window in the day for homework.
Do you have good study skills? If not, spend some time on the internet looking at websites with tips. I think different things work for different students, so see what pops out as a good idea for you. How to organize and keep track of assignments, how to figure out if you REALLY know the material, how to keep from getting distracted, etc. All things you need to learn.
Ask your teachers for help as soon as you have an issue!
Lots of high schools have “tutoring guilds” where older students provide support to younger ones. Can you get a tutor in your weakest couple of subjects? My kids both needed French tutors, they were AWFUL at French.
And… if you want to raise your math grade, and the teacher gives out homework assignments ahead, work one day ahead in math all the time. Then you already know what you don’t understand when you walk into class every day.