<p>Is there a book out there that is actually helpful? I've grown up hearing I'm not going to be successful in life if I don't go to a prestigious college. I know that's not completely not true, but I still want to attend someplace special. The ivy league caliber is not necessary, but acceptance into a place like UVA would make me the happiest person ever.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, my grades are just not good enough. I have about a 3.6 or somewhere around there. 4.0 = A. Also where I'm from, an A is a 94% instead of 90% which I hear what an A is in most places. Also, the GPA boost from an AP course here is +0.5, where I hear others get a +1.0 or something. Not sure if this is true or whether it puts me at much of a disadvantage or not. I have taken the hardest classes offered to me with all honors and 2 APs as a sophomore, and I am taking 4 more APs next year as a junior. This is a ton for my school as most sophomores take 1 AP at most and most juniors take 2. I'm really trying to show something for college with this workload. I am also aware that there are much harder working students out there from other places, but that's just the case here and plenty of people here get accepted into UVA. </p>
<p>What I'm looking for is some kind of resource that offers me tips and allows me to develop the best habits for getting perfect grades in school. I pay attention in class and request to sit in the front to enhance my learning. Yet, I feel I don't absorb the information. I study for hours on tests, but time flies by so fast it seems. It seems as if studying is useless as I don't seem to take much information in anyway and don't do very well on the test. I don't know the proper way to prepare for things. There is nothing more frustrating than working at something for hours and hours to see the reward is a C when you deserve an A. </p>
<p>I know I'm a smart guy. I honestly have not ever seen anything below an A in my entire life until high school began. I was incredibly intelligent in my younger years and smarter than everyone I knew. Yeah, I know it sounds cocky, but all of those people now are earning higher marks than I am. When I'm taking tests or quizzes, I feel like I know the information very well. I don't second guess myself because I am confident in what I know. It just so happens that everything I know is completely incorrect when I get my results back. </p>
<p>Is there something, anything that can help me? I need to raise my GPA next year and do well on the SATs for my shot a great college. I need to feel on top of the world again! </p>
<p>Thanks. Your time is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>P.S. Not sure what board a topic like this would go haha.</p>