MY GRADES - need MAJOR help!!

Applying to College
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<p>okay for some reason I can NEVER get the grades I want in school. and I really need to change this. I'm a sophomore in high school and right now my gpa is so bad I can't even say it. It's time to bucke down...... It's not that I don't work hard, I work EXTREMELY hard - extremely hard catching up last minute that is and stressing out all the time.... =/</p>

<p>in class - my bad habit is zoning out because when I TRY to understand the teacher I feel hopeless and the easy way out is to not listen and cram at home from the textbook/worksheets given so that's my habit in classes. (BUT in <em>some</em> classes I really do have bad teachers so even when I try to pay attention, they just confuse me more - and asking questions really is the worst I get so behind so fast my question would seem retarded!) =/</p>

<p>organization - very little. i could try to organize myself one day (folders etc.) but then the next few days or so later...it'll be back to the same way.</p>

<p>study area - i don't have one! i study wherever (couch, table, sofa, etc), which can be a problem, but not that big of a deal i guess..</p>

<p>time management - SUCKS. </p>

<p>'Grasping concepts' for me is what takes too much time, doing homework and stuff is okay but I'll spend forever trying to figure out a certain concept or lesson. </p>

<p>So I get intimidated about knowing that it will take me forever to do my homework....therefore I'll unknowingly push it till the last minute. I'll try to do it early but it never happens. And studying for tests ALWAYS are the day-before for me. </p>

<p>and I can <em>NEVER</em> focus during homework. I'll always find something to distract myself.</p>

<p>So as you can see, I've got quite a problem. I'm so jealous of the kids who can get concepts in class SO FAST, I just feel dumb, go home and cram, and then still do bad on the test. And I know I've addressed the problems but I can't CHANGE them, they're like extremely bad habits. Does anyone have any advice on how they do things or tips/advice for me? I would really appreciate it. Thanks soo much.</p>

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<p>Haha, you sound EXACTLY like me. Well, almost...I actually don't make bad grades, I have a 3.96 unweighted GPA and I'm ranked top 2% in my class of 500, but other than we sound nearly identical!</p>

<p>Here is one of the best ways, I think, to combat this type of problem. Studying for a long time has never worked for me...like you, if I know that I have a lot of homework to do I will stall until midnight because I don't want to have to get started. In my senior though, I have finally figured out a method that might help.</p>

<p>During your last class of the day, take out a piece of notebook paper or something and write down everything you need to do for homework that night. Don't try to keep a planner or calendar book or whatever they're called, you'll never use it and it will end up at the bottom of your backpack for six months. Since you're in class, you can usually find somebody around you that is in the same course and can remind you of the homework if you aren't sure. Fold that piece of paper up and stick it in your back pocket or the front pocket of your purse or something.</p>

<p>When you get home, do nothing for an hour. Eat a snack, watch TV, go for a run, sit in your room and listen to music, make a new playlist for your iPod, waste time on CC (don't we all), talk on IM, the phone, whatever. Don't think of it as stalling, think of it as a way of getting all those distractions "out of your system."</p>

<p>After that hour, it's time to get to work. I don't know what your capabilities of transportation are, but I have found that when I'm at home I can ALWAYS find something to distract me. I have become best friends with a certain armchair in my nearest Barnes & Noble, but any bookstore or coffee shop will work. While there are a lot of potential distractions in a Barnes & Noble, there is also the fact that once you have staked out your spot, you are reluctant to lug your stuff all over the store and are more likely to stay still and do some work. Also, they are usually quiet, and most bookstores have little coffee stands or coffee shop add-ons if you are so inclined (I've found that after reading my IB Bio stuff for two hours a latte and brownie are a nice treat). Also, you would be surprised how much SAT and AP prep books can help you when you're having trouble understanding a concept. For example, in Pre-cal, I pretty much never paid attention in class and used the period to work on stuff for other classes. I got a prep book for SAT Math II and would use it to review formulas as an alternative to attempting to translate the heavy-wording of my textbook, and it worked beautifully. </p>

<p>If you can't go to a bookstore or a Starbucks or the like, try to restrict yourself to ONE place in the house, whether it be a chair or a couch or your bedroom floor. This place can change from night to night so long as it can remain the same for one entire night. </p>

<p>I like to get the tricky stuff done first. I always eat my vegetables first and save my dessert for last. Try this with your homework. The later in the night, the more tired you will be (obviously), so try to get the tough stuff done first. Use that piece of paper you started with. After you finish something, highlight it with a pink or blue or green highlighter. It'll look nice when you're finished.</p>

<p>Don't allow yourself to get up or be distracted. If you need help, do NOT get online to "ask somebody," you will always end up on CC or on AIM or something. Call somebody who isn't your best friend and make the question pointed and simple. Try to set yourself a time limit at the beginning of each assignment.</p>

<p>I'm a fan of the night-before-the-test study tactic, so I don't know if I can help you there. The whole flashcards and study for a week type thing has never worked for me, but maybe studying in a group could help.</p>

<p>Anyway, this was probably just a lot of nonsense, but I hope it helped. Good luck!</p>

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<p>time management is the biggest factor that separates good gpas from average ones. i went through the same thing last year (im a junior now), but i swore off aim for a while and minimized phone calls to a bare minimum. as far as getting concepts, a lot of that has to do with your paying attention in class. when the teacher is lecturing, make sure to give your full attention, and when you get home review the lesson one more time to make it stick to your brain. procrastination is also a bad thing, even though we all do it. if you feel like you HAVE TO procrastinate, then make sure to finish your other stuff first before working on a long english report that's due the next day. those kids who get it fast arent MADE smart. they just put more effort into what they're doing. you're only a sophomore, so change your habits now and there's still hope for a turnaround. =)</p>

<p>good luck.</p>