Going From an Academic Victim to an Academic Weapon, Mid Semester!

By Mira Bhimani, SCS Advising Leader

Do you feel overwhelmed or feel like your semester is going terribly? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. With week 8 right around the corner, you may be thinking it’s too late to fix your grades or get back on track. But it’s not too late. Here’s some tips that can help you go from an academic victim to an academic weapon mid-semester:

1. Go to office hours – The best way to start understanding the material in a class that you’re doing badly in is to just restart from the beginning. Open your textbooks, study material, and past homework assignments and try to make sense of it slowly. Going to office hours is very helpful in this step because you can have someone to help you when you are stuck.

2. Second chances do exist! – If you are behind in a class, this step is for you. This is important because it will give you the belief that you can completely turn around your grade in the class. If you have missed homework assignments or attendance, most classes have drops and extensions. Make use of them. Some classes even have a drop for the lowest exam score, so if you’ve done badly in your first midterm you can just forget about it and start working hard on crushing you next ones.

3. Start being up to date with everything – Playing games of catch-up in your classes is never fun. Start making a list of your due dates and exams and make sure to do them in advance. Be organized with your class material. You will feel a lot more confident and happier when you are ahead rather than behind. You will not feel afraid to ask questions and engage in class.

4. Prioritize your health – Your mental health is the most important. Having a good mental health will give you strength to pick yourself up. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there” – if you have trust in yourself and your abilities, the motivation will come automatically. Sleep and eat well and take care of yourself, it will help you focus better. If you are not doing well, consider taking a step back. Academics are not the most important thing in your life. The deadline to drop a semester course without a grade of W is October 13^th, so it is still an option if you think you cannot cope up.