Midterm grade reports just came out, and maybe you didn’t do as well as you’d like. But don’t give up hope. You can rescue that poor midterm grade with some determination and good, old-fashioned hard work.
Step 1: Evaluate What Didn’t Work
What led to your poor midterm grade? Have you been studying poorly? Are the people who sit near you in class distracting? Are you not understanding the material? Was test day just a bad day?
Chances are good you know what led to your poor performance. If not, ask someone to help you figure it out. A friend may be able to talk it out with you, but your instructor or an academic coach in the Academic Resource Center would also be able to help.
See Also: Student Resources for Success
Step 2: Make a Plan
Once you have identified the weaknesses, make a plan to work on them. If you realized that studying right after lunch when you kept falling asleep wasn’t doing you any favors, change the time you study. If the person sitting next to you in class consistently does something that distracts you from paying full attention, ask your instructor if you can change seats. If you need help understanding the material, join a study group.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, too. The Academic Resource Center is available to assist students. The services they offer include:
- Content area tutoring
- Study skills coaching
- Writing guidance
- Study groups
Step 3: Go Forth and Conquer
Don’t let a poor midterm grade conquer you. You’ve identified what went wrong. You’ve made a plan. Put that plan into action and conquer the rest of this semester.
