The grades are in and the interims are out. On Monday, March 2, Winthrop students received their interim grades. Many students were excited to see their accomplishments — while others dreaded opening Wingspan.
The truth is, not everyone gets straight As and sometimes students struggle in hard classes. No worries. Here are some steps to improve your grades after a not so great interim.
First and foremost, it’s important to know that everyone has taken an L before. This is college. This is where you learn that messing up is okay, but also that coming back from it is important too. There’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. And you should also know that it’s only the middle of the semester. By this time in certain classes, you may have only taken one test and turned in a couple of homework assignments. You still have the second half of the semester to get where you want to be.
The first thing you need to do after you receive a bad interim grade is to see your professor. They have office hours so that you can talk to them about anything you need. Ask them what assignments were included in the interim grade. Ask them what you can do to perform better in the class. Ask them if they have any opportunities for extra credit. Ask them for advice about how to study differently. Moral of the story, ask questions.
The next thing is to use your campus resources. The Academic Success Center is still accepting students who need a tutor, whether it’s for a biology course, a foreign language, or a history course. They have tutors waiting for you to sign up, so take advantage of them. You are allowed two free tutors per semester, so you can get tutoring in two of your hardest classes for no cost. All you have to do is attend a tutee seminar and register. Tutors are students who have already taken the class, most times with the same professor you had and have gotten a B+ or better. They know what they’re talking about and how to help you bring your grade up.
If it’s a math class that you’re struggling in, you can visit the Math Tutorial Center, located in Bancroft 271. If you’re struggling in a writing class such as WRIT 101, HMXP 102 or CRTW 201, you can visit the writing center, located in Bancroft 242. If it’s a chemistry class that you’re struggling in, you can visit the Chemistry Tutoring Lab, located in Sims 301. Even with all that, there are still even more tutoring opportunities to help you in different classes.
For more details on other academic resources, visit https://www.winthrop.edu/success/ and click the student resources tab.
One last step that you can take is to change your studying habits, or actually study if you’re not at all. Use flashcards to aid in your memorization of important dates or terminology. Follow your study guides heavily to ensure you know the material needed for the exam. Ask questions in class when you don’t understand a particular problem. Complete practice problems from your textbook. Write and rewrite notes or processes on a whiteboard. Establish a study group with your peers. The best way to learn and remember a subject is by teaching and explaining the subject to others. Whatever you don’t know, your peers may be able to teach you in a more understandable way than your professor. This way, they can master remembering the subject and now you’ve learned it — it’s a win-win situation. You have plenty of fun, creative options that you can take advantage of.
At the end of the day, remember that everyone has been in your shoes before. You still have plenty of time to bring the grade up. If not, luckily, you still have the S/U option. If you feel like you may get a C in the class, you can S/U the class. You’ll still receive credit for the course and it will still count on DegreeWorks, but it won’t affect your GPA. But do it quickly; the last day to S/U full-term classes is the day of this issue’s publication, March 11. You can visit the Records and Registration office for information on how to do this.
Photo: Tate Walden/ The Johnsonian
