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Ask Deanie
|
Archives Deanie Kepler's previously published columns | SMU Parent Liaison Deanie Kepler offers advice on helping your student. |
 |
How students can get a
fresh start
in their studies in the spring semester
Q: My student wants to improve her GPA this semester. What advice would you give?
A: The new year is wonderful because it gives us a chance for a fresh start. Especially if first semester grades were disappointing, establishing new habits is very important. Determine to attend every class; by the end of the semester this commitment will have paid off. Visit the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) at least once a week to stay current in each class. Make an appointment with someone who can help you map out a strategy for the semester that includes time for study, play, and jobs or internships. Contact Pat Feldman, assistant director of the A-LEC, or the learning enhancement assistant in your residence hall.
Before Spring Break, visit every one of your professors – check their posted office hours. Ask them about mid-term exams, explore ideas for a paper, ask questions about the kind of tests they give and any suggestions they have on how to study.
Finally, consider the ways your lifestyle impacts your schoolwork, and make necessary changes:
- Curb your
social life, especially during the week.
- Get plenty
of sleep, eat a balanced diet, and participate in some form
of physical activity.
- Become involved in one out-of-classroom activity – this is very important. The more connected a student is to the University, the better they will do in the classroom.
Question for Deanie? Ask Deanie at gkepler@smu.edu or 214-768-4797.
