Insider Tips for Getting Good Grades in College

Insight for College Freshman from the Grading Gods

Are you a freshman heading off to college in the fall? Are you even thinking about getting good grades?

You are probably thinking about your future roommate at college, buying books at the university bookstore, and college parties. Maybe, you have checked out the social scene at your new college or university by making new friends on Myspace and Face Book. There is one person on campus that is not on your mind. You may have briefly thought about the professor, but what about the teacher's assistant. You will come to know this often awkward and nerdy individual as your TA. You should probably consider your TAs grading gods.

The reality is that for many college freshmen the TA will be their main contact in the classroom. More importantly, TAs often decide your grade in college. They will often read your first college paper. At some universities, they may run labs or discussion groups. TAs are notorious for giving lower grades than established professors. How can you get good grades in college courses?

There are many common rules to follow to get good college grades. Attend class. Turn in your assignments. Read the syllabus. Ask if you need help. Set your alarm for the exam. This is all common sense.

You college grades will improve if you get to know your TA and/or professor. If you are in a lab or small group, you will find out the name of your TA in class. Your goal is to remember it, and write down the contact information they supply. One cannot just email TA@university.edu. In other cases, the TA might be more of a secret spy responsible for grading or attendance. In this case, you should check out the back or front rows for an individual with glasses in the front or back rows. How will you separate the freshman overachiever from the TA? You should look for the slightly older individual in frayed clothing or a personal style that looks stuck in time. Are you still unsure? You should notice who walks away with the professor or does not get the first assignment back in class.

Once you have identified your new college TAs, here are a few tips to keep in mind when dealing with the grading gods that determine college grades: