Tips for Increasing Your GPA
- Bonnie Garcia
- Mar 31
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 3
By Martin Hernandez (Contributor)
Introduction
We have all been there. You graduated from high school and are looking forward to attending college. It’s exciting and exhilarating. You studied plenty in high school but will these methods hold up in a college environment? Will your study methods get you through to receive the coveted Bachelors degree in whichever career you have chosen? I have compiled several study methods (some of them scientifically proven) that will boost your GPA IF you absorb them into your study habits. Ask yourself….How can I improve my overall GPA? How can I improve my study habits? Some of these methods have a learning curve but will bear fruit in the future if you put in the effort to learn them.
Keep in mind that everyone has a preference and style within their individual study habits. While one method might help one student, it might not resonate with the other student. As the late, great Bruce Lee said….”Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is essentially you own”
My goal is to compile several study methods so that each and every student has a chance to explore several study methods that might resonate with each individual. Hopefully, this will send you down a rabbit hole to explore and expand you study repertoire.
Sleep Hygiene
This is one of the most underrated and overlooked steps in becoming a study machine. Sleep, believe it or not, is crucial in studying. Who hasn’t stayed up late into the night cramming for an important exam or trying to finish that research paper. As I am typing this, the student next to me is telling the other student that she slept only two hours trying to finish her assignment. Personally, I struggled for the first month in handling my workload. I found myself sleeping from 4 to 6 hours per night and working 32 hours at my job. I was like a living zombie, everything seemed surreal. Desperate, I started researching study methods that were proven to work and sleep hygiene is one of them. I found several articles and peer-reviewed studies that correlate sleep deprivation with academic performance. I will touch upon sleep hygiene methods that will positively impact your sleep and academic performance.
Keep a regular sleep schedule even on weekends (but it's the weekend!). By keeping a regular sleep schedule, it will help set your body’s circadian rhythms which will promote restful sleep. Aim for seven to eight hours per night.
Create an environment that promotes sleep. Strive for a dark,cool room. Ideal temperature is 65 to 68 degrees. Get some blackout curtains or a sleep mask. Get some earplugs if in a noisy environment. Put aside your digital device as the blue light might interfere with your sleep cycle. Listen to relaxing music that will induce sleep.
Try to avoid stimulants before going to bed (caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, energy drinks, ect.) which will interfere with your sleep cycle. Try a cup of chamomile tea which has been proven to help with sleep.
Try to avoid naps within the day which will interrupt your nighttime sleep cycle (easier said than done). I know that we have all seen students sprawled in several positions sleeping across campus, catching up on those zzz’s. If you must nap, keep it less than 30 minutes in the early afternoon (before 3 pm)
Breathing methods can help relax the mind/body and induce sleep. One such breathing method is the 4-7-8 breathing technique developed by Dr. Andrew Weil, a world-renowned Harvard doctor. Inhale quietly through your nose to the count of 4. Hold your breath for the count of 7. Exhale through your mouth to the count of 8 while making an audible “whoosh” sound. Repeat the cycle 4 times total. Simple yet effective.
Keep your eyes peeled for flyers posted around campus that will teach a sleep hygiene course. These courses are a trove of information that will help achieve those zzz’s.
Active Recall
According to author Michael Owen of Osmosis from Elsevier “Reading and re-reading notes is classed as an ineffective, time-consuming study technique that does little to significantly improve memory retention and academic performance. The author defines active recall as “ a study method that flips the original way of learning on its head (Owen,2022). Instead of cramming study notes into your brain, active recall will retrieve information from your brain (Active Recall: The Most Effective High-Yield Learning Technique - Osmosis Blog). Active recall triggers what is called the testing effect (Testing effect - Wikipedia). Two of the most popular digital active recall programs are Anki (free) and Quizlet (paid). Both have the ability to create and customize flash cards which are considered the king of active recall. The gist of it is it gives you a term on one side and the definition on the other side. (7 Practical Ways to Apply Active Recall When Studying | Goodnotes Blog). Another method is the use of artificial intelligence to help you create a quiz based on the lecture notes, slides, and study guides. You answer to the best of your ability using active recall. The questions that you answered wrong, you prompt artificial intelligence to create another quiz based on the wrong answer to reinforce the gaps in knowledge. This will improve your memory of the subject in question.
Note Taking Methods
According to Goodnotes Blog “there are hundreds of different ways you can take notes, but not all are created equal” (The Best Note-Taking Methods for College Students & Serious Note-takers | Goodnotes Blog). During my search for the best time-efficient note taking method, I came across several methods that range from an easy to steep learning curve. I am going to touch on 3 of the most popular note taking methods and hopefully you can incorporate and adopt some of these methods into your note-taking method.
The Outline Method:
The Outline Method is considered one of the most popular note taking methods that has been around for decades (The Outline Note-Taking Method: A Beginner's Guide - E-Student)
It is highly structured, analytical, and easy to create. It gives an at-a-glance structured overview of ideas. Not suitable for topics that need diagrams, charts, or visuals.
The Outline Note-Taking Method: Steps, Benefits, and When To Use | Goodnotes Blog
The Cornell method:
The Cornell method was invented by Professor Walter Paul of Cornell University in the 1950 and is considered one of the best ways of taking notes.
It is an active note taking method that will obtain the main idea, summarizes the topic for better understanding, and it is in logical order. It does take more work when taking notes and to set up but it is well worth the effort.
Cornell Note Taking — The Best Way To Take Notes, Explained | Goodnotes Blog
Mind Mapping:
Mind Mapping is a visual method that shows interconnection ideas between the central topic and its sub-branches. It simplifies large topics into sub-topics. It creates new ideas and discovers new connections between them. Not feasible for on the fly note taking.
Top 4 Mind Mapping Methods for Note-Taking (with Examples) | Goodnotes Blog
Each note-taking method has its strengths and weaknesses within each subject (math, english, science) so try out each method and see which is the better fit for your style and subject.
Study Environment
Creating the perfect study environment is a must. A place of quiet, solitude, focus and minimal noise distractions (The Impact of Study Environment on Students' Academic Performance: An Experimental Research Study). Choose a location that will become your personal fortress of solitude. A quiet place, clutter free for focus and concentration. Your actual study space can affect memory preservation. If your study space is cluttered or in a noisy environment, it will distract your attention and focus. But a well maintained, clutter and noise-free study space should improve focus and concentration (The Role of Environment in Memory Retention | Said Hasyim) Lighting has a definite impact on learning and your study space should include as much natural lighting as possible. Natural light affects emotional/mental states, awareness, mental performance, and brain function. (apolloimperium.com/article/natural-vs-artificial-light-and-impact.)
Personally I think music should be included in your study space but some students find it distracting. Listening to music while studying has been proven to ease stress (especially when final exams are around the corner), reduce anxiety, improve performance and focus (The Benefits of Studying with Music - Florida National University (FNU)). Whether listening to Bach, Metallica, or Bad Bunny, give it a try as it has benefits in mental performance. According to some studies, aromatherapy helps in improving testing anxiety so buying a diffuser will enhance your study environment (Aromatherapy with inhalation effectively alleviates the test anxiety of college students: A meta-analysis - PMC). There are blends that are purported to enhance focus and concentration but could not find a peer-reviewed study on the subject. Nonetheless, I have included a link that delves into the world of aromatherapy and studying (Top Aromatherapy Oils to Improve Study Focus -). Hopefully, these tips will spark your curiosity and inspire further research.
What is a Habit?
According to author James Clear, he defines habits as “small decisions you make and actions you perform every day.” (Habits Guide: How to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones). Researchers at Duke University say that a whopping 40% of our behaviors are habit related. Habits are unconscious actions that are not thought about, you just do. By creating positive study habits, you will unconsciously act without having to think about it. Eventually it becomes effortless. But there is a caveat. Creating a habit takes from 30 to 200 days!!! Study habits, sleeping habits, eating habits, ect. The science of creating a habit is a subject worthy to explore as it will change your study habits and beyond. I have also included several links that will kickstart your research. Banish your bad study habits, Habit Formation | Psychology Today, The Science of Habits | Psychology Today, The Neuroscience of Building Habits: Insights from Atomic Habits
Nutrition
Nutrition definitely plays an important part within a study regime. There has been an increased interest in how nutrition plays an important part in academic success. The right foods can either fuel or deplete brain power. According to the National University blog, brain food is defined as “foods that can boost brain power and improve memory, focus, and concentration (Best Brain Foods for Studying | National University). Omega-3 fatty acids have a positive effect on learning/memory and some of the foods high in omega-3 are walnuts, sardines, salmon, mackerel, flaxseeds, chia seed, leafy vegetables 12 Foods That Are Very High in Omega-3. Foods that will deplete your brain power are sugary snacks/drinks, processed foods, and fast foods. These foods will lead to a lack of focus/concentration. Hydration also has a positive effect on your attention, memory, and focus. Studies show that “properly hydrated students are better able to focus, concentrate, and retain information during classes and study sessions. Furthermore, research suggests that maintaining hydration throughout the day may positively impact academic performance by reducing fatigue and enhancing cognitive performance” (Musa Lewis Mathunjwa, 2024). So, reach for that water bottle and stay hydrated. What you consume plays a very important part in your academic success. Nutrition and Academic Success: Exploring the Vital Link for University Students
Meditation to Increase Focus
Meditation is scientifically proven to deal with depression, stress, anxiety and fear. Who hasn’t been stressed knowing that an upcoming assignment looms over the horizon. Fear blooms knowing that you need to pass a very important exam because if you don’t, it creates a chain reaction of events. Your grade suffers which will affect your GPA, which in turn creates anxiety, stress and fear. This will spill over into other aspects in your life. Incorporating a meditation routine into your study regime will enhance your focus and concentration, reducing stress and anxiety along the way. There are several forms of meditation that might best fit you and your individual style. Mindfulness Meditation, Guided Visualization, Focused Attention Meditation are just some examples that are available for you to explore.(Meditation for college students: 6 best types to practice — Calm Blog) Meditation offers ways for college students to cope – Sun News Daily
Communication with the Professor
Communicating and developing a rapport with your professor is a plus achieving top grades. If you have questions or doubts in the assignments, reach out to your professor. Find out what times they are available, give them a visit or drop them an email. Communication is key. Knowing the syllabus inside and out is also a must. It gives you the timeline of assignments and due dates and what is expected of each assignment. If you have extra time on your hands, get ahead and go through the syllabus. Explore it and write down the most important assignments that are critical to your grade.13 Dos and Don’ts for Communicating with Your College Professor | by Shawna Malvini Redden | Medium
Time Management/Study Schedule
Developing a study schedule will help keep you on track towards achieving top grades. Creating a calendar, setting reminders, building a personalized schedule, physical or digital planners, prioritization, social life, getting support, and flexibility are methods that will keep you rooted in what comes next. Having a schedule that will tell you everything that is happening at a glance, will help offset some of the cognitive load. Cal Newport, New York Times Bestselling Author of Seven Books. You don’t have to remember since you have it all written down. Sunday would be a good day to write out your schedule for the week. Make sure you write down important assignments and due dates for the week. Using your classes syllabus can help you plan ahead in weeks. Summary: How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport, Fixed-Schedule Productivity: How I Accomplish a Large Amount of Work in a Small Number of Work Hours - Cal Newport
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