Hopefully, you will not find yourself in this situation. For those of you that have, there is a way to be back on the road to academic success.
Academic Probation is when you fall below your college’s minimum requirement for achieving academic success. Each College or University has different requirements, and even within each college or university, various programs can have different benchmarks. Generally speaking, a student may end up on academic probation if, after 15 credit hours, he or she has a grade point average (GPA) less than 2.0, meaning an average grade of less than C.
There are many factors that could play into an unsuccessful semester: Family, Friends, Work, Health, Subject Difficulty, Quality of Instruction, etc. Overall, each of these issues relate back to time, and time management - how much time can you control and how much time is out of your control. Let’s face it, we are all pretty smart! We are in college. We completed the exams, paperwork, and jumped through all the necessary hoops to get here! Yes, some of us may be a little bit smarter than others, but none of us is better than the rest. What makes a difference in our grades, I would say (unscientifically) 8 times out of 10, is the amount of time we spend, and the QUALITY of time we spend, on the material we are studying.
Let’s think about it> When you are in class, where are you sitting, what are you thinking about, what are you writing? Are you asking questions about the material you read to be prepared for today’s instruction? Are you following up with the teacher after class to get clarification on the new material we received? Have you consulted with a classmate or study partner? Oh, so you have done all of these things and you still find yourself having some difficulty on that quiz or exam? Have you made an appointment in the Learning Resource Center (which houses the Math Resource Center or Writing Center) with a peer or professional tutor? Oh, you have done that too? And still no luck? Well, let’s take it a step back.
When you study, where are you? Are you in a place where there is minimal distraction? Is it lighted properly? Do you have all the materials that you need? Not just your books. Maybe you need a highlighter, or some note cards, colored pencils, supplemental materials like study guides and notes. A caffeinated beverage perhaps? If you have a lot going on at home, like kids, pets, TV, laundry, cleaning, etc., GET OUT OF THE HOUSE to study. Go to campus, your local library, or even your nearest chain bookstore.
Now that you have found the optimal place to study, how much time is the right amount of time? How do you fit it all in with all of the other responsibilities you have? Do you have a calendar/planner/agenda that will allow you to keep track of all of your assignments? You do? Do you USE it? Take about 30-45 minutes a week to write down everything that needs to get done for the week- Classwork, work for home, family obligations, etc. Map it out. If you have a clear map or plan that you can follow for the week, you may feel a little less stressed. You know what you need to do and when you are going to do it.
So, you are doing all of these things, and you find yourself still hovering below that satisfactory mark? It is important that you set up an appointment with your professor. Also, speak with your Academic Advisor or Academic Counselor. They have a wealth of material and may be able to help you with your specific needs.
The Academic Advisors and Counselors at Goodwin College are here to support you in achieving your academic goals. If you find yourself on academic probation, please know that it is only temporary if you reach out and take advantage of the resources that are available. Stop by to visit academic advisor Qiona Woffard in suite 144. Let’s go from Probation to Promise!