1. Improve Your GPA Grade-Point Average
A 12-Step Recovery Program for Poor Grades
A 12-Step Recovery Program for Poor Grades
Counseling Services
Pellissippi State Technical Community College

2. 12 Steps to Recovery Choose Education with a Purpose Be Classroom Wise
Make Smart Work/ School Trade-Offs
Keep Track of Your Grades
Identify the Causes of Poor Grades
Take Difficult Courses Individually
Take Responsibility For Your Grades
Know Your Learning Style
Calculate Your Grade- Point Average
Manage Your Time Wisely
Prepare Thoroughly
Visualize Success
Choose Education with a Purpose
Be Classroom Wise
Make Smart Work/ School Trade-Offs
Keep Track of Your Grades
Identify the Causes of Poor Grades

3. Choose Education With a Purpose
Why are you in college?
To get career preparation
To get a “good” job that pays “good” money
To avoid working full-time (right now)
To learn a particular skill
To become a more cultured person
To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas
To improve reading and study skills
Why are you in college?
To get career preparation
To get a “good” job that pays “good” money
To avoid working full-time (right now)
To learn a particular skill
To become a more cultured person
To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas
To improve reading and study skills

4. Classroom Observations
Attend class every day.
Do not plan a vacation during the semester.
Save “sick days” for real emergencies.
If you have excessive absences, consider withdrawing from the class.
If you must miss class, contact the instructor ASAP to find out what was missed and the deadline for making up work.
Attend class every day.
Do not plan a vacation during the semester.
Save “sick days” for real emergencies.
If you have excessive absences, consider withdrawing from the class.
If you must miss class, contact the instructor ASAP to find out what was missed and the deadline for making up work.

5. How might this student plan differently for the next semester?
Make Smart Trade Offs
How might this student plan differently for the next semester?

6. Typical scenario:
Student “A” wants to “get to UT as soon as possible” but must work to make tuition, gas and car payments. The student signs up for 15 credits (5 classes) and works 20 hours per week. Student passes 3 classes, gets a “W” in one class and an “F” in the other.
Student “A” wants to “get to UT as soon as possible” but must work to make tuition, gas and car payments. The student signs up for 15 credits (5 classes) and works 20 hours per week. Student passes 3 classes, gets a “W” in one class and an “F” in the other.

7. Keep Track of Your Grades
Review your class syllabus for the grade calculation formula for each class.
Ask about your grades – before the withdrawal deadline.
If you are doing poorly, talk with your instructor about what effort is required to pass the class.
If it appears that you cannot make up the work to achieve a passing grade, drop the class.
Review your class syllabus for the grade calculation formula for each class.
Ask about your grades – before the withdrawal deadline.
If you are doing poorly, talk with your instructor about what effort is required to pass the class.
If it appears that you cannot make up the work to achieve a passing grade, drop the class.

8. Identify the Causes of Poor Grades
What are the causes of your poor grades?
Attendance
Academic skill background
Preparation and study
Notetaking
Classroom participation
Motivation
Tutoring
Personal or family illness or emergency
What are the causes of your poor grades?
Attendance
Academic skill background
Preparation and study
Notetaking
Classroom participation
Motivation
Tutoring
Personal or family illness or emergency

9. Choose a Different Approach for A Difficult Course
If a particular subject gives you trouble, consider these options:
Take it as an only class.
Take it in a different format.
Speak with an instructor or counselor about how to study for this course.
Attend stress management, test-taking workshops.
Hand choose the instructor whose class you will take.
If a particular subject gives you trouble, consider these options:
Take it as an only class.
Take it in a different format.
Speak with an instructor or counselor about how to study for this course.
Attend stress management, test-taking workshops.
Hand choose the instructor whose class you will take.

10. Take Responsibility for Your Grades
Stop making excuses.
Repeat classes in which you earned a “D” or “F”.
Be prepared to make compromises.
Choose wisely. Your choices will either have positive or negative consequences.
You often control the outcome.
Stop making excuses.
Repeat classes in which you earned a “D” or “F”.
Be prepared to make compromises.
Choose wisely. Your choices will either have positive or negative consequences.

11. Know Your Learning Style
Explore how you learn by taking a learning style assessment.
Maximize your learning style (audio people recite, hands on people write, visual people draw). When necessary, use all of the learning modes.
Talk to your instructor about his/her style of teaching and the strategies you can use to adapt to this style of learning.
Explore how you learn by taking a learning style assessment.
Maximize your learning style (audio people recite, hands on people write, visual people draw). When necessary, use all of the learning modes.
Talk to your instructor about his/her style of teaching and the strategies you can use to adapt to this style of learning.

12. Calculate Your Grade-Point Average
Courses
Attempted Credit Hours
Grade
Grade Point Equivalent
Total Quality Points
ENGL 1010 3 B X
3.0 =
9.0
SPH 2100 A
4.0
12.0
BIOL 1110 4 C
2.0
8.0
PHED1010 1 F
HIST 1010 D
1.0
Total Hours 14
32.0
Quality Points (32.0) divided by Attempted Credit Hours (14) equal Grade Point Average (2.286)

13. Manage Your Time Wisely
Base hours per week
Sleep
Meals
Classes (15/hr)
Study (2/hr rule)
Personal maintenance
Balance
Base hours per week
Sleep
Meals
Classes (15/hr)
Study (2/hr rule)
Personal maintenance
Balance

14. Prepare Thoroughly
Start studying for minutes at a time and then build up to longer periods of time. Take adequate breaks
DO NOT CRAM!
Eliminate distractions.
Sit near the front of the classroom.
Ask questions.
Keep up with assignments
Start studying for minutes at a time and then build up to longer periods of time. Take adequate breaks
DO NOT CRAM!
Eliminate distractions.
Sit near the front of the classroom.
Ask questions.
Keep up with assignments

15. Visualize Success Remember, what you decide to do
Keep sight of your goals – expect to achieve them.
Do your best, then let go.
Combat negatives thought with positive self-talk.
Take care of yourself (eat well, get necessary rest, exercise, etc.).
Remember, what you decide to do
today affects your long-term goals.
Keep sight of your goals – expect to achieve them.
Do your best, then let go.
Combat negatives thought with positive self-talk.
Take care of yourself (eat well, get necessary rest, exercise, etc.).
Remember, what you decide to do
today affects your long-term goals.