How I did it: It was a far cry from my 0.5 GPA in high school, but it wasn't surprisingly all that difficult. I just studied hard when the teachers impressed upon me that a test would be particularly difficult, spent some nights without sleeping to ensure that my essay was free of errors. I made use of flash cards for the first time in my life for my Biology course (I'm weak in math and science.) 

Lessons & tips: Be enthusiastic about your classes! Speak with your teachers often to see how you're progressing and participate in every class. Don't be afraid to ask questions when you don't understand something (chances are there are others who don't who are too shy or embarrassed to ask, themselves.) Register for your classes early to ensure you get the best pick of professors, and make sure to check your prospective professors against a professor-rating web site and with other like-minded students who seek the same things from class as you. Also make sure your schedule gives you enough time between classes to review your material or do some last-minute studying before each class. Above all, stay vigilant! Make a habit of being comprehensive and proactive in your first few weeks and it won't be difficult to maintain.

Resources: Rate My Professors (http://ratemyprofessors.com) was invaluable in giving me the information I needed to find professors who were helpful and cared. You can be great at a subject and do terribly if you don't get along with your professor or you disagree with their style of teaching. Also, search for the grade distribution charts for your professors to see how many As, Bs, or Ds and Fs they give (as a general guide to see how difficult, if not impossible, it will be for you to get your A in their class.)

Dec 31, 2009, 12:34AM PST | 1 comment | 1 cheer