One of the most suspenseful and terrifying things is watching the loading screen on your MyMU portal as you wait for your midterm grades to load. If the anticipation did not hurt enough, sometimes seeing that C or B- may make you feel uncertainty about the future of that class.
This should not prompt you to “give up;” midterm grades are meant to give students an idea of where they are at in a course. These are not permanent; in fact, they are often not correct since they are only factoring in half of the semester’s coursework.
Luckily that C is not far from an A, in perspective. It is easy to bring your grade up, but it takes dedication and time outside of class.
First and foremost, look at your syllabus. Usually professors offer extra credit, which normally is an extra assignment or attendance at an event that reflects the concepts in the course.
Always take advantage of extra credit, regardless of your academic stance in the class. You can never be too safe in securing your high letter grade. Extra credit is an amazing safety blanket, in that the assignments tend to not be graded harshly and are usually smaller, more lax projects.
If you are worried that an essay is subpar and lacks a central focus, make an appointment on Accudemia. You have the ability to pick the writing assistant based on your own time and the type of class you have.
Appointments range from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Center for Student Success in the lower level of the Rebecca Stafford Student Center. If those times are extremely inconvenient for you, there are also extended hours offered at the library from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Amanda Sorresse, a graduate business administration student who works at Writing Services, advises students to utilize it. “Sometimes,” she said, “you just need a second set of eyes; you might overlook typos or awkward sentences.”
Writing Services focuses primarily on written work, but if you are struggling with the concepts of calculus or remembering the different fathers of psychology, Tutoring Services is the place to go. It is extremely helpful to be able to talk through issues rather than trying to figure them out on your own.
Dorothy Cleary, the Director of Tutoring Services, said, “Peer tutors have experienced the ups and downs of college life and are very understanding and helpful. Many students who utilize Tutoring Services receive both the support that they need, as well as other perspectives on concepts that are otherwise difficult to understand in fast paced lectures.”
The scheduling set up is exactly the same, you only need to change the subject in Accudemia from “writing services” to “tutoring services” which is at the very bottom of the list. Peer tutoring is not always available for every class. If you find that there are no options on Accudemia, you can request a tutor on the Monmouth website’s page for tutoring services.
Another key tip for raising your grade is to stay on top of assignments. Your professors give you syllabi in the first week, so there should be no excuse for not knowing that an assignment is going to be due soon. Prepare ahead of time to get your homework and essays done so that you will have free time later. While that episode of Friends may seem great, there are times when you need to close Netflix and focus on your work. That show will always be there, and your assignments are only due once.
If you find that you have trouble focusing, migrate to a more academically charged setting. The library has tons of comfy couches, chairs, and private desks to sit at.
Tabitha Rahman, an English and special education student, said, “The library is less distracting. When I am in my bed, I am cozy so I just want to sleep or slack off.”
The student center is also filled with comfortable furniture, and there is also a computer lab. Grab a coffee or some food and take the elevator to the third floor.
Remember to stay focused on your work and to use the services Monmouth University offers. Do not get discouraged, especially if this is your first semester.
PHOTO TAKEN by Skylar Daley
