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Poole College of Management 
Poole College of Management
Undergraduate Programs

Life Vest For Success

In conjunction with an academic advisor, this website is dedicated to helping you succeed. Please review the information below and make an appointment with an academic advisor to fully take advantage of these resources and their knowledge. Together, we can build a formidable team!

Academic Advisors

Even if you are not sure what to ask them, or what you need, they are available to help you find those questions and provide answers to them. They are not only great at helping you find the academic resources that you need, but they can help you navigate the university environment so achieving your personal, academic, and professional goals can become a reality.

Meet the Advising Team 

GPA Calculators

Knowing where you stand and what you need to do to realistically achieve your goal is of utmost importance. When it comes to your GPA, you can not guess at the numbers. Hard data does not come in the form of guesswork. The calculators below are tools to help you know exactly what it takes to achieve your GPA Goals

Getting Better Grades

The rest of this page will focus on strategies to utilize when you want to increase your performance in one course or in your overall academic performance. These are great strategies to discuss when meeting with an academic advisor.

Time Management

The first thing to think about when you want to improve your grades is “How am I using my time?” Think about questions such as “Am I studying hard?”, “Am I studying smart?”, “Is my study time productive?”, or even “Am I studying at all?”.

Ways to Manage Your Time:

Types

  • Academic Planners
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Keep
  • Phone Reminders

How To Use

  • Enter all your assignments for all your classes
    • If test or paper is due soon, block off time now to study/write
  • Block Off Class Schedule
    • If it is an online class, block time for that class like you would do for an in person class
  • Block Off Work Commitments
  • Block Off Time for Studying Each Course
  • Make Time for Yourself
  • Extracurriculars are second to your academics

To properly prioritize obligations and activities, ask yourself the following questions:

  1. When is it due?
  2. Do I need to collaborate with others?
  3. Is this a goal I’m trying to achieve?
    • Consider:
      • What do I want to achieve this semester? This year?
      • What do I want to achieve on campus before I graduate?
      • What do I want to do when I complete my degree?
      • What factors do I need to consider:
        • Internal factors:
          • GPA / Goal GPA
          • Resource need (ex: working to afford tuition)
        • External factors:
          • Supporting my family
          • The time commitment to student organizations
  4. What are the benefits of the activity?

Today’s society puts a lot of pressure on all of us to say ‘Yes’ to every opportunity. Learning to say no and prioritize on what is best for YOU is key to your success based on your goals and priorities.

Consider what YOU need to be successful at NC State or your future career.

Does the ask:

  • Benefit my academic success?
  • Improve my career network/opportunities?
  • Provide leadership opportunities?
  • Interest me or help me develop a new skill?

Quality is better than quantity

  • Can you talk about your experiences in-depth or do you have so many activities that they are all generic responses?

Five Steps to Better Test Grades

Did you know there are five potential places that could be pitfalls when trying to perform better in your coursework? So often, students think, “I will just study harder next time!” when that may not be the most effective way to get better grades. Take a look below and think about what you are doing.

  1. Preparation Before Class
  2. During the Class Lecture or Lab
  3. After Class
  4. Preparing for the Test
  5. Taking the Test

Each of these is a critical area where something could go wrong and suddenly, that awesome grade in your class. Take three minutes to read the article 5 Steps to Better Test Grades (opens in a new tab) and bring some questions to an academic advisor.

Test Taking Strategies

Depending on the type of test you are taking, you may employ a different strategy for how to take that test. Below, you will find some general tips for taking tests as well as some strategies specific to certain types of tests.

Learning Styles, Note Taking, and Study Strategies

What is your learning style?

If you did not take M100 Personal and Professional Identity Development, this activity will give you an understanding of how you learn information. This is helpful in assisting you in courses that are taught in ways that do not mirror your learning style. 

Kolb Learning Style Applications

Now that you know a little bit about your Kolb Learning Style, this PowerPoint will teach you learning strategies to use with coursework in which you are not performing well. 

How to Take Notes in Class: The 5 Best Methods Video

Learn about these five popular note-taking methods using Street Fighter characters. See which one might work best for you. 

13 Top Tips for Excellent Note-Taking

Professionals in multiple fields share their top tips in note-taking. Whether you prefer to take notes digitally or by hand, read on! There’s a section for you. 

Helpful Tips for Successful Studying

This article offers overall tips for notetaking including options for handwritten or digital note-taking and has a link to additional Time Management Tips for College Students 

10 Traps to Studying

Do you sometimes not know where to start studying? Have you ever studied hours for a test only to not do well? This article gives some quick strategies to avoid common study traps that might be sabotaging your academic success.