After you've studied for a given class meeting, do you feel like you understand the material when someone else talks about it? Are you able to answer questions or solve problems? Are you able to apply what you've learned to new problems and issues? You should be shooting to answer all three questions "yes," but most people only manage to say "yes" to the first one or two.
First, I suggest that you go to your professors' office hours with your notes from lectures and notes from the readings (if you have them) and with some old assignments and/or tests, and ask, "I'm working very hard but my grades don't reflect that. Do you have any idea what I'm doing wrong?" Your professors won't be able to give you a lot of time, but because they know the material well and because they're familiar with a lot of students, they might be able to give you an idea of where to start
Next, your college may have a center of some sort for study skills or academic success, and someone there might be able to help you better. I suggest that you go there and ask for help. If you have no idea where to find such a thing, try calling the Student Affairs office and asking. Someone there might be able to help you figure out new ways to study that are more likely to result in success.
And finally, you may want to look into tutors. Some schools will provide these for free or for a small amount of money, but it may be worth it to pay out of pocket for tutoring yourself. The departments that offer the classes you're taking can probably refer you to someone, but they are likely to be suggesting people who did well in the same class you're in now, and you should be looking not just for people who did well, but also people who have experience teaching
"Where there's a will, there's an A" (Professor Claude Olney)
Great Tips!
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