The following tips are recommended for planning your future academic success:
- Meet with an academic adviser, prior to the end of drop/add week, for strategies for a more successful semester.
- Retake courses in which you earned an "E" grade (known as an "E-repeat").
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If you have already registered for a course for next semester and have failed the prerequisite for the course, you must adjust your schedule. You must re-register for the prerequisite course you failed and drop (by the appropriate drop deadline) the course for which you did not satisfy the prerequisite. Example: If you earned an “E” in CWP 101 and registered for CWP 102 for the following semester, you must adjust your schedule so that you are repeating CWP 101 and not taking CWP 102.
- If you earned an "E" in a course that fulfills a General Education requirement, you are still responsible for fulfilling that General Education requirement, although you may choose to (a) either E-repeat the failed course or (b) take a different course to fulfill the Gen Ed requirement (although option b will not remove the E grade from your GPA).
- Drop or withdraw (before the deadline) from future courses where failure is eminent; however, be sure to check with the Financial Aid Office and your Academic Advisor regarding the possibility of financial aid implications.
- Reduce your course load to 12 credits. -This is the time to do "damage control" to your GPA. Focus on 12 credits so that you can excel!
- Enroll in a general study skills course. These courses are elective and help create a good foundation, influencing how students will approach their other courses successfully.
- Meet with the specific faculty in each course to review the syllabus, course expectations, and assignment timelines. Ask for clarifications from the faculty in any area of the course that is problematic. In addition, keep your faculty member (and academic advisor) updated on your academic progress and personal issues that may be affecting your academic work. The faculty and staff at Buffalo State can only help you if we know you are having trouble!
- Reduce your work hours to 20 maximum. Remember that working is NOT a valid excuse for poor academic performance!
- Create a semester schedule. Assess and plan your work load each week!
- Use the Academic Skills Center, The College Writing Program, and informal student study groups. Seek help from a tutor before you fall behind in a course. The Academic Skills Center is located in South Wing 330, and can be reached at 716-878-4041. The College Writing Program is available to you for assisting you with writing. They can be contacted by calling 716-878-5451 or by stopping by 130 South Wing.
- Improve your study habits and study skills. Many students having academic difficulty do not devote sufficient study time or techniques to master their coursework. Help with study skills is available at our workshop site or through the Academic Skills Center.
- Assess your interests and values. Explore potential major and career possibilities. Use the Career Development Center to do this. Call 716-878-5811 to set up an appointment with a career counselor, or stop by 306 Grover Cleveland.
- Attend classes regularly! You will perform significantly better if you attend and actively participate in your class! Additionally, turn in all assignments to maximize your chances for doing well in class. Not turning in work guarantees you receiving a lower grade in the course than if you do all homework, tests, group work, and papers.
- Set goals for yourself. Start by setting long-term goals and then setting short-term goals to achieve your long-term ones.
- Develop a long-term academic plan, one that may include summer school to replace the loss of credits due to failed courses.
- Seek help! Get to know the campus resources that are available to you. You are not alone in attaining you goal of academic success.
Project this semester's GPA and analyze what efforts will be required to attain those grades. Your academic advisor can share that information with you.
