Earning a 4.0 has always been a major goal of mine. It was one that I didn’t take too seriously in undergrad, strived for with my Masters and finally achieved with my doctorate! It wasn’t something I was pressured to do but something I personally wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish.

If you’re striving for excellence as well, here are a few tips to get you started!

1. FOCUS on one thing until successful. There is so much to be easily distracted by. We live in a world where there is so much information that’s it’s hard to focus on one thing. But to be successful and operate in excellence you must focus. That means work your work, until it works for you!

2. Turn off all electronics. You have to learn how to turn off the TV, not answer texts messages, and don’t peek at that funny Vine. When you’re trying to achieve excellence you have to work in an environment that allows you to give your assignment your complete attention. No distractions! Cut them off.

3. Get in your music groove. Music helps create a synergy to your work. Play something that’s not distracting like classical, jazz, or just the instrumentals to your favorite songs. It will help the time to go by much faster!

4. Set a timer. Don’t ever try to complete a big assignment in one sitting. Some people make the excuse of saying “I work really well under pressure”, which may be true, but it’s best to break your work up into bite sized pieces. Set a timer and allow yourself to work in 15 minute incremements. Be sure to give yourself a break in between!

5. Don’t forget to double check your work. Not just spell check, either!  Leave it for a day and come back and read it aloud to yourself or someone else. The largest docks on papers are spelling and grammar. Train yourself to pay attention to small details.

6. Read your textbook for 10 minutes per day. That’s not a huge time commitment. Play 3 of your favorite songs and you’re done! It will at least give you an idea of the information covered in the book so that you can contribute to class discussions, pass surprise quizzes, and perform better on tests without anxiety.

7. Attend all your classes. Class participation and attendance is a large part of your grade. Practice getting to your class five or ten minutes early. It’ll give you time to get adjusted and lay out your materials on your desk, turn your phone to vibrate, get a sip of water, and get focused.