by Christina Yu > University of Notre Dame | photos Kate Cassalia

For some, earning A’s is a natural product of hard work and genuine passion for the subject matter. For others, it requires talent, strategy and competitiveness. Whether you’re a slacker, a gunner, or a closet case of either, the transition from high school to college often involves some serious reconsideration of the grade game—how it reflects your performance and shapes your future opportunities.

“Don’t be too proud to get a tutor or seek advice at the campus writing or math center. On the reverse side, volunteer to tutor others. It will help you grasp the subject better.”
—Thomas Wei, Teaching Fellow at Harvard University ‘10

“If a course is difficult for you, carefully redo your notes before the day is over – fill in the insights that you couldn’t get written down during class – you will recall the stuff during the re-write of the notes.”
—William Rosen, Professor at Cornell University

"To be the best you can be, walk into class on Day 1 with the following mindset: 1) There are a limited number of A's available, and one of them belongs to you. 2) If you let down your guard, then someone has just stolen your A—and given his B to you."
—Mark Wang, Dartmouth College ‘05

“If you’re shy, raise your hand at the start of every class. It gets harder to speak the longer you wait.”
—Rumit Pancholi, University of Maryland ‘06

“Ask yourself: ‘If I were the professor, what kinds of questions would I ask to really see if the students understand the material?’ Then learn the answers to these questions.”
—Steven Cohen, Instructor at Harvard University