How to Do Well in School: 50 Ways

Are you looking for ways to do better in school? Are you stuck in an academic rut and in need of a push? You have come to the right place.

In this article, we will provide you with the keys to success in school, no matter what type of school you are currently attending. We will give you top student secrets to positively impact your academic journey, whether you are wondering how to do better in high school or college.

Performing well in school is something that is within reach for you and everyone around you. All you need are the right tips. If any of these ideas sound promising, all you have to do is keep reading.

How to Do Better in Middle School?

Though many may think middle school is not essential, they are sadly mistaken. Middle school sets the tone for your academic years to come. You can do several things inside and outside of the classroom to ensure that you do well in school.

• Go to bed early. One thing you should always be able to do is to stay alert and pay attention in class. The only way you will do this is if you get adequate amounts of rest. Making sure you are well rested ensures you can easily recall facts and information for quizzes and exams. Though watching your favorite show may sound good at the moment, it can negatively affect you in the morning.
• Pay attention in class. One of the most important ways for you to be an exceptional student is to pay attention in class. Paying attention ensures that you never miss anything, and you don’t have to guess what’s to come. This also allows you the independence to focus on your work rather than chasing information from others.
• Know the policies. It’s essential to know the guidelines that your teacher and the school have in place for the school year. Understanding these policies means you can always stay one step ahead of the system. For example, if you have standardized testing coming up and there are stipulations for calculators, knowing this ahead of time will ensure you are not scrambling at the last minute.
• Don’t rely on your parents for information. During middle school, children often rely on emails from their parents to let them know of important events or school happenings like report card pickups, recitals, or spelling bees. However, keeping up with these items yourself gives you the flexibility to adequately prepare.
• Get to know your teacher. The one most crucial aid that you have is your teacher. Your teacher can be a resource like no other. This person is not only there to teach you but tutor and mentor you through middle school.
• Utilize your school’s website. Your school’s website can become an excellent resource. It can contain things like calendars, information from teachers, and much more. It can even contain permanent contact information and essential homework links.
• Clean out folders and binders. One thing that can keep you on track is staying organized. By putting in place a system to maintain your folders and binders, you can ensure that you a
• Pay attention to things your teacher emphasizes. Often your teacher will highlight things that they want you to remember. This can include items for quizzes and tests, even classroom happenings. When taking notes, be sure to give these items extra attention so that you know to go back to them later.
• Take notes. Taking notes on pen and paper is excellent for muscle memory. It also helps you focus while in class and be actively engaged. Notes also allow you to make connections with information you may hear or read. Though taking notes forces you to actively listen, it also keeps you awake and your body active. This saves you from falling asleep or missing important information.
• Choose your friends wisely. Your friends can make or break your educational experience. Staying around people who want to see you win and help you to do well are assets in your life. It’s essential to make sure that you do that for your friends, and they do that for you. Having excellent friends can help you for a lifetime, not just in middle school.
• Don’t bury yourself in your phone screen. It’s important to remember that there is more to the world than what we see on tik tok and Instagram. Life is happening around you every day, and it’s crucial that you are participating in it rather than letting it pass you by. Kids must remember to be kids. Fresh air and outdoors can help you stay motivated, active, and even social.

How to Do Better in High School?

• Create a schedule. Staying on top of your commitments is extremely important. Having a schedule keeps not only your homework and exams on your radar, but it also aids you in balancing extracurricular activities and even a part-time job. A schedule also ensures that you are making time for the areas of your life where your activity is most important.
• Study without distractions. Though you may think you are good in a particular subject or are already a genius, one of the most important things you can do is study without distractions and interruption. These potential distractions can include things like cell phones, friends, social media, certain types of music, and many more.  Studying without distractions is one of few top tips for academic success.
• Join extracurricular activities. Extracurriculars are not only great ways to socialize, but they also look great on your college applications. This shows that you are well-rounded and able to perform while juggling various commitments. Often time extracurriculars do an excellent job of teaching responsibility and discipline.
• Study with friends. Having friends who value their studies is something to cherish. However, having friends who love their studies and have the same classes as you are even better. Creating a study group is a great way to keep students interested in their course and make studying fun. Doing something you don’t like with people that you do can take the edge out of studying. It can also create an excellent basis for support among classmates.
• Do your homework. This should go without saying, but many students find themselves flunking class because they know the material but never took the time to do the homework. Homework is also beneficial in pointing out areas that you may struggle in. Classes are often not long enough to cover every topic in a lesson; therefore, when a teacher assigns homework many times, they also expect you to continue the reading about what was covered. Often in class material will cover the basics where the homework may go more in-depth.
• Don’t let your pride stop you from seeking help. Often students are afraid to ask for help for fear of what their classmates may think or look dumb. Do not allow yourself to struggle in silence. The longer you struggle with a topic, the more lost you will be as the class progresses. This is especially important for math and science lessons. Often these subjects will build on each other, and if one foundation block is missed, the confusion can carry throughout your high school tenure.
• Discover your passions. Though you want to do your best academically, you also want to be sure that you are doing things that make you happy. High school is also a great time to experiment with hobbies and see what you like versus what you don’t. As you plan to attend college, you want to be sure that your prospective major aligns with your passions and interests. If you are interested in computers and think that you will become a computer science major, take some classes. These classes can be necessary research for what you can expect in college. This can save you the hassle of multiple major swaps as you get older.
• Set SMART goals. Goal setting is vital for high school students as it makes them far more accountable. Another excellent tip for goal setting is to ensure that they are SMART. This means that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and have a time constraint. This is an excellent tip because it ensures that the goals you have can be obtained. One example of a SMART goal is visiting three schools before the end of your junior year. Depending on your lifestyle, three visits may be far more feasible than 10, you are giving yourself a time limit, and it can be easily measured.
• Find your voice. Don’t be a follower. It is essential that you move at the beat of your own drum and not that of your peers. Some students find themselves following individuals down the wrong path, don’t let that be you.
• Sit in the front. High school is an excellent time to prepare yourself for college. If you practice sitting in the front in high school, it will not be a foreign space once you get to college. It also allows you to comprehend more.

How to Do Better in College?

• Use a recorder. One tip that not many students take advantage of is recording lectures. This can be highly beneficial for classes with large student sizes that make time with the professor hard. This is also great if you are someone who likes to relisten to lectures for understanding. 
• Don’t be tardy. It’s important to remember that to be early is to be on time. You never want to be late for the sake of missing information. However, some professors will lock the door in college or count you as absent if you are late.
• Know yourself. It is essential to know what you are capable of and how you learn. Be sure that you can set boundaries not only in your academic life but also in your social life. For example, if you know you can’t wake up before 10 AM, do not take 8 AM classes. 
• Go to class. Though this should go without saying, make sure you attend all your classes. There is no more significant way to do well than to attend class. No number of notes can supplement you being present in class.
• Utilize office hours. Your professors create office hours so that they can be there for you. If you are too afraid to ask questions in class, utilize office hours. You will be surprised how much more information you can grasp when one on one.
• Make study groups. Having a study group in college can also be a lifesaver. These individuals can help you when you struggle, and teaching someone else can also reinforce your skills.
• Utilize tutors. If you find yourself unable to go to your professor, don’t let that stop you from getting help. Tutors are often available for classes around campus. Utilize them to set yourself up for success.
• Do all extra credit. If you are offered extra credit, do it. No matter how well you are doing, it only takes one lousy grade to change this. This is one of our primary keys to success in school. 
• Take social media breaks. Do not let the internet overcome your life. Digesting too much social media can cause students to have a distorted skew of reality when only viewing someone else’s highlight reel.  
• Do not try to do too many things at once. Burnout is a real thing and something that knows no age. It is not uncommon for an overstressed student to develop health complications or let their studies suffer. Don’t allow yourself to be overcome with worry; plan accordingly and say no when needed.
• Create a study schedule based on your courses. If you know that many of your classes are one or two specific days in the week, set a schedule around them that allows you ample time to study while not interfering with other commitments.
• Utilize your textbook. Though buying a textbook has become uncommon, it still provides valuable information to help you through your studies. Use your textbook as a resource and a study aid that won’t steer you wrong.
• Don’t be just a name. Make sure that the professor and even your classmates know who you are. Do not just be a name or number in a classroom. Participating and engaging in class will make your time much more enjoyable. Your professor may also choose to round up your cusp grades if they know how hard you are working.
• Master the syllabus. Make sure you read and understand the syllabus. This is one of the top students’ secrets. It is essential to know your syllabus and the information in it. Do not be blindsided by a quiz or project outlined in your syllabus because you chose not to read it.
• Learn about the campus. One important tip for how to do better in college is to know your campus. This can alleviate confusion and ensure that you get to class on time and with enough time to spare.
• Take care of yourself. This is a pro tip for ensuring that you do well. This means exercising regularly, checking in with yourself, and not allowing the school to be overwhelming. Imagine being the freshman that does not gain the freshman 15.

How to Motivate Yourself to Do Well in School?

No matter what stage of your education you are in, it’s essential to do your best and keep yourself motivated. Though we will all experience times where we question ourselves and our paths in life, we mustn’t stay there. These are some excellent ways to keep your motivation up and ensuring you are looking out for yourself first.

• Reward yourself.
• Use your end goal as motivation.
• Create a routine.
• Celebrate your achievements.
• Take breaks.
• Do not beat yourself up.
• Create an exercise routine.
• Create a vision board.
• Do not compare yourself to your friends or peers.
• Allow your mobile device to be more than a distraction.
• Use lists and checklist mobile apps.
• Prioritize your health.
• Stay positive.

Wrapping Things Up: How to Do Well in School?

Not all of us are naturally athletic or great at academics; these things take practice. However, if you’re wondering how to do well in school, let this list guide you. The 50 tips listed in this article are meant to provide you with practices that can help you become disciplined well rounded and teach you how to do better in middle school and beyond.

If you’re in middle school, don’t allow your parents to be a crutch. Take some responsibility for yourself and your actions. Doing so will make your high school years a breeze.  If you are looking for tricks on doing better in high school, one excellent tip is to discover your passion and find things that make you happy. This will make stepping into college success much more effortless.

This is only a small subset of the things you can do to take yourself to the next level. Keep striving; all of the keys to success are right in front of you.