By: Elizabeth Romero Fuerte, New Futuro

Getting the GPA you need is a crucial part of getting into college. So let’s get right to it – the following five strategies will help you increase your GPA.

1. Go to class – pay attention and participate!
2. Sit where you don’t get distracted – stay far from friends who talk a lot.
3. Be part of a study group – helping others will help you too.
4. Be conscious of the way you learn best – don’t turn off the music because others say so; you may learn better with some sound in the background.
5. Balance your course load while considering honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.

If you think you need extra practice to master a particular subject, check out the five online resources, at www.newfuturo.com.

Take the time to calculate your current cumulative GPA to know where you stand; this will help you set goals for how to improve it. You can do this by dividing the total amount of grade points you have earned by the total amount of credit hours taken. A grade point average typically ranges from 0.0 to 4.0. You can use the College Board grade to GPA equivalent to make the conversion of grade to GPA. Keep track of your GPA every year and compare it with the GPA required by the colleges of your choice.

Taking advanced courses can help boost your GPA faster.

AP courses typically are graded on a 5-point scale instead of the 4-point scale that regular courses are graded on. Similarly, an A in an IB course may be worth up to 7 points. Be aware that those courses assume a more challenging environment for you, so balance your chances of getting a decent grade, but take some risk. Colleges will value your willingness to be intellectually challenged and not always taking the safest bet.

Besides giving you the opportunity to increase your GPA, these strategies are great to prepare you for the rigors of college-level work. Use your support team to help you decide which courses are right for you and speak to your school counselor for more information about such opportunities. To learn more, visit New Futuro at www.newfuturo.com.