I have a favorite grade point average calculator that I use when advising students. You can use this tool to figure out exactly what you need to do (grade-wise) to improve your GPA.

This GPA calculator has options such as:

• How many credit hours will it take to raise your GPA to a specific grade.
• What you will need to average on your current courses to reach a specific goal.

Explore this tool to find out where you stand and what you need to do to stay on target with your grades.

If you have your heart set on an iPod Touch this holiday season, but you're not sure whether your parents are so warm to the idea, you may be in luck. You could sell the gadget as a research tool.

There are a few features on the iPod Touch that make it a useful device for students on the go.

First, the iPod Touch has built-in wireless access to the web, so you can do Internet research from anywhere, as long as you can pick up Wi-Fi. You can access encyclopedias, government web sites, Google Scholar--any site that you can access with your home computer.

Secondly, the device enables you to send and receive email. You can view email attachments, including papers written in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint projects. You can also see pdf's and Microsoft Excel files.

You can also keep up with group projects by accessing Google Docs.

Finally, it may be possible to record lectures with your device, as long as you have the right model and accessory. I can't vouch for the sound quality, but you know how quickly these things improve!

I many ways, the iPod Touch can be used as a tiny but serious research tool. Can you think of other ways?

Do you ever feel like you're stuck in the same place? If you've ever plugged away at a difficult book or worked on a big project for a long time, you might have felt like you were spinning your wheels, not getting anywhere.

It's easy to get discouraged from time to time when you can't see your own progress. That's why it can be a good idea to create a visual representation of your progress. You can track your own progress by creating a chart or graph.

Colorful charts and graphs can be motivating, because they show in a very visual way how well you're really moving along! You can create a graph using Microsoft Excel, or you can use a great tool created just for kids by the U.S. Department of Education.

Don't be intimidated by words that sound very technical when it comes to creating a graph or chart. The chart maker will ask for data, but the data you will use is simply the number of pages (Y axis) or the days of the week (X axis). It's all pretty simple, really. Give it a try!

When we hear the phrase "E for effort" it's usually related to a lack of success. You get an E for effort if you try and fail at something, right? Actually, there's something you should know about the "E" factor. It can also stand for Extra and Edge.

Confused? It's simple, really. Most teachers will notice when a student is really trying. The student who shows up for class every day, remembers homework every day, and raises his hand every time he has a question--that student will have a little extra going for him when it comes to borderline grades.

I don't know a single teacher who doesn't appreciate genuine effort in a student. And the student who doesn't really put any effort into attendance, punctuality, time management, assignments or test answers? That student won't receive any extra consideration when it comes to grade calculations.

Need to memorize a long list of people, places, or things? This fun activity is much like the Method of Loci mnemonic, but it's also a game. This activity will show you just how easy it can be to memorize a list.

First, write up a random list of ten objects for each person in your group. A sample list would look like this:

• pickle
• frog
• window
• scarecrow
• sea monster
• chicken dinner
• wallet
• carpet
• toilet paper
• banana

As you can see, you can have fun simply creating the lists! Once you have a list for every student, you'll give each person five minutes to memorize the list by making up a story. Read more...

A Venn diagram is a great tool for brainstorming and creating a comparison between two or more objects, events, or people. You can start with a Venn diagram as a first step to creating an outline for a compare and contrast essay.

Simply draw two (or three) large circles and give each circle a title, reflecting each person or object you are comparing.

Inside the intersection of the two circles (overlapping area) write all the traits that the objects have in common. You will refer to these traits when you compare similar characteristics.

In the areas outside the overlapping section you will write all of the traits that are specific to that particular object or person.

Do you seem to be able to concentrate best at night? Many students think late night study is best for them, but that can be a problem. Lack of sleep can destroy your academic performance!

So when do you study? Is that when you're most productive?

Some teachers get really irked when students ask what will be on the test, because they expect students to study all the material that's been covered in class. That is understandable.

Still, one of your best approaches to preparing for tests is to play the role of mind reader and to try to figure out what will be covered. There are a few ways to go about this.

First of all, you could ask your teacher to give you an idea of what material to focus on the most while preparing for test day. Some teachers expect you to ask! Just don't expect a complete preview of test questions.

Secondly, you should go over the material and look at it from a teacher's point of view. Ask yourself what you would consider most important to put on an exam. You'll be surprised how helpful it can be to play the role of the teacher as you prepare for a test.

Finally, it's fair to ask the teacher what kind of questions will be on the exam. It's good to know ahead of time whether you should prepare for an essay test, a multiple choice, or a fill-in-the-blank.

The bottom line is that you should do a little detective work to try to figure out what will be covered on your test, so that you can focus your efforts productively. But do not expect the teacher to give you the questions and answers ahead of time!

Just when you feel like you're getting the hang of finding the theme of a book in literature class, your teacher will probably ask you to compare two novels in an essay.

Comparing novels is pretty straightforward, and that may bring the left-brain thinkers a little comfort. You use a systematic approach to this type of paper. Simply make lists of characteristics for each novel (like characters, settings, time periods, or overall themes) and choose elements that are similar. You can easily make an outline from your lists.

Choose three to five comparisons to write about, come up with a good thesis statement, and begin writing your comparison paper!

The most recent studies by the U.S. government show that about sixty percent of the students who started their postsecondary studies in a four-year college lasted more than two years. Some of those students transferred away to other colleges, but a large chunk of them (at least seventeen percent) just left college.

Why do students drop out of college? As an academic advisor in a state university, I know there are many answers, but some important factors are maturity level and college readiness.

Students who can study independently, manage their time, and take charge of their own schedules and planners are most likely to stick it out and succeed in college.

SOURCE: Statistics are from the U.S. Department of Education Study, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003-04 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).