1) Develop good habits as soon as you get to school. It's like exercise. It's much easier to keep a great body in good shape than to get in shape after letting yourself go. Same with grades. So get organized and stay organized. Develop a schedule. Say no to social stuff when you need to. Set a good example for yourself.

2) Get to know your professors/advisor. Most professors are pleased when students make an effort to stop by during office hours with a question or two. This shows that you're taking a serious interest in your grade in that class. We don't mean dropping in just to kiss-up, or showing up every week for no real reason. Simply put, ask questions when you have them and make it a point to assure you actually understand the material. That's exactly what office hours are for—and in this relaxed setting, your teacher can take the time to explain the material in a way that makes sense to you. Added bonus: Professors are more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt later if you have a borderline grade and yet have shown initiative.

3) Stay on top of assignments—even reading. It is incredibly easy to blow off reading assignments and show up at class unprepared. After all, the professor can't know for sure that you didn't read it. But you'll know—and it will be harder to grasp that day's material—not to mention the 90 minutes of torture as you worry that you'll be called on to comment. Do yourself a favor and read when they say read.

4) Join activities that are related to your major and/or classes. What a great way to get or stay interested in your work. As a result, you'll feel more connected to how your class material actually applies to the real world outside of school. Environmental studies majors can volunteer at a local community garden, business majors can put their skills to work in the fundraising aspect of the Alumni Affairs Office. Opportunities are everywhere you look.

5) Study with variety. Don't use the same method for every class. And use what works for you personally. If listening to country love songs helps you concentrate, by all means, put on the headphones. Try making flashcards for your Italian class, outlining the notes you took in history class, and having your roommate quiz you before a biology test. It's important to be consistent in your studies, but you can avoid study ruts by shaking up where you study, how you study, and when you study.

6) Get help before there's a problem. Because professors know that college coursework is so demanding, you'll find plenty of opportunities to get extra help if you need it—or even if you don't. Take advantage of organized study groups, one-on-one tutoring, review sessions, and extra credit assignments. If you're having trouble, some of your classmates probably are too. If your professor hasn't taken the liberty, form your own study group. Consider meeting right before or right after class so the material is fresh in everyone's mind.

7) Participate in class. It helps you stay interested—and awake! Class participation also helps you make the best use of your time. By simply staying alert and focused in class, you can save yourself a lot of study time later that would be spent catching up for the time you spent doodling, daydreaming, or text messaging your friends when you could have been absorbing the lecture. (And, like we mentioned in #2, professors notice who's participating. It can help you down the road.)

8) Take a balanced course load. Getting A's is going to be a lot more difficult if you tackle all your tough classes in the same semester. On the other hand, while it might seem clever to take an entire semester of easy classes at first so you can start off with aces, you'll pay for it the next semester when all of the hard classes fill your academic plate. Balance is the key.

9) Use your strengths to pick classes and complete assignments. No matter what your major, you're going to have some core requirements—a math class, an English class, stuff like that. Often, there will be several classes offered that will fit those core requirements and it pays to choose wisely. Follow your interests (do you prefer classic literature or more contemporary writers?) and your grades will be higher. If a class you want to take is only offered in the spring, hold off until spring instead of taking something in the fall that totally bores you. Same goes for assignments. If your history professor gives you the choice between a paper or an oral presentation, don't choose the one you think you can do faster, choose the one at which you'll do better. Call upon your theatrical skills and wow the class with a speech, even if you have to spend some extra time rehearsing once you've sketched out what you're going to say. Going the extra mile will do wonders for your GPA.

10) Take a break once in a while. All work and no play makes Jack burnt out on schoolwork and very, very cranky. Sleep, eat, relax. Starving, tired, and stressed are not going to help. So, take a day off from time to time—you're definitely going to need it.