Its 8 a.m. and your test is an hour away. You knew you had a test coming up soon and you put off studying for it. Now you're in a bind, and you‘re paying for it.

Your parents have been hounding you about your grades and now you have only two weeks to turn that C in biochemistry into a B and those two Ds in math and history into Cs. If only you had studied more. If only you hadn’t gone to that party last night. If only, if only, if only…

There are ways that will teach you how to maintain a good grade point average (GPA) and still be actively involved on your campus. You just have to take the right steps and be willing to make some changes.

First, select the right major for you. Don’t pick a field you have no interest in. You don’t want to be so bored that you can’t even keep your eyes open in class. And if you are not good with numbers then it does not take a rocket scientist to tell you that you should steer clear of anything to do with math.

If you are interested in what you are studying and have a passion for the material, then you are already on a good path.

Second, get to know your professors. Contrary to popular belief, they are not here to chew you up and spit you out. They love to teach and are willing to help you if you take the time to go to them and ask questions.

“I can’t emphasize how important it is to build relationships with your professors. That has definitely been a help to me in my years here at UTM,” says senior history major Megan Vonderheide.

Third, make friends in your particular field of study. Its very important to make friends that are in your classes, because then you will have opportunities to form study groups.

“It’s great to have friends that can help me with my homework. Sometimes I tend to overuse them and that can pose a problem,” says junior criminal justice major Alex Britt.

Having access to people that can help you with your homework is always good, but watch out that you don’t get into a habit of overusing someone. Remember that friendships are more important than getting a perfect score.

Fourth, manage your time wisely. Don’t procrastinate. When you know you have an exam coming up, prepare for it.

Shalaine Phaup, a junior biology major, has some good advice for preparing early for an exam, “I start looking over the material for the test at least a week before. About two or three nights before the actual test, I really buckle down and use notes and index cards to really absorb the information.”

Good study habits are sometimes hard to find. It is possible to do well in college and still have fun. You just have to have the right approach. You have to find the study habits that are right for you. If you study better alone and in the quiet, then do that. If you prefer a group atmosphere, go somewhere comfortable that still allows you to concentrate.

Find the right habits for you. Being a college student is sometimes a privilege that students tend to take advantage of. Don’t be one of those students. Do your very best while you are here. Have fun, and do well in school. Not only will you one day have a great job, but you’ll have great memories too.