Sometimes a semester can be rough, to put it lightly. During the fall, it’s often hard for students to get out of summer mode and into school mode, much to the dismay of our GPAs.

Luckily there are ways to increase our GPAs with just a little effort.

The first step is the hardest — we actually have to get to class. Even if you take nothing away from the lecture, you can rack up attendance points, plus those all-important clicker points. And hopefully, if you make the trek through the snow to get there, you’ll listen and take notes on what your professor is saying.

The second step is almost as hard as the first — we have to actually pay attention to the professor. No Facebook, no Reddit and no sleeping. If done correctly, all those crazy physics formulas and conversions will finally make sense.

Unfortunately, replicating those steps on your own still won’t get you the correct answer on your homework. But don’t worry, because there is a solution to that as well.

Start attending help hours. Now I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry — it isn’t to comprehend the material. All you need to do is find out how to solve the homework and get those points. Every point counts, so build up your grade with these easy ones.

As every procrastinator and slacker can tell you, there is always the all-nighter. All-nighters are great because they allow you to absorb knowledge just long enough to get a decent grade and then never have to use the material again. Well, until the next exam. Don’t let that discourage you — if cramming worked once, I’m sure it will work again.

The last thing you can do is one of my favorites. Hope for a curve. Curves are fantastic. It is a professor’s way of saying, “Don’t worry, I got you.”

Remember, with a curve you don’t have to do well. In fact, you don’t have to even do OK. All you have to do is fail less than everyone else.

If for some reason none of that will help your grade, there are some drastic steps that can be taken that might just help.

Read your book and study.