College can be difficult to navigate when you are not sure what your grades mean or whether you are actually making progress toward your goals. You might look at your grades and wonder, “Am I doing okay?” or “Am I still on track to graduate?” If you are unsure where you stand academically, you are not alone.
Understanding your academic progress starts with knowing what to look at, asking questions when something is unclear, and checking in with the right people when you need help. You do not have to figure out your entire academic plan by yourself.
Start by Checking Your Current Grades
One of the easiest ways to understand your progress is to regularly review your grades
in each course. Instead of waiting until the end of the semester, make it a habit
to check your grades throughout the term.
Look at:
- Your current grade in each class
- Assignments you have completed
- Missing or late assignments
- Upcoming exams and projects
- Feedback from your instructor
- Your syllabus and grading breakdown
Remember that your current course grade is only one part of understanding your overall academic progress. You also want to know how your courses fit into your degree, certificate, or transfer plan.
Know the Difference Between Course Grades and Overall Progress
Getting a good grade in a class is important, but academic progress involves more
than one assignment or course.
Your overall progress can include the courses you have completed, the units you have earned, your GPA, and whether you are completing the courses required for your educational goal.
If you receive financial aid, you may also need to meet Lemoore College's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. For students receiving federal student aid, Lemoore College currently requires a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and completion of at least 67% of overall units attempted.
If you are unsure whether you are meeting these requirements, review the Lemoore College Satisfactory Academic Progress information or contact the Financial Aid Office.
Look at the Bigger Picture
It can be easy to focus on one difficult class and feel like you are not making progress.
Instead, take a step back and look at your overall academic path.
Ask yourself:
- How many courses have I completed?
- How many units have I earned?
- Which requirements have I already completed?
- What requirements do I still need?
- Am I taking courses that apply toward my degree, certificate, or transfer goal?
- Do I know what classes I should take next?
If you do not know the answers, that is a good reason to connect with a counselor.
Meet With a Counselor to Review Your Progress
You do not need to wait until you are struggling academically to meet with Counseling
& Advising. Lemoore College counselors can help students review their academic progress,
understand degree and certificate requirements, choose courses, and create or update
an educational plan.
A counselor can help you look beyond your current grades and understand how the courses you are taking fit into your larger educational goal.
Connect with Lemoore College Counseling & Advising
When you meet with a counselor, consider bringing questions such as:
“Am I on track for my degree?”
“Which requirements have I completed?”
“What classes should I take next?”
“Is there anything I should change about my current academic plan?”
You do not have to know exactly what you need before making an appointment. That is part of what counseling is there to help with.
Talk to Your Instructor When You Are Confused About a Grade
If you do not understand why you received a particular grade, start by reviewing the
assignment instructions, grading criteria, and feedback from your instructor.
If you are still confused, reach out to your instructor. You can ask what you did well, what you need to improve, and what you should focus on for future assignments.
Do not wait until the end of the semester to ask questions. Understanding where you can improve gives you more opportunities to make changes while the course is still in progress.
Use Academic Support Before You Fall Behind
If your grades are lower than you expected, you do not have to handle the situation
alone.
Lemoore College's Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) provides academic support both on campus and online. Students can receive help with areas such as reading, writing, math, assignments, and study skills. ACE also provides a quiet place to work and access to tutoring and Supplemental Instruction.
Explore Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and Tutoring
Getting academic support does not have to mean that you are failing. You can use tutoring to better understand difficult material, prepare for an upcoming exam, or strengthen skills before you fall behind.
Make a Simple Academic Progress Check-In
You do not need a complicated system to stay aware of your progress. Try setting aside
15–20 minutes each week to review your academic situation.
Your weekly check-in:
- Check your grades.
Look for new grades, missing assignments, and instructor feedback. - Check your deadlines.
Write down upcoming tests, projects, and assignments. - Identify one concern.
Maybe you are struggling in one class, missing assignments, or unsure about a requirement. - Decide on your next step.
Your next step might be contacting your professor, scheduling tutoring, or making a counseling appointment. - Follow up.
After taking action, check your progress again the following week.
Small check-ins can make it easier to notice problems while you still have time to address them.
If Your Grades Are Not Where You Want Them to Be
A difficult semester or a low grade does not tell the entire story of your college
experience. What matters is understanding what happened and figuring out what you
can do next.
You may need to:
- Change your study habits
- Attend tutoring
- Talk with your instructor
- Adjust your course schedule
- Meet with a counselor
- Create a new educational plan
- Address outside challenges that are affecting your schoolwork
Lemoore College Counseling & Advising offers academic recovery support for students
experiencing academic difficulties, including individualized success planning, study-skills
and time-management workshops, and progress check-ins.
Learn about Academic Recovery and Counseling Services
You Do Not Have to Know Everything About Your Progress Right Away
If you are looking at your grades and thinking, “I do not know if I am making progress,”
start with one question.
What do I need to know next?
Maybe that means finding out why your grade changed. Maybe it means asking your professor for feedback. Maybe you need to meet with a counselor to review your educational plan.
Lemoore College offers student support services designed to help you understand your options and move toward your academic goals. You can also explore the college's Student Resources to find academic support, counseling, financial aid, and other services.
You do not have to have your entire college journey figured out today. Start by understanding where you are, identify where you want to go, and take the next step.