Let’s face it: most of us have grade point averages that are, well, average. But we all know that despite college being a fun experience, school generally comes down to grades. You pass a class, and you move one step closer to graduation. You fail a class, and you’ve pretty much wasted your money and time.

So how do you maintain your GPA and stay motivated to perform well in classes until graduation? Some current and former U. Hawaii students shared their advice.

“First and foremost, do your research on the professors,” said Gabriel Yanagihara, a UH Mānoa graduate. “Find out which ones are good at what they do and who can keep class interesting.”

Professors have a lot of power over your GPA. Make sure you do your research prior to registration by asking your friends, or looking up potential teachers on ratemyprofessors.com. Don’t forget that you can ask other professors, too. They may be surprisingly honest with you, especially if you have a good reputation as a student.

Chaslee Ikawa, a senior, said she believes a good GPA is maintained through good study habits. “It can be easy to procrastinate, but my advice would be to not. At the time it sucks, but when you get the outcome you wanted, it makes you feel accomplished.”

Some of us do work better under pressure, and it’s unrealistic to assume we will all go through college with essays completed two weeks ahead of time. Priscilla Stafford, a UH Mānoa graduate, recommended that even if you procrastinate, “Always keep to deadlines. … The worst thing you can be is unprepared. That’s when the low grades start to hit.”

All three of these students agreed that “self-motivation” and “personal pride” are keys to maintaining a high GPA. Depending on your personality, motivation as a freshman to get good grades may be nonexistent, but once you reach senior year, you may change your mind.

Both Stafford and Ikawa said they noticed that their priorities altered because they knew what they wanted and how to achieve their goals. “My classes had more meaning to me,” said Stafford. “So I enjoyed [them] more, and [they were] not much of a ‘burden’ compared to English, or math classes that you [may not] enjoy.”

For Ikawa, it was the motivation to leave school without regret. “When you get closer to the end of your college education, you start to realize that this is it … it’s basically now or never. So it motivated me to do the best I can and be all I can be. I wanted to make it a memory that I could reflect back on and be proud of myself.”

In the working world, your future job may or may not depend on your grades, but a 3.8 is always impressive on your résumé. If you want the option of grad school, a high GPA is essential. Scholarships usually require a 3.5 or higher. So no matter how far into your college journey you are, find a way to stay motivated. Look for study buddies, write down future goals, and set up study plans or a reward system; figure out what works for you. It’s about thinking ahead, and it’s all up to you.