Dr. John R. Hoffman, a biology professor at Arcadia University and former Oreland resident, recently published two books titled “The GPA Strategy: A College Student’s Guide To a Successful Semester” and “The GPA Strategy Workbook: A Planner for a Successful College Semester“.
The Kindle edition of The GPA Strategy is currently the #1 Best Seller in Study & Test-Taking Skills
(Kindle Store), #3 in College Guides (Kindle Store), and #3 in Study Skills (Kindle Store). Both are available on Amazon.com.
“The GPA Strategy is based on the concept that we all are dreamers, but dreaming isn’t enough,” Dr. Hoffman said.
The title redefines the acronym GPA as Goals, Plans, and Action.
“The approach has students reflect on their deep vision of the future to create goals, break down their goals into achievable plans, and implement their plans through intentional action,” he said. “Their plan and actions are then reviewed every week so that they can critically evaluate what is working and should be continued and what strategies need to be revised to get them back on track.”
Dr. Hoffman says that he had been dreaming of writing this book for over ten years and was able to complete it this summer by implementing the same success strategies he encourages students to follow.
He plans to write a third book next summer focused on study skills and test-taking strategies.
From the book’s description:
In “The GPA Strategy: A College Student’s Guide To A Successful Semester,” students get step-by-step instructions and tips for converting their dreams into SMART goals; taking those goals to create a success plan for their semester; and identifying the actions necessary to follow their plan. Strategies for overcoming common obstacles include time management, study skills, test-taking skills, maintaining a growth mindset, and building resilience. Those who succeed in college and life are able to create and commit to an achievable plan to reach their goals through a system of accountability and consistent progress.
“The GPA Strategy Workbook: A Planner For A Successful College Semester” uses a collection of question-and-answer worksheets to organize important campus, course, exam, and assignment information in one location. The weekly schedule helps the student to identify the highest priority items for the coming week, plan their schedule on a week-by-week basis, and review the past week to help them determine which study habits and skills are working and which need to be adjusted. Supplemental worksheets help students plan how to study for exams or break complex assignments into smaller, more manageable tasks. A review at the end of the semester enables them to evaluate efforts to celebrate their successes and learn from their challenges.
About John R. Hoffman
John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology at Arcadia University, where he teaches General Biology, Reading and Writing in Biology, Human Physiology, and Scientific Ethics. In his 30+ years in higher education, he has mentored hundreds of students as their academic advisor and course instructor. He has a BS from the Lyman Briggs School at Michigan State University and a PhD from the University of Michigan. He enjoys running, hiking, and biking with his family. He is currently learning to play competitive Pokémon VGC with his son.
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