Navigating the Final Stretch: A Realistic Plan to Finish the School Year Strong
The calendar reads May 18th, and the school year’s end—June 6th—is looming. You’ve already crossed the finish line in coding class, but the rest of your academic landscape looks like a mixed bag: business class sits at 68% completion with a grade of 43%, ELA is only 14% done, and your other classes hover around 38%. The goal? Reach 80% in everything. Let’s break down where you stand, how to prioritize, and whether this is salvageable. Spoiler: It’s not over yet.
Step 1: Assess the Damage
First, take a breath. Panic won’t help, but a clear-eyed analysis will. Here’s the breakdown:
– Business class: 68% complete, but a grade of 43% suggests assignments may be submitted but not meeting standards. This is critical—it’s not just about finishing work but improving quality.
– ELA: 14% completion. This class is your biggest red flag. At this pace, catching up will require intense focus.
– Other classes: 38% done. These are likely “middle ground”—manageable if you strategize.
Time is tight: You have roughly 2.5 weeks (assuming June 6th is a hard deadline). Let’s turn this into a game plan.
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Step 2: Prioritize Ruthlessly
Not all classes are created equal. Rank them by two factors:
1. Ease of progress: Which courses let you complete work quickly?
2. Impact on GPA: A failing grade in business (43%) could drag down your average more than a low-but-passing grade elsewhere.
Priority list:
1. Business class: Fixing this grade is urgent. A 43% in a nearly finished class implies earlier assignments were poorly executed. Identify if revisions are allowed.
2. ELA: Even at 14%, ELA often involves reading/writing tasks that can be accelerated. Focus on high-weight assignments (essays, projects).
3. Other classes: If these are elective or require simpler tasks (quizzes, short assignments), tackle them in bulk.
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Step 3: Work Backward from June 6th
Break the remaining time into phases:
Phase 1 (May 18–24): Damage Control
– Business class: Email your teacher today. Ask:
– “Can I revise past assignments to improve my grade?”
– “What’s the highest-impact work I can submit this week?”
– ELA: Skim readings, use summaries (SparkNotes), and draft essays using templates. Aim to complete 30–40% of the class this week.
– Other classes: Knock out 2–3 smaller tasks daily (e.g., quizzes, discussion posts).
Phase 2 (May 25–31): Grind Mode
– Business: Submit revised work and focus on remaining modules. Target 85% completion with improved scores.
– ELA: Complete a major project or essay. Use writing apps (Grammarly, Hemingway) to speed up editing.
– Other classes: Aim for 60–70% completion by Memorial Day.
Phase 3 (June 1–6): Final Push
– Business/ELA: Polish final assignments. If allowed, ask for extensions now—some teachers offer grace periods.
– Other classes: Bulk-submit missing work. Even partial credit is better than zeros.
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Step 4: Optimize Your Workflow
You need efficiency, not perfection:
– Batch similar tasks: Complete all quizzes for multiple classes in one sitting.
– Use templates: For essays, reuse structures from coding class reports (intro, body, conclusion).
– Leverage tech: Apps like Focus@Will or Pomodoro timers can boost productivity.
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Step 5: Communicate Like Your GPA Depends on It (Because It Does)
Teachers aren’t mind readers. Send polite, specific emails:
> “Hi [Teacher], I’m working hard to improve my grade in [class]. Could you clarify which assignments I could revise or prioritize this week? I want to make sure I’m focusing on the right tasks.”
Most instructors appreciate proactive students—even last-minute ones.
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The Realistic Outlook
Is this ideal? No. But here’s the good news: You’re not doomed.
– Business: If revisions are allowed, raising a 43% to a C (70–79%) is possible by redoing 2–3 key assignments.
– ELA: Completing 50–60% of the class with solid work could net a D or low C, depending on weighting.
– Other classes: Getting to 70–80% is feasible by submitting late work (many schools deduct 10–20% per day late—still better than a zero).
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Final Tips
– Sleep matters: Pulling all-nighters backfires. Aim for 6 hours minimum.
– Celebrate small wins: Finished a module? Reward yourself with a 10-minute break.
– Stay organized: Track deadlines in a spreadsheet or app (Trello, Notion).
The next 2.5 weeks will be intense, but progress compounds quickly. Channel the focus you used to finish coding class, and remember: This is a sprint, not a marathon. You’ve got this.
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