Charlotte Wargniez (BSc 2023 UTSC) didn’t just graduate from U of T Scarborough at 17 years old, she did it with the award for the highest performing woman student in science at U of T.
She’s now in England getting her master’s at Oxford University. From across the pond, here’s her blueprint for landing a high GPA.
Notes: Use the “folder” technique
As a teaching assistant (TA), Wargniez endorsed what she calls the “folder” technique for note-taking. Think of your brain as a computer and your course as one of its folders. You’ll better navigate that information if it’s sorted into subfolders, which contain more subfolders and so on.
The technique hinges on gathering all information about a topic or concept (across lectures, readings and course materials) and grouping it into clusters, based on what makes the most sense to you. Each cluster should be topped by a carefully crafted subheading, complete with colour-coding, bolding and effective summarization. Create accurate titles that conjure memories of what’s in the folder.
“Make titles and group information based on what works for you, even if it’s not how your professor or TAs are doing it,” says Wargniez, who graduated with a specialist in environmental geoscience.
Studying: Start easy and build buffers
It seems counterintuitive, but Wargniez studies by starting with the easier courses and finishing with harder ones. She says because you’ll study simpler material faster, you can then tackle more complex content with the confidence that you’ve covered at least one course.
“People go straight to the hard courses, then they spend so much time there that there’s little time to do the easier courses, which makes them stress out and forget, then even the easy course isn’t prepared for,” she says. “Don’t get yourself into that mess, just plan.”
Wargniez advises building a study plan based how many midterms or exams you have, their expected difficulty and the time needed to go over notes. Schedule what you’ll study and for how long, and build in at least one buffer day before the test. An extra day or two can save you from scrambling if your plan goes awry; use buffer days to go over whatever you’ve missed, or revisit anything you’re struggling with.
Procrastination: Stumble, but don’t fall
Despite her GPA, Wargniez calls herself “a fellow procrastinator.” She says trying to be the perfect student isn’t realistic and could do more harm than good.
“Part of the reason procrastinators fail is because they stress about procrastinating,” she says.
“Be confident, even if you don’t stick to the plan, it’s okay, just do it the next day. Don’t feel like you’re a total failure and like the student who has a 4.0 would have done it.”
Wargniez isn’t advocating for procrastination, rather for controlling the tendency by acknowledging and accepting it. Forgive yourself — kindness can keep a missed task from snowballing.
Reinforce your learning: Send cold emails
Wargniez has a rule of thumb: there are no stupid questions. Questions present an opportunity to build a connection. She adds many students don’t realize how many doors they can open by reaching out with an email. There are research assistant positions and volunteer opportunities galore at U of T, and a concise, well-researched email to your TA or professor can act as a quasi cover letter. It’s not an overt route to a higher GPA, but hands-on learning can bring concepts from your courses both to life and together (while adding to your resume).
“I told my friends all the time, ‘Reach out to professors and ask if there are research assistant positions.’ Some of them had a 4.0 GPA, others had a 2.8, and they still got positions. It's the matter of reaching out. Not enough people do it,” she says. “Professors are a lot more willing to help than you think they are.”
Not all cold emails will lead to opportunities, but she says it’s a good habit to speak up when something interests you — be it clubs, programs, initiatives, or other campus offerings.
“Getting involved can also really reinforce your academics, and you’ll surround yourself with proactive, good students,” she says. “You’ll learn so much.”