Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida

    In college, the amount of material for which you're responsible isn't broken down into homework assignments. You have to organize your own time. One of the first things you should do is make a mini calendar for yourself and then go through your syllabuses and write in all the major assignments for the semester. There won't be as many as you might think. I suggest putting midterms, finals, and exams in one color; projects and presentations in another; and essays in a third. In this visual layout, it's much easier to count down how many weekends you have left before things are due, and it's easy to foresee difficult stretches so you can prepare ahead of time.

    I have so much faith in this kind of organization that I do it in a week-by-week format, deciding what I had to get down every week and assigning myself days to do it. I have different categories for written work, studying, reading, and research, and I try to split them up for myself so I’m not reading three books one day and writing ten pages the next. You’re very unlikely to ever forget an assignment and if you procrastinate, at least it’s ordered procrastination. Also, if you’re one of those people who suffers from vaguely anxious unease at the staggering amount of work you have to do, this kind of format is visual proof that you’re getting stuff done and will finish on time. It helped me to relax a little more.

Scott E. Olmsted

Georgetown University

    Something that is very easy to do that will help you and your grades a lot is to look over your class syllabus and schedule your first week. It helps to know what is required of you throughout the course of the semester and to know your deadlines before they surprise you. Some assignments require more thought, time, research, and planning than others and it helps to know about these assignments further than a day in advance. Also , some professors are not as good at warning you about upcoming assignments and events and still expect you to have your work in on time-- and they will not be very lenient with late submissions, giving point penalties for each day late. So get a planner and put big assignments on the calendar. You may also find that you have 3 big exams or papers due the same day or week. If you know this at the beginning of the semester, some professors will be more likely to let you request more time or alternate submission dates. Even if you are a big procrastinator, spending 1 hour at the beginning of the semester going over dates and deadlines will save you from a ton of stress, will help you avoid late assignments, and will help you submit stronger work on time.

Kelly Laura Hocutt

Vanderbilt University

    Most colleges or universities give students agendas at the beginning of the school year, for free. My advice: use it! (Okay, so maybe your school doesn't give out agendas; go to the grocery store and buy yourself a planner.) If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. During the first week of classes each semester, professors each hand out a detailed syllabus, which usually includes a course calendar. Take the course calendar with your agenda and write in all assignment due dates, quizzes or tests, etc. It's not a bad idea either to write in which chapters are to be read for that book. Use different colors, pens, stickers, or highlighters to organize the assignments by course. For example, if you see blue you know there's a math assignment coming up. Staying organized and on top of your schedule saves a lot of stressing over due dates and assignments.

Mary Elizabeth Burr Florida State University

    On the first day of my classes, I was always given a syllabus, and I would write down on my wall calendar the days I had exams along with the days that projects and large assignments were due. I used this calendar to plan ahead and organize a work schedule so that I would not procrastinate and so that I would not have too large a work load any night of the week.
Throughout my college career, I have learned that it is easier to always attend class because professors give hints in class as to what they will emphasize on their exams. The professors will always say things like “this idea is really important” or “this concept is needed to understand any other topic in this class” or “this material is the most significant element in this chapter.” Statements like these helped me plan out the topics that I needed to focus on and study the most. I also learned that it is best not to wait until the last minute to work on group projects because problems may arise in delegating tasks. Furthermore, the group may need to ask the professor to clarify project requirements, and I have found that most professors are far more willing to help out the groups of individuals who seem to be putting in a better effort by starting the assignment in a timely manner.

Sarah Elizabeth Compton

Accounting, Economics

University of North Carolina

    My greatest advice for students is get a date planner/ calendar. As soon as you receive the syllabus from your professor, write all assignments, etc. on your planner. This is especially important if you have several classes. At the beginning of each and every week, check your planner/date book for assignments due that week. Cross them off as you complete them. Do not wait until the very last minute to complete assignments - take the time to do your best work. You get out of it what you put into it! Little effort yields bad grade! Big effort yields knowledge and great G.P.A.!

Janice Bragunier

Masters, Special Education

Shippensburg University

One of the most effective steps I took was to get organized by setting a study schedule. At the beginning of each semester I would take a thorough look at all of my syllabi to get a sense of the expectations each of the professors had throughout the term. Knowing that my professors were not liable to stray from their syllabus, I marked my calendar with all the papers, exams, presentations, etc. that were scheduled. By doing this, I was able to check my calendar regularly so to prepare for multiple assignments in advance, which decreased the unnecessary stress of trying to remember everything for the upcoming weeks. After marking my calendar, I would try to anticipate each assignment by giving myself ample time to prepare for them. So if there was a lengthy term paper to write or mid-term to study for, I would check my calendar and begin researching, outlining, drafting and/or studying about two weeks prior to the end date. Giving myself this time dramatically increased the likelihood of my producing quality work or better comprehending course material. By following this timetable, I found that I had less anxiety and more confidence with the papers I produced or the exams I completed. This was especially critical during those very stressful mid-term and final periods when grades are weighed more heavily. While this method of preparing two weeks in advance worked for me, other people might feel they need more or less time. I would recommend that each person adjust themselves according to their particular need. Some classes may require less time than others; it all depends on the individual. Nevertheless, I feel it is essential that students mark up their calendars and make up a study schedule and stick to it. If indeed they do follow this routine, I believe that it will most likely improve their GPA.. It worked for me and I think it will for others too.

Anne Marie Skalecki

University of Dayton

    You have to be dedicated and focused if you are going to meet your mark. Remove all hindrances that block you from being serious. Have a calendar with enough space to write on, and outline what you will do everyday. Break large projects down into small daily tasks, and then make the time to complete them. Some things will have to be sacrificed for the time being, but if they are meant to be in your life, they will still be there after your goals have been accomplished. Once in a while reward yourself and give your mind a break, but remember that the fun has to stay brief for now. Eat well. Rest well. Balance. Work the best you can, and think about how you'll feel in the end.

Erika Abraham

Master of Science in Social Work

Morgan State University

Along with the designated place, I have created a designated schedule at the beginning of each semester for each class with an allotted time to work on lessons and to prepare for test. I mark on my calendar the due dates of papers, assignments, and test schedules. One of the most important tools I think a student can use is acquiring information from the teaching Professor if early submission of assignments is acceptable. When early submissions are acceptable, it will allow you extra time to study for upcoming test or to work on term papers that are due at the end of the semester.

I create a list of bold faced typed words out of the book I use for the class and define each one. Another important tool is outlining each chapter. This will allow you to read but also write the information acquired out of the chapter. When the professor goes over the information during the class time, you will be familiar with the topics that are spoken.

I also create a test for my self to take on the information that has been given during class. I study the material each week to keep my self familiar with the topics that are given during a semester.

Joyce Ann Wolfe

Master of Science in Counseling

Murray State University

    The most important thing that contributes to my success in school is organization. Each semester presents new challenges and cannot be approached in the same ways as the previous semester. Once I have a copy of a syllabus from each of my classes, I take the time to review each one individually and then compile them all into my day planer. I keep the copies as a reference with the materials for each class; but, once everything is written in my day planner, I no longer need to look at each one individually on a daily basis. Having all the information in one place allows me to plan for papers, tests, and homework assignments accordingly. I am able to flip to the week ahead and know what assignments will be due. Each night, I look to the day ahead and know exactly what will be covered in class the next day. Looking ahead keeps me from falling behind; therefore, when I enter the classroom, I am not scrambling to find my page in the book and the material is already familiar to me. Also, I review the notes taken in class on the same day. This helps the information to really sink in. Some instructors teach super fast and my notes are not always the neatest. So, by reviewing the notes the same day as class, I am able to rewrite or look up anything that is unclear. I also use sticky notes in my book and notebook for questions that are still unclear after my review. The next class period, I make a point to ask the instructor for clarification either during class or office hours.

Amanda Carter Rorrer University of North Carolina

There are so many forms, offices, due dates, etc. that it is necessary to succeed (even in getting scholarships, studying abroad, etc. this focus on organization will pay off) and to enjoy the opportunities that college presents. You need to be responsible for yourself and your dates. I use a planner and highlighters where I mark (using a different color) personal activities and dates, classes, departmental dates, thesis dates, etc. so that by glancing at my planner I can tell by the color what areas I need to focus or take of next week. Also, highlighting helps me to remember but whatever system you use, I plead with you to be organized to make it through.

Natasha Jankowski

PhD in Higher Education

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

    What has always helped me was to keep a calendar. Set it up as soon as you get your syllabus and update it as needed throughout the semester. Write down all assignments and tests and their due dates on your calendar. For term papers and other written assignments, give yourself a "rough draft" date in advance of the due date so you can have ample time to edit and revise if you need. Mark down any in-school and out-of-school activities or commitments as well. A good habit to develop is on Sunday, before the start of the week, prepare a weekly schedule.

- Record your daily classes
- Write down things to be done that week from your semester calendar
- Add in any activities/appointments
- Schedule in times for finishing assignments working on projects and studying for tests (including nights + weekends)
- Place a check mark next to things as you accomplish them

Karen Leary

Master of Science in Nursing

West Chester University

Organization is Key!!!!

College is a time of freedom, fun, and independence. However, all of these joys come at a price: responsibility. You are at the wheel of your life journey! Your parents and/or professors will not tell you to do your homework, clean your room, buy groceries, pay bills, or study for your exams. Well, maybe they will, but YOU and YOU ALONE will need to motivate yourself to accomplish all these tasks and to succeed in college.

Perhaps the MOST important thing I learned during my college experience (and what I contribute my own success to) was the power of organization. During my undergraduate experience, I was involved in everything: theater, concert choir, jazz choir, wind ensemble, drumline, dance team, SGA, Blue Key, Alpha Xi Delta….well, you get my point. On top of all the clubs and teams I was involved with, I also managed to work a part time job AND work as an RA in the dorms while managing to still get good grades. I would not have been able to be involved in all these activities and get the most out of my college experience without organization!

So, you might be wondering, “How do I become organized?” Well, first of all, you will need to adopt a friend: a planner. You can easily get these through your college (nice because these are usually equipped with all the events that have been planned for the year) and at almost any store for under $10 (unless you want a really nice one, which will cost you a bit extra: I highly suggest checking out www.franklincovey.com). Buy a planner that fits your life and your needs. During college, I would suggest getting a planner that has monthly, weekly, and daily sections so you can easily look at your month, week, and day all at the same time. Many cellular phones also have a “planner” section—if you have this capability, USE IT!!! It will be easier to type in your schedule than writing your schedule in several different places. PLUS, you already carry your cell phone everywhere anyway! Either way, adopt a system that works for you, but, most importantly, STICK TO IT!

I know some people find it hard to stick to a planning system, so here are a few tricks of the trade to help you organize your life and keep it that way:

1. At the beginning of each semester, write all of your assignments for the ENTIRE semester in your planner. Write due dates, major projects, homework assignments, and readings. In addition, in your “to do” section of your planner (most likely your “daily” section) plan out when you are going to work on all your projects! Yes, I know, it seems absurd to actually PLAN when you are going to work on a major project that is due in November during August, but this IMPORTANT step will help you succeed! Typically, I would suggesting planning major projects AT LEAST a month before they are due, or at a point when you: (a) feel you know what the requirements are of the project, or (b) feel you have learned enough about the topic to competently complete the project.

2. Whenever an assignment is made in class, GET OUT YOUR PLANNER and write the assignment in your planner as the teacher is making the announcement! With planning, you should never “plan” on writing things you need to do in the pages later. DO IT NOW! Otherwise you are likely to forget it, and your professor will not respond well to, “Oh, I forgot about the assignment.” If a professor asks you to stop “playing with your phone,” (if you are using the planning system in your phone) while you are typing in the assignment, simply let them know that you are writing down the assignment—they really can’t get mad at you for this. However, if you typically text during class, I doubt you’ll get away with this comment…

3. This one may seem like common sense, but make sure you cross out tasks you have already completed! Also, don’t be afraid to make changes in your schedule—maybe you get sick and don’t feel well enough to work on the major project you planned on doing. Cross out the project and move it to another day. No harm, no foul—just make sure you don’t keep “pushing” tasks back. Crossing off an assignment is not justified just because you “didn’t want to.”

4. Plan everything early! Maybe you don’t think you should start studying a week before an exam, but you should! You need to go over the material you learn in class over and over again so you actually LEARN the material instead of just memorizing the material. Remember—you WILL need to know this stuff for your future career, and you don’t want to feel like a doofus during your job training because you didn’t learn the material during college. If you plan something too early and you don’t feel like you know enough of the material to study (although you can ALWAYS study the material you have learned in class), complete homework, or work on a project, simply move the item back a few days or a week. HOWEVER, do not make this a habit! Only move projects back if you ABSOLUTELY have to.

5. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! Don’t be afraid to even set aside specific hours during the day to work on something. I’ve scheduled specific hours to study for an exam, work on a project, exercise, eat, etc.! Everyone doesn’t have to go to this extreme, but if you start getting really busy, this extra planning could help relieve any stress you may have about getting everything done. Also, if everything is written in your calendar, you don’t have to “remember” to do …anything! Just look in your planner and you’ll know what you need to do for the day, week, and month. Life is all about juggling—you really can “have it all” if you “plan for it all.”

College will be the time of your life. It isn’t all “work” though—make sure you have fun! Spontaneity can be the spice of life sometimes—but reserve this for your personal life! Plan for academics and you’ll never be stressed out about making everything happen. Think of it this way—by planning you will also be freeing up more of your time to have fun while still being able to get stuff done!

I hope you have found these tips helpful! I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors and with your planning.

 

Amanda Marie Mason Masters, Developmental Psychology Illinois State University

Set a schedule! Make time for class work where class work is your priority. Make sure that you use that time for school work and if you complete your work then use the extra time to study and get ahead. This way you will be prepared and often ahead of the game.

Clara Ervin

Master of Special Education

Pittsburg State University