Scholarly Advice for Academic Mastery
A collection of insights and advice from some of the most successful university, graduate, and professional students and scholars.
Topic: Time Management
Time blocking - have a dedicated portion of time completely devoted to school work and allow yourself extra time for subject areas that are more challenging.
Plan for the semester - If you have a syllabus and course outline, do advance reading and preparation for class. Note when assignments are due and coordinate with other course workload so that you are not overwhelmed.
| Jason A. Ellis Master of Arts in Public Administration University of Memphis
|
 |
Time is the most precious resource you have as a student. In many senses, the way in which you spend your time ultimately determines your level of success and, even more importantly, your level of happiness. To spend time wisely does not mean to study constantly, for this would be be unwise time management. To extract the most value out of your time, you must constantly "meta-reason." Think about what you are doing and how it is benefiting you. Is there something else you could be doing that would more efficiently improve your life? Hanging out with friends can make you a happier, more relaxed person - do not neglect the positive effects this can have on the efficiency of your studying. Regular exercise also benefits concentration while simultaneously extending your life expectancy and helping you sleep better at night. In addition to meta-reasoning on this micro level, carefully consider this perspective in the context of greater decisions. When choosing a school, a department, or even a thesis adviser, keep in mind which choice 1) involves surrounding yourself with people who you genuinely enjoy, 2) will thrust you into an environment with values that resonate with your own, and 3) maximizes the tangible resources available to you for your individual growth.
| Daniel Demetri Harvard College
|
 |
When I was an
undergraduate I was susceptible to being intimidated by the intelligence of
the brilliant people who surrounded me. Now that I am in a doctoral program,
the potential for such intimidation is even higher. However, over the course
of my academic career I have learned a critical coping mechanism: planning.
Meticulous planning of my projects, my days, my weeks and my semesters has
allowed me to stay competitive in every academic (and professional)
environment in which I have worked. There are plenty of people who are
smarter than me and plenty of people who work harder; my edge is working
smarter.
As an undergraduate, I planned
out my semester as soon as I could get my hands on the syllabi of the
courses I was taking. For every semester, I scheduled every reading
assignment, every test and every paper, noting not only when these items
were due but the number of days I would work on them. So for a paper due on,
say, December 10th, I would estimate the number of planning, researching,
outlining, writing, and editing sessions I needed to complete the paper, and
I would schedule each of those sessions so that the final editing fell on
December 9th. I initially used a paper day-planner for this exercise, but am
now a devotee of Outlook task lists.
Of course, plans change. Tasks
never take exactly as long as you expect them to, especially when you try to
break them down into minute chunks. The point of beginning-of-semester
planning is not to preordain my life for the next three months, but rather
to set out a general scheme within which adjustments can be made along the
way. Many people think planning is pointless because of change, but planning
is actually the best way to deal with change.
I have been surprised to learn
that even in the much more abstract, less task-driven environment of a
doctoral program, I still manage to plan my work at the level of the day,
and I still get that work done on-time with very little stress. (In all of
high school, college or graduate school, I have never pulled an all-nighter
to finish an academic assignment.)
When people learn the details
of my "dirty little secret" of meticulous planning, they usually comment
that I am anal-retentive or crazy, or perhaps a combination of the two. The
fact is that once you get these kinds of things down to a system, they don't
take a huge amount of time. And that time is generously rewarded down the
stretch. Say a paper suddenly becomes due two weeks earlier than I expected.
While others are panicking, I am tapping into a reserve of available
"bandwidth" that I set aside at the beginning of the semester. No weekends
killed, no all-nighters pulled, no slippage of schedule.
Experts in personal
organization will tell you to find a system that works for you. In addition
to echoing that general advice, I would recommend: (1) developing a system
that costs a noticeable amount of time upfront, just so you know you're
doing enough thinking to do yourself some good, and (2) keeping at it until
any feelings of being overwhelmed by work are gone. Planning is actually one
of the most relaxing things I do. It's much cheaper than yoga classes.
Nathan Black
PhD, Political Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
I, Brooke Jennings, graduated with a 4.0 GPA at Radford University. I earned my Bachelor of Social Work Degree and learned how to overcome many challenges. I am the first in my family to attend college and my goal is to encourage all adolescents/adults to further their education. I would like to say that my 4.0 GPA was not easy to accomplish. I went to college at the age of 31 and I suffer with short-term memory. I am a foster-mother of four girls, birth mother of two boys and one girl, a full time wife, I work full-time as a youth counselor, and I am full time college student. Now you ask! How do you do it?
My secret to success is time
management and setting goals. As a busy person, I have to make sure that I
have enough time in the day to accomplish my employment, school, and to
enjoy my family. To manage your time you must be able to understand how to
set goals and determine how you spend your 24-hour days. You need to create
an outline on how you complete a typical week. You need to understand your
priorities and keep a calendar. In the calendar, you need to write down when
you have class, when you are going to study, and do your homework. You need
to put in your calendar when you plan to exercise/sports, go to work, spend
time with family, time for personal care, meal preparation, relaxing time,
socializing, doctor appointments, and whatever else comes your way. Oh, do
not forget to add sleep. Now this may seem to be a bit much, but you will be
surprise how much you can accomplish in a 24-hour day by managing your time.
I also learned that you cannot
manage your time if you do not motivate yourself. You need to be able to
take responsibility for your learning and recognize that “failure” is
success. Praise and reward yourself when you succeed and when you reach your
goals. Motivation is very important, so keep you head up high and do not let
failure get into your way.
You will also need to avoid
procrastination. I am the queen when it comes to procrastination, and I know
the challenges it brings not to procrastinate. It is important to remind
yourself of due dates way in advance and tell yourself once it is completed
you will have time for yourself. You need to be clear on what your final
objectives are and what the end result will be. What are your major steps to
get there? What have you done so far? You must always remember that the
longest journey begins with the first step.
You will need to learn how to
create effective study habits. Everyone studies differently so you will need
to find what works best for you. Find the most comfortable place to study
and set a positive mood. Take responsibility for yourself and again manage
your time. I try to center myself on my values and principles, and I put
first things first.
It is important to pay
attention in class. I have short-term memory so I am writing down almost
everything the teachers are saying. Sometimes, I bring in a tape recorder. I
always sit in the front row and I participate in class whenever possible. I
let the professors know immediately that I have short-term memory and I will
be taping them and may ask repetitive questions.
I learned that writing is very
important, especially in the social work field. It is important to use
proper grammar and always check spelling. Do not rely on the computer to fix
your mistakes. Most colleges have someone in the library to proof read your
papers, so take advantage of services within your college. Always proof read
and revise all assignments before turning it in.
Understand your preferred
learning style. A learning style is a way of learning, and your preferred
learning style is the way you learn best. I am an auditory learner. I learn
best when information is presented by sound, through lectures and class
discussions. This is why taping class discussions help me learn. You need to
know your learning styles. Are you a Visual Learner? Are you an Auditory
Learner? Are you a Kinesthetic Learner? Remember, your learning style is
your strength, so go with what works best for you.
I suffer with test anxiety and
I still learned how to succeed. I have a hard time focusing on
multiple-choice tests. When I take a test, I have a difficult time
understanding the directions and questions. Sometimes I read the questions
wrong or I just draw a blank. I find my mind wondering and I forget the
answers. Therefore, you ask how I got the 4.0 GPA with test anxiety. I
learned quickly how to create healthy study techniques. I tried to create a
positive attitude and tried to stay relaxed during the test. I reminded
myself it did not matter when the other students finishes their exam. When I
fail an exam, I learn from my mistakes and I analyze the test to see how I
could have done better. If I did very poor I would talk to the professor and
ask if I can do extra credit. I explained to the professor that I have
severe test anxiety and I want to prove another way that I know the
materials. I learned that most professors will work with you if you are
active in class, always turn in your materials, and you are never absent.
Your attitude with school is important and you must learn how to advocate
for yourself.
|
Brooke Alston Jennings Master of Science in Social Work Radford University
|
 |
Studying Techniques and Habits:
I use various types of study tools. I am also a creature of habit; I have
created a designated place to study. 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
I was 24 years old when I decided to return to school full-time. I had just married, worked full-time night shift at a mill, and was six months pregnant my first semester. Most of my friends and family urged me to wait until after the birth of my daughter to return to school, but I knew that I had waited long enough. It was now or never and I was determined to succeed in school while keeping up with the other demands in my life. That first semester was difficult and I just kept thinking, "If I can make it through this, the next one will be easier". My daughter was born 2 weeks before the end of the semester and I was back at school five days after her birth. I finished the semester with flying colors and decided to take the summer off. The next fall, my daughter was four months old and I had returned to work part-time. When I needed to study, she wanted to cry. When I needed to type a paper, she needed to be fed. Once again, I thought the next semester has got to be easier! However, by spring, she was crawling and learning to walk; now she was really into everything. I quickly discovered that it was useless to try opening a book while she was awake. I learned how to rearrange and prioritize my household chores and my studies while still spending time with her and my husband. If I was to be successful, I knew I needed to be organized and always one step ahead with each assignment. Even today, I never wait until the night before to do an assignment. My goal for each paper that is due is to have it completed one class period before the due date. As a student with a family at home, I know that at any time, someone could get sick or an emergency could happen. I try to be prepared and being prepared helps me with my confidence level when taking tests and completing assignments.
|
Amanda Carter Rorrer University of North Carolina
|
 |
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
|
 |
Creating a “Master Deadline Document” for
each semester, digesting syllabi:
Professors expect you to read, save, and consult their course syllabus
regularly during the semester. The syllabus spells out exactly what is
expected of you, what is due, when it is due, and how your will be graded.
Many faculty think of syllabi as an informal learning contract between the
student and themselves. The problem is EVERY course had a syllabus, and it
can be confusing and overwhelming to keep track of them all.
Something that helped me deal with the piles of syllabus pages was to make a
“master deadline document” at the beginning of every semester to keep track
of my assignments, exams, quizzes, and overall due dates. You should have
time at the beginning of the semester to do this as the first day in most
classes is known as “syllabus day” where not as much can be accomplished or
assigned quite yet. “Syllabus day” is a good day for you to prepare a master
deadline document since all of this information is still fresh in your mind.
I would organize the document by class with due dates, assignment
descriptions, and grading weight assigned to each task. This way I could
refer to my document at any point in the semester and know what is due for
EVERY class in any given week and focus my attention accordingly.
I did not put everything needed to be done for everyday, as this was not a
good use of my time and could prove to be overwhelming if it all stared at
me at once! I would certainly have weekly readings to do, which would not be
included. I accepted these daily tasks as “a given” and would do those
regularly without having to refer to deadlines as much. If you have classes
that require readings or review, then those are routine tasks that you will
be doing normally anyway. This document is intended for the graded items
that are turned in sporadically throughout the semester that tend to creep
up on you unless you read ahead on the syllabus.
Think of the “master deadline document” as having the critical
grade-intensive items all in one place. It’s sort of like having 5 syllabi
in one document. This way you can leave off the other “noise” on the
syllabus that take up space and pages of paper like the professor’s contact
info, the academic rules/regulations, the course objective, the names of the
textbooks, classroom management, etc. You should NOT throw away or replace
the syllabus at all. You need to know those other pieces of information of
course, but just not continuously. You don’t need to shuffle through those
things on a daily or weekly basis, just “as needed.” You will use your
syllabus most for identifying your readings in your texts and for checking
deadlines. This “master deadline document” allows all the deadlines to be in
one place to simplify things for you and allow you to sort your tasks week
by week without having to shuffle so much paper and so many notebooks.
With such a document I also could set and manage my own deadlines for those
projects which had flexible due dates (such as final project and papers that
just need to be turned in “just sometime before the end of the semester”).
If you look at when all the final projects are due for the 4-5 classes you
are taking at once, you can stagger the work much more easily and decide to
finish a paper a few weeks before final exams and other deadlines occur.
As assignments are turned in I use a big black marker to cross out that item
off the list for that class. This helped me see what I had finished, and
identify what was left without getting distracted. It also helped give me a
sense of encouragement and progress during times of stress. If I could see
that I had already marked off over 75% of the graded item required for the
class, it gave me the needed energy to persevere through the end of the
semester and not feel so buried. Realize that some classes will allow you
finish you graded requirements earlier that others and use this document as
a tool in those cases. Focus on the “top heavy” and “bottom heavy” courses
first. The “top heavy” courses load the work up front, while the “bottom
heavy” courses make everything due towards the end. By balancing “top heavy”
and “bottom heavy” courses together, you can easily make progress and have
something to work on each week as the semester go onward and take
satisfaction at having an easily workload during finals week than most other
students.
|
Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma
|
 |
Scheduling work in advance!
You always need to schedule your work in advance! Realize that only BAD
papers are produced overnight with little revision, and sometimes no
editing. You can’t expect a decent grade without any preparation invested.
Schedule appointments to have your papers reviewed and revised for clarity
at local campus writing centers in advance, well before the paper is due.
Understand that professors may not follow the textbook. Instead, to amplify
the text, they give explanations, illustrations, provide background
information, or include relevant research on the topic you are studying.
They expect you to make the connection between lectures, classroom
experiences, and your assigned textbook readings. This takes time and occurs
at different moments throughout the semester. Lectures and assignments are
designed in the assumption that you’ve already done your readings! Take time
to do your readings in advance if possible, as class time will become more
meaning and familiar to you. This is a better use of your time and you will
find that exams will be easier to tackle as the learning experience has
happened continuously rather than all at once (e.g. such as in a cramming
session).
Professors may lecture nonstop, expecting you to take adequate notes that
identify the most important points. When professors write on the board, they
are amplifying the lecture, not summarizing it. That’s your job! Invest the
time into solid note-taking skills. The more you do it, the better you will
get at it. Make sure you can read your own handwriting and use summary
abbreviations for longer words such as “govt” for “government” or “intnl”
for “international.” You do not need to write down every word, but you
should try to capture the main ideas and themes of what is being presented.
If you intend to electronically record lectures, be sure to ask ahead of
time if this is ok with the professor. Most are fine with this, but realize
you may run out of time to listen to every word of every lecture. A good set
of notes usually works better than a recording.
Professors expect you to synthesize unrelated topics together. In fact, this
is what most exams try to accomplish. Rote memorization will not carry you
as far if you cannot apply and integrate what you have learned. Synthesis is
a skill that requires thinking at the next level, beyond familiarity with a
term or concept. Invest your study time into a deeper understanding of
concepts and use office hours to ask questions when they arise. Of course,
one way to practice mastery is to teach someone else through a study group
session.
Spend time reviewing class notes from the previous class before your class
begins that day as an exercise to help you connect the ideas from one day to
another. Learning is a fluid exercise and happens cumulatively, and usually
not all at once.
Not all of your learning will occur in a classroom. Be open to practice your
ideas and experiment with this new knowledge you have acquired.
|
Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma
|
|
I have learned that organization and time management is the key to a successful academic career. I utilize lists for every aspect of my life, but I find them most helpful for School. I make lists for short term goals I plan to achieve in my classes, like weekly work that needs to be accomplished, and I make lists for the long term items for planning purposes. Before beginning any assignment I make a list of what I want to achieve and a plan of action. This technique is especially good for papers and helps to keep you on track. Also, if there is an assignment in which I need to read a book, I find it helpful instead of reading the entire thing in one shot to divvy it up into sections. Again, I will make a list of which pages need to read by which dates. I find it easier to retain the information in smaller doses. The planning ahead helps to reduce stress and ensure that I am able to concentrate on other facets of my life besides just school.
Mindee Weiss
University of Virginia
Time Management:
1) Use an assignment calendar and write everything in it every day for every
class.
2) It will SAVE your life!
a. Things get busy and it’s easy to forget certain smaller assignments or
assignments that have a due date that’s a month and half away.
b. Many professors will not remind you about the assignment except for the
first time they assign it to the class.
Miscellaneous Tips:
1) DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
a. This stresses you out.
b. This forces you to provide work that’s not your best because you are not
relaxed and not giving yourself enough time.
c. It is a great feeling to be done early and have free time for the
weekend.
d. If you just set your mind, restrict yourself some to do work at specific
time intervals then you’ll be much more productive and you will not despise
doing the work as much.
Samantha Lynn Farris
Frostburg State University
Study plan: budget your time as you would budget your money. Neither of these resources come easy – but they go very fast :-). Set time aside for studying and homework calculating your out-of-class preparation time at 2-3 times (weekly) the amount of credits a course gives you (Example: 3 credit hour course: 3 hours in class per week, 6-9 hours prep time per week). Build a firm schedule which shows your class schedule, study time, work, and other obligations. Be sure to leave time to relax and also for sleep. Be realistic where you may need to adjust your time commitments. It does not make sense to borrow money for a college education and then fail to follow through on your time commitment. If you are coming fresh out of high school you are still in study mode and should be comfortable with a school schedule. If you have been out of school for a while, ease into it. Start with one or few classes and slowly increase your load with each semester. This incremental approach will keep your adjustments on time, finances and other obligations at a manageable rate. Once you have reached the maximum course load you have reached the highway of your education road trip. You will be moving towards graduation at a much faster speed.
Christa Jones
Applied Technology and Performance Improvement
University of North Texas
I'm a graduate student working towards my masters degree in Special Education. I also work full-time and I'm raising three children, ages 16, 14, and 9 on my own. My youngest child is a foster child, which I do in addition to everything else.
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
Time Management
This is, I believe, one of the most important factors to succeeding as a
student. With a limited number of hours in a day, week, month and a
semester, students must learn to balance all of the many facets of their
lives in order to achieve academic excellence.
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
Being a huge procrastinator in high school, it was an enormous challenge for me in college to stay on top of my work. It's easy to put off assignments or studying since you know weeks and months in advance when things will be due. However, one will quickly learn that falling behind makes it very difficult to succeed. Suddenly, you might find yourself with two major tests, two papers, and five hundred pages of a novel to read and analyze in a single week. The key is to know what work needs to be done and by when. Stay on top of your assignments and the length of time that will need to be spent on each one, and, whatever you do, don't wait until the night before to begin an important assignment... or three.
Alexandra Ernst
Biology, Philosophy
Vanderbilt University
Time management is key for any academic achievement. Studying can be a very tedious chore requiring frequent breaks to allow the mind and memory to become refreshed for optimum memorization and learning. Therefore, studying for half hour increments followed by a 10 minute break aids to keep the mind fresh and focused. When one's focus begins to stray, commit to studying for five minutes longer. This helps to lengthen one's concentration ability. Setting a specific time to study the same time each day and studying at the same place helps to form the habit of studying and conditions the body and mind to easily enter into a state for studying. For example, setting aside time to study at 5 pm everyday at the dining room table. Eliminating distractions during this time will help to remain focused. For example, turning off phones and internet access and reminding friends and family not to interrupt.
| Jennifer Lea' Jones Master of Science in Social Work Oklahoma City University
|
 |
This article addresses one of the most challenging issues facing
college students today--time management. As someone who struggled with
this myself at the beginning of my college career, I know what a toll
poor time management can take on your academic performance or your
social life. Developing great time management skills is something that
will serve you for the rest of your life, so it is certainly worth the
extra effort. Below are some ways I personally developed better time
management.
1. Use a calendar or agenda. Whether is be on the computer (e.g.
Outlook, Google Calendar, etc) or a store bought or school provided
agenda, use this and it will soon become your best friend. Using phone
calendars has also proven to be extremely helpful, since most college
students almost never part with their cell phone, it is always available
to remind them of their upcoming appointments.
2. Plan out the next week in your calendar/agenda in advance. What I
usually do is sit down on a Sunday night and plan out everything I know
about the upcoming week. This includes exams, meetings, assignments,
papers, appointments, etc. By placing all of these things in your
calendar before the week starts, not only do you remind yourself that
they are obligations, but you ensure that you don't forget to write
something in later in the week.
3. At the beginning of each semester, put all exams and papers in your
calendar/agenda. This prevents you from a later unpleasant surprise of
realizing that you have an exam that you haven't even begun studying for
in 2 days. Often times in college, professors do not remind students
about upcoming exams until they are in the VERY near future. This is a
sure-fire way to avoid any mishaps that could cause devastating
consequences.
4. When you're getting ready for a study session, plan out what
assignments your going to do and what you're going to be studying down
to the half hour. Essentially, take a piece of loose leaf paper and
write down all the things you want to accomplish in that study session.
Make sure to keep your goals realistic, so as to avoid making it seem
like you didn't accomplish anything. A sample might look like this:
5pm-6:30pm Organic Chemistry Ch. 22 and 23 Problems
6:30pm-7:30pm Differential Equations Homework
7:30pm-9:00pm Study for Genetics Exam II
9:00pm-9:30pm Break
9:30pm-11:00pm Continue Genetics Studying
Try your best to stick to the schedule you make. You will be pleasantly
surprised at the great results this simple idea can provide.
5. Prioritize. This may be my most important tip. Understand that
finishing a major paper is more important than making an info session
for that volunteer group you are hoping to join. Of course, you are free
to make your own priorities. However, make sure that they are reasonable
and will help you achieve your long term goals in college and in life.
Good luck with your future endeavors!
Anubodh Varshney
Washington University in St. Louis
The most important lesson I learned is time management. When in college, oftentimes, you will feel like each professor gives you an amount of work that makes you believe that they think this course is the only one you're taking. While college is a easy time to live in an unstructured lifestyle, try to develop some sort of schedule that works for you and that allows you to complete the work that you are given. My method was to finish the entire assignment/studying at once. This way, I was less inclined to desire distraction and it also allowed me to feel more focused. Some of my friends liked studying and working bits at a time so it doesn't pile. However, I worked better under pressure. I measured how long it would take and then scheduled when I would get it done. When the time came to complete my work, I walked away from my distractions and worked until I completed my work. You'll learn that people have different methods of being productive and effective. You'll have to identify yours and time management will become a support for your developed study habits.
Hannah Lee
Carnegie Mellon University
Concerning the issue of
procrastination and time management, I have to state that procrastination
has not worked for me, ever. I have never had success with waiting until the
night before an assignment is due to start on, or even complete, that
particular assignment. I have known students that can (and regularly do) do
this, and to be honest, I find it insulting to the professor involved, to
wait until the very last moment to begin and complete a project.
At the masters level of study, you really have to work on your
time-management ability because you will have to juggle several classes at
once, all of which have multiple projects and papers due. If you know that
you are a "last minute" type of student as an undergrad, you will have to
truly pace yourself in order to complete all your course work in your
classes at the advanced level.
My advice to any student is
to not wait until an assignment has to be done in order to complete it. You
will find that if you complete assignments before they are due, you will be
able to relax and breath easily as those due dates loom! Make yourself a
chart with all of your classes listed and assignments that are due in each
class, and look at it DAILY. Attaining an advanced degree should not be an
easy undertaking. The rewards that come from being highly specialized in a
particular field, in my opinion, far outweigh the "cost" of time and money
that is invested into the process!
Jonathan Todd Wigle
East Tennessee State University To optimally manage your
time, I’d suggest that you STASH YOUR LAPTOP and open your books! The
advantages of doing so cannot be overstated. Books are accessible,
comprehensive, and compact. They are durable, in form if not always in
content. And they are effective. Believe me when I say that software for
interactive programs on neuroanatomy is fabulous. But there can be no
substitute for simple diagrams, for charts, for volumes on theory and
method. And processing power is not the end-all, be-all of intelligence--
which is just to say that general relativity preceded cybernetics. Still,
perhaps the biggest advantage to be had by following this advice is the time
you gain. Seriously: YouTube is really not that interesting. Toting my
computer around less, I learned to my amazement that it is actually not
necessary to check your email ten times a day. For most of us, twice a day
will suffice. Compulsive email correspondence consumes enormous amounts of
time. Last, lest this piece be thought the still-born brainchild of aging
technophobes, I’ll hasten to add that I’m only 30, and the owner of not one,
but two, super snazzy laptops. Keith David Sherman Master of Arts in International
Relations Northern Arizona University