Since Aug. 1 TV commercials have reminded students that it’s back to school time. Now that the semester has started, syllabus week has left most college students with that ‘I’m-going-to get-an-A’ mentality or the feeling that you’d better secure an open desk in the library early in the semester. Either way, it’s important to figure out how to organize yourself so you’re not overwhelmed with the fall course load and any extra activities you may join.
Junior Ryan Sullivan, international relations and diplomacy major, has a calendar outlining all the due dates for assignments. He includes the times and dates of meetings for the organizations he’s in, to make sure he’s prepared and nothing catches him off guard. Putting reminders in your phone or even on the Outlook Calendar on your laptop can help keep your exam dates and any other major event organized so you don’t miss anything important or double book yourself!
Getting to know your schedule is a great way to make sure you’re on top of everything. It can be overwhelming and may even take a week or two to know where you’re supposed to be at what time. Some things that used to be simple, like finding time to get food, is more difficult to fit in when you have classes scattered at different times throughout the day.
Putting together a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that organizes classes, work shifts, times to get meals, times to study, and a few days a week to go to the gym can make it easier to get everything done before the weekend starts so you can have time set aside to relax and have fun.
Junior Adrianna Dolci, social and behavioral sciences major, finds that the beginning of the semester is always the hardest time to stay organized. Dolci said she writes lists in order to stay at the top of her game. She also reads through each class’ syllabus and goes through her notes after every class so when exam time comes, she’s not looking at the information for the first time.
College is remarkably different than high school in the amount of freedom and personal growth that is experienced in these few short years. Figuring out what methods of studying and time management work best for you is essential now so you can thrive and achieve your greatest potential in the months to come.
Rosemary Sweigart can be reached at rosemary.sweigart@student.shu.edu.
