Write It Out

The secret to staying organized and ahead of the game is to always write down upcoming assignments. This way you will be able to budget your time easily and you will not be blindsided by any assignments in your classes. With every new year, I buy a new planner, print off my syllabi, and write out any and all assignments I have for the semester. This way there are no surprises when an assignment is due.

This method has worked for me all throughout high school and thus far in college, so I hope this helps you, as well!

Set Goals

Before classes begin, make it a point to write out the goals you have for the semester. Whether they are related to a certain GPA or your social life, write it out. When you write things down, they are more likely to happen. Setting goals also creates some organization in your life because you know exactly what you want to achieve.

Personally, I wrote out my goals last spring and I had my highest GPA yet, so try it out and see if it works for you.

Read the syllabi

I cannot stress this enough. Read the syllabi given by your professors. They usually tell you exactly what you need to know, what they expect from you, and what assignments you will need to complete throughout their course. The syllabi will help you prepare for the classes, give you useful information and tell you what books and materials you will be needing. They will also help you with your planning and goal setting. I always print mine out (if they are relatively short), so they are easy to reference if necessary.

Journal

Clear your headspace by writing it into a journal or notebook. Starting a new semester can be overwhelming, so writing out your thoughts and feelings before it starts will allow you to go into a brand new semester with a brand new attitude and outlook. Leave all of your worries and frustrations on the pages, and enjoy the semester ahead!