Oh, no! Another semester!

There are more homework assignments, more reading assignments, more papers, and more EXAMS!

It's the beginning of the second semester, and this is the best time to prepare yourself for the upcoming homework and exams. What is an important step in preparing yourself for studying? This is the perfect moment to make sure that you have all the items that you need in order to ace the semester.

Check out this list:

1. Weekly Planner

From the classes that I have to meetings and homework assignments, everything that I need to do is found in my planner. This is the best way to organize my schedule and keep up with my busy days. Without my planner, I would forget some important assignments that are coming up.

2. Index Cards

Note cards are great to help create questions in preparation for exams. Last semester, I had a stack of notecards for each of my classes. However, the notecards for my history and environmental science classes helped the most. I would use notecards to remember vocabulary terms, or I would make a question/answer notecard. My study groups appreciated the way that I had the notecards set up, and I was able to take tests without any difficulty.

3. Highlighters

Anything that is important can be highlighted. This makes the important information stand out more when you go back to studying later.

4. Notebooks

Keeping notes and important materials in one place will make it easier to find later on when it is time to study in depth.

5. Pens/ Pencils

We all know why pens and pencils are important. Also, I use multiple colored pens to keep organized. Each pen represents a different class or organization that I am in. When I look at today in my planner, I can easily tell what I need to do for each class without getting confused.

6. Sticky Notes

Sticky notes can be used to keep track of what you have read in your textbook, where you need to read to, and important details that you are unable to highlight while reading. One of my textbooks is rented, so I am unable to mark in it. This means that I will write my notes on sticky notes and stick them on the pages. Doing this helps me notice the important information on a page easily.

7. Headphones

Headphones and music helps to drown out the noises around you while you are trying to study and do homework.

8. USB Drive

Saving papers on your laptop may be simple. However, the best option is to also save it on a flash drive. This way is more efficient, in case your computer messes up and you lose an important document or paper.

9. Phone Charger

In this day and age, we all depend on our phones. Making sure that you have a phone charger helps to insure that your battery will not die.

10. Snack/ Water Bottle

Snacks are essential while studying, because they provide nutrients in your body that you will need in order to stay focused. Water keeps you hydrated.

11. Coffee Mug

Coffee is a great way to wake you up and keep you caffeinated. However, too much coffee can result badly. Therefore, you should also have water in your reach.

12. Laptop/ Laptop Charger

Your laptop helps you type your papers, email professors and other students, research information, and check websites for homework assignments and study materials.

13. Textbooks

Without textbooks, how else would you get the information that you need for your class? Also, ALWAYS READ YOUR READING ASSIGNMENTS! They will always help you understand the class more. If you do not understand the material, you can ask in class to better understand what is going on.