The sound of pens and pencils writing on college-ruled paper, the clicks of the keys on laptops, the sound of the professor’s voice in the back of your head, the hustle and bustle on campus. School is definitely back in session! As college life is starting back up again, students are feeling overwhelmed and stressed about their course load. These helpful tips will keep your semester organized and going smoothly.
1. Keep a planner.
Now, if you’re like me, you probably have a planner but either don’t write in it, don’t check it, or both; and that won’t help you! I always bought a planner, but didn’t really use it until last year. And it is a life saver! As soon as I know the due date for an assignment, project, or test, I write it down. I can keep track of all of my assignments in one book, rather than four or five syllabi.
2. Form a study group.
If you are struggling in a class, make some friends! Study groups are a great way to get heads together and go over material from class. Studying with other people gives you multiple ways to understand the same material, and maybe you’ll find a way that works best for you!
3. Make flashcards.
Flashcards don’t help everyone, but for some, they’re a great way to help memorize material. If you decide to utilize flashcards, make sure to mix them up! If you study them in the same order over and over, you’ll start to memorize the answers by their order. Also, start making the flashcards earlier! I used to wait until the week before a quiz or an exam to make flashcards, and they didn’t really help. I started making them from the beginning of class and just added to them when we got new material. It has helped my grades so much!
4. Don't procrastinate!
Last, but definitely not least. Do not procrastinate. When you wait until the last minute to do an important paper or project, you’re too stressed to really put your best work into it. There are 1,000 things I’d rather do than homework, but if you wait until the last minute, it just adds unnecessary stress to the already stressful life of being a college student.
These are a few tips that I have learned the hard way. Staying on top of school work from the very beginning is the best and easiest way to put your best foot forward during the school year. All of these tips won’t work for everyone, so find what works best for you and roll with it! Let’s rock this year out!
