Start Your Semester Strong

To be successful make up your mind that no matter what happens you will:

Go to class. Every class. Every time.
Turn in all assignments on time.
Do what it takes to actually learn the material.

Following are three of the most important ways to make sure these things happen.

Tip 1: Make a Plan

Time management is a challenge for everyone. Between work, school, and everything else, it’s not easy to get everything done. Add to that the distractions of phones, Netflix, friends, sports, personal problems, etc., and it’s easy to see that the only way to do well in school is to have a workable plan.

Pro tip: When planning for study time, a good rule of thumb to estimate how much time you will need to spend each week on school work outside of class is to double your credit hours (e.g., six hours of study time for a three-credit hour class).

Step 1:

Using a planner or whatever works for you, create a schedule you feel you can reasonably stick to for one week. Include your personal and school obligations as well as some “me” time to watch your favorite show or scan your social media feeds guilt free.

Step 2:

Follow your plan for one week.

Step 3:

Evaluate how you did at the end of the week and make adjustments as needed for the next week. Follow this pattern to help you keep up on all that is needed throughout the semester.

Tip 2: Sharpen your Study Techniques

If the study strategies you’ve used in the past aren’t quite cutting it, incorporate some new ones into your study sessions to see if they make a difference. If you’re not sure what to try, click on one of the links below to get a few new ideas or do an internet search to find more.

9 Best Scientific Study Tips
11 Techniques to Be Successful in Online Classes

Tip 3: Know your Resources

Although you might not need them at the beginning of the semester, find out what tutoring and/or supplemental instruction (SI) resources are available for your classes. If you have questions about class content, connect with your professor during office hours.

If you could use another person in your corner, consider contacting academic peer coaching. Coaches are experienced students who know what it’s like to juggle all the things you have to do. Let them show you how they’re doing it and where the people and places are on campus that can help you do it too.

And, as always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact your academic advisor. Don’t wait until the end of the semester to get the help and assistance you need!