With the start of a new semester I seemed to have taken an
accidental blogging hiatus. I know last
semester I would only post sporadically, but I promise you that is not going to
happen this semester. Once I get into a set schedule, frequent blog posts won’t
be a problem.
The beginning of a new semester can be difficult. Setting up routines, figuring out how to
balance the new course load, determining how much time each class will require
your attention outside of lecture, setting meal times, scheduling social time
with friends, organizing your school supplies, and adjusting to waking up at
certain times. Needless to say organization is crucial beginning on day one of
each semester.
Those of you who know me personally, know that I function
best when I am most organized. Today I
am here to share some tips to helping you have a more organized start to your spring
semester. The first few weeks of classes it is good to try out different
routines and organization techniques to determine what will work best for that
semester.
One: Establish a routine
Each semester is different.
Your class schedule will most likely not be the same as the semester
before, nor will be the time you have to put in studying for your classes
outside of lecture. Your involvement in
activities, socializing, working, exercising, etc. will also change. Adjusting to a new schedule can be
challenging, so work to create a routine as quickly as possible. Having established routines will help
increase your productivity.
This
print out is great for keeping track of your classes and free time.
Two: Utilize your syllabus
Every course has one of these, it is a university
requirement. The content of a syllabus
will change based on professors preferences.
However, you can generally expect to find a semester calendar,
assignments, study tips, your professor's office hours, and what materials you
need to succeed here. It is important
to spend some time, within the first couple weeks of school, reading over the
syllabus and highlighting important information. The syllabus will help you set expectations
for the course. After reading each
syllabus, write down all of the important dates in your agenda. This will help ensure that you do not forget an assignment or exam.
Three: Obtain textbooks
Purchase your textbooks as soon as possible.
Many universities have a section of their
website where you can find what textbooks each course requires.
If you are able to purchase your books ahead
of time, do so.
The more in advance you
purchase your books, the better deals you are going to get.
Waiting too long means you will have to buy
your books from the school bookstore, which is nine times out of ten always
more pricy.
A great resource for
comparing book prices is
Slug Books.
Four: Keeping track of notes
and other papers
Every semester is different, so
your organization needs to adapt with it.
Some courses may utilize a lot of handouts, which means a binder is
best. Some classes may just require you
to take notes, which means you only need a notebook and possibly a folder. It is important to have several systems that
you know work for you. Below are some systems that work for me:
1.
The Binder Method: In semesters where professors hand out a lot
of papers or require you to print/annotate articles this is a great
method. There are several ways to organize
a binder. The first method is to have a
binder for each set of days. For example
a binder for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes and then a second binder for
Tuesday/Thursday classes. Within each binder utilize a divider for each
course. The papers will then go in each
section chronologically by date.
However, maybe only one of your courses has a lot of papers. If this is the case, then it might be good to
use one binder with several sections in it (readings, class notes/handouts,
blank paper, and homework). Either of
these two methods works well.
2.
The Folder and Notebook Method: This is
generally my preferred method. The week is divided into two parts: Part 1
(Monday/Wednesday/ Friday classes) and Part 2 (Tuesday/Thursday Classes). First, determine how many classes you have
per day of each set. This is how you
figure out how many subjects you need per notebook. Generally speaking, a three-subject notebook
is good for each part of the week, so that you have two notebooks total. Each section of the notebook then represents
a different course. The folders are
divided up the same way. You will need
one folder for part one and another folder for part two. Within each folder, paperclip papers from the
same course so that they are all together and can be accessed easily. If one folder isn't enough, then you can
always use one folder per subject too.
Five: Set a few goals
After reading through each
course's syllabus, I'm sure you will notice some challenges that might arise
for you this semester. It is important
to take the time to set some goals and push yourself to be the best you
possibly can . Goals will help motivate
you when you have the mid semester blues.
These goals don't need to be unrealistic but shouldn't be too easy
either. To maintain a balanced life it is important to set both
academic and non-academic goals for the semester.
I hope these tips help you have an excellent start to your spring semester!
XOXO
