Making the Best Use of Your Time

My freshman students said that one thing that surprised them about college was the large amount of “free time” they had.   Given that they are spending only about 15 – 16 hours a week in class that is understandable.  The danger is that, with so much time, students won’t do anything because it is too easy to put off whatever you do not want to do.

The general rule of thumb is that you should be studying about 2 hours outside of class for every hour in class.  If that is the case, your 15 credit load suddenly has become 45 hours of work – equal to a full time job!

Here are some ways to make the best use of your time:

·         Get into the habit of studying first before you do anything else.  Go to the Library after class.  Review the notes from class that day and start to learn them.

·         Keep a master calendar where you record every major exam, project, paper, etc.  That way you can look ahead and start early to prepare or complete the project.

·         Set early, false deadlines for projects and papers.  There is always a last-minute problem such as no printer ink, no money to pay for printing, etc.

·         Work ahead on reading assignments.  Different times during the semester you will feel swamped, so it is nice to have a cushion.

·         Start to study for exams about a week prior to the date.

·         Consider getting a part-time job or volunteering in your field.  Having more to do will make you manage your time better and either one will give your resume a boost.

Remember that as the semester progresses you will have more work and more material to learn.  Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security at the beginning when you seem to have so much time on your hands.

Next week – what to do when you sit down to “study.”

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies  and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Surprises During the First Three Weeks of College

During this third week of classes I asked my freshman students what was the most surprising thing they had found during their first weeks in college.  Here are their answers:

• How much free time they had.  This was expressed by all three classes!
• How much information they were expected to go on line and get themselves.
• How fast the classes move.
• People are more diverse than at home.
• It is harder to make friends than they thought it would be. 
• Their priorities have changed – they are much more focused on their academics than in high school and are a much more serious student. 
• They are motivated to study.   They are partying and wasting time much less than they thought they would.
• The professors are nice, but sometimes make things difficult for the students.

I thought this was an interesting list and was pleased with the thoughtfulness and dedication of my students to their academics.

Regarding making friends, I suggested the students look into some organizations where they can meet people with similar interests.  I also cautioned them not to commit to a friendship too quickly just because they are looking for friends.  They have a lot of potential and they want friends who will enhance that, not tempt them down the wrong path!

The next blog will tackle the number one issue – the large amount of time when not in class and how to wisely manage it.
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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Advise for Freshmen from Upperclassmen

In the spring of each semester I work with upper-class students who are on academic probation for a variety of reasons.  At the end of our work together I always ask them what advice they would give to a freshman just starting their academic journey.  Here are the most common responses:

·       Go to class.

·       Don’t party too much.

·       Keep your priorities straight.

·       Review your notes after class.

·       Manage your time.

·       Actually study.  (One of my favorites!)

It seems pretty simple, but all of these are crucial decisions.  It is important to get into good habits at the very beginning of the semester and these are great guidelines!   Enjoy the semester and your success!

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.