Freshman Pitfall #3 – Time Management in General

Besides surviving the first week of classes, how you manage your time is important throughout the semester.  Once the semester gets rolling things get very busy.  One skill that many people do not have is the ability to juggle multiple assignments and to look forward to see what is the best plan to get everything done.   This is a constant challenge which explains why organized students and people in general are always looking at their calendars and planners.   Some tools and strategies are:

Monthly calendar – At the beginning of every semester, go through all of your syllabi and write down major exams, projects, presentations, etc.   Also note any special event such as a trip or visit home.  I write these on a master monthly calendar as well as in my planner.

Weekly planner – In addition to the above information, use this to record any small assignment given in class, speakers or concerts, meetings, etc.   You will see the successful students pull out their planner (if they are not already out) as soon as the professor announces something. 

Daily to-do list – Either last thing at night or first thing in the morning look to see what is due and what is happening and then make a list of what you would like to accomplish that day.   It is very motivating to cross off what you have done.   If something does not get done, put it on tomorrow’s list.

What about keeping all of this information in your cell phone?   Many students prefer this method.  They set timers to go off to remind them that they need to do something.  Admittedly I am a “paper and pen” person so I do not like this method, but it seems to me that with all of the due dates your phone would constantly be reminding you of something.  Two other problems I would have is that it is hard to keep your phone open in front of you for an extended period of time and it is hard to see the overall picture of several weeks or the semester.

Being a good time manager takes time and patience but a major benefit is that you are not stressed about what you need to do or, even worse, stressed because you forgot something!

Next week one more entry dealing with time – staying on top of your assignments, grades and conflicting schedules.

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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.

Freshman Pitfall #2 - Time Management the First Week

Semesters are very short – 14 to 15 weeks on average, but during the first week it seems like you have all the time in the world.  Some professors don’t do too much during the first class except go over the syllabus.  (Some schools have an “Add/Drop” week where you can easily change your schedule, so some professors don’t like to get too deep into their subject until the class roster is finalized.)  Keep in mind, though, that some will start lecturing the very first class and expect the students to be prepared to take notes and to study the syllabus on their own!

Even though it might seem that you don’t have a lot to do, it is important to get into good study habits right from the start. Look at your new schedule and decide when and where you will study.  It doesn’t have to be at the Library, but be sure it is a productive location.   Also, be willing to make changes if what you are doing is not working.

Some things you can do the first week:

·       Read all your syllabi.

·       Record all major exams, papers and projects on a monthly calendar.

·       Preview your textbooks.

·       Read the preface and Note to Students.  (I know this sounds unusual, but often authors give your information about how the book is organized or why they organized the book the way they did.

·       Start to read chapter one!

Keep in mind that it is easier to start your new study schedule from day one as opposed to making changes once a nonproductive schedule has become habit.

Next week we will continue on with more time management problems and solutions.

*****

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.

Freshman Pitfalls #1 - Incidental Expenses

After some time off from posting, I am starting a summer series about pitfalls first-time freshmen need to prepare for and to avoid.    These have been gathered from my experiences with the students on academic probation who were in my Learning Strategies classes in the spring.

The first one is running out of money before the end of the semester.  This can cause several problems:

• There are still professors (like me!) who prefer papers be submitted on actual paper as opposed to being submitted electronically.  Many students run out of money and cannot pay for printing through the school or cannot afford to buy more ink for their own printer.
• Many professors use power point slides that they make available to students.  It is much efficient to print out the slides and take class notes directly on them if they are available before class or print them out after class and transfer class notes onto the slides as a study strategy.  In many classes, these slides are quite numerous and, again, we are back to the cost of printing.   It is much more difficult to learn from the slides when looking at them on the computer.
• Not being able to pay small fines for an overdue book or other bills which puts a hold on the student’s account and they cannot register for classes the next semester.

Some solutions can include:

• Limit the number of expensive drinks from the snack and coffee bars.  (You would be amazed at the number of students bringing large, expensive coffees and smoothies to class.)
• Budget your money.  Put some away for use at the end of the semester.
• Get a part time job, on campus if possible.  Having a job will actually make you use your time better and you will have more expendable income.

The next post (and a few others) will deal with time management – perhaps the number one adjustment a freshman has to make!

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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.