Student Life

How to Stay on Top of Your Game this Semester

How to Stay on Top of your Game this Semester
The beginning of each semester is always deceptively calm. With add/drop and the introduction of a lot of new material, many of your first due dates may not be for several weeks. 

The second you get to that point it suddenly feels like your to-do list is miles long and you have no time to get anything done. With these 5 tips, however, you can avoid falling behind as the semester gets busier. Gone is the need to pull any more all-nighters to cram! 

1. Take the time to plan out your entire semester
Before the assignments start piling up and things get out of hand, take the time to sit down with your planner or calendar and look at the big picture of your entire semester. To stay on top of your work is to mark down the due dates of big assignments a week or two earlier then they’re actually due. 

Forcing yourself to complete these things earlier then you need to will give you ample time to review them. For exams, mark the day that you plan to start studying a week or two prior to the test. This will prevent you from forgetting about your assignments and tests and having to cram last minute. 

2. Start making your study guides now
It may seem like midterms and final exams are a long ways off, but they creep up on you fast. To save yourself time when you start studying for them, make study guides as you go throughout the semester. 

Every weekend, go back through your notes and compile the information into a separate study guide. Take the time to look up any concepts you don’t understand so that when it comes time to study, all you have to do is review what you already know, rather than learn new concepts. 

3. Start any big assignments that you can right away 
Start picking out topics for essays and presentations as soon as you know about them. Figuring this out at the start of the semester will help your brain pay attention for information and sources mentioned in lectures or readings that might relate to your topic. 

Simply create a separate document and write down any information you think might help you with these big assignments as you do readings and go to lectures, that way when it’s time to write them, you’re not starting with a blank slate. 

4. Go to office hours from the beginning
Some professors come across as intimidating and inaccessible, but going to their office hours early on in the semester can really help you out throughout the semester. A lot of professors will count office hours as participation if that is part of your final grade. 

Not only is asking questions one-on-one a lot easier than trying to participate in a large lecture, but going to office hours will also ensure that professors recognize you. This will make them far more willing to help you with any problems or questions you have as the semester progresses.

Developing a good connection with them can also open up potential job and internship opportunities for the future that you otherwise may not have known about or had access to. It’s all about who you know!

5. Set small goals every day, but don’t go overboard
Either the night before or the morning of each day, take the time to write down or type up a goal list for what homework, readings, or studying you want to accomplish for that day. 

The key here is not to overdo it, because if your list is too long and you don’t accomplish all of it, you may end up feeling bad about yourself even if you did complete a good amount. 

Two to three goals is a reasonable number to start with, and while it may seem small, it’ll add up immensely in the long run. 


Liked these tips? Follow us on Instagram for more tips on how to best #studywize.
instagram.com/wizeprep