Studies show that college students should study 24 to 36 hours per week. One of the best ways to schedule your day is to have reminders set up on your phone calendar or carry a small calendar that has daily time slots. Most colleges will require that you take general classes before you start taking classes for your major.
Get a Calendar and Use It
Your calendar is a clear representative of how you spend your time. Yikes! That sounds like accountability. It is!
Most phones these days have a calendar. You can set up reminders, events, even project due dates. The great thing about it is that it’s readily available; it’s at your fingertips.
You’re not a techy person? No worries. There are also free printable calendars. You can go to your local library and print off monthly, weekly and daily calendars. Place them inside your notebooks and they are just as handy as a digital calendar.
The best free online calendars are Google, Zoho, Cozi Family, 30 Boxes and WhichTime. Google and Cozi Family calendars can be shared by anyone. That makes knowing where your friends are meeting up later
Time Management
So, you are ready to take on the college life, good for you! This is an exciting time in your life. It’s a benchmark in your timeline. Congratulations!
Managing your time will help make this new life transition less stressful. Let’s say that you are going to be a full-time student and work, then you are probably going to spend the better part of 40 hours a week doing what needs to be done. Therefore, making good constructive use of your time will be necessary.
Focus on one assignment at a time. Multitasking is so overrated. Trying to watch your favorite tv sitcom, catching up every ten minutes on social media or working on two projects, well, you may just wear yourself ragged. There is such a feel-good emotion that comes with completing an assignment or a project.
A survey called Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey revealed that the average full-time student spends only 2.76 hours a day on education-related activities. That number will be lower if you have a job. This survey also revealed that an average of 4.4 hours a day is spent on leisurely activities, which means that students spend close to three times the amount of their day not prioritizing.
Scheduling Your College Classes
This is a tough one for entry year college students. You’re excited and want to take the maximum number of classes that you can. That’s awesome. Most colleges allow you to take up to 15 to 18 credit hours per semester. That’s on the high side. If you know yourself well, and you know that you are going to have a hard time with a couple of classes then stick with 12 to 15 credit hours per semester.
Trust me, you’re not going to want to overextend yourself. Taking college classes and studying for these classes are going to require more effort than what you had to put into your high school classes. Know your limits, be realistic.
Researchers have found that starting college classes later in the day has proven more successful. You are more productive at night? No worries. If your day allows, then start your daily classes at the second hour time slot, say at like nine o’clock instead of eight o’clock. For the ‘not so morning’ afternoon person this could work well for you; especially if your job hours have you working towards later in the evening. This should help alleviate that desperate need for an extra hour of sleep.
If you are an early riser and early to bed, then you should consider starting your morning classes bright and early. There are a lot of people who prefer to get their day started and ended so that they can get the number of sleeping hours in that their bodies require.
Scheduling Your Day
How about we start with some great tips for prioritizing your day and week? The first great tip is to choose a specific day to schedule your day for the entire week. Let’s say Sundays work best for you, fantastic. By now, you should have your class schedule and your work schedule. I highly recommend that you get that written down first. Then, start by scheduling your study time at the same time every day whether it’s with a study group, partner or a classmate. Get these times written down and then fill-in your independent study time. Finally, relax, chill, end your day by doing something that you want to do; watching TV, flipping through social media, exercising, night out with friends, etc.
The second great tip is to use any free time between classes to study or freshen up for an exam. I’d allow between 50-90 minutes per class throughout the week. Unless of course, you have a tough class along with an easy class then you can adjust your study time to spend more on your tough class.
Another great tip is that midway through the week check yourself; revisit your schedule to see that you are on track. Jot down any new assignments for the week or ones that have extended deadlines or voided. Wow, you forgot about an upcoming assignment. Don’t stress, reevaluate and set new goals.
Oh, and hey, scheduling your bedtime or even a nap isn’t just for kiddos. Studies show that students who get enough sleep do better overall in academics and personally. Having structure in your life is essential. Yes, it’s kinda like living an adult life, but you know what, there will come a time when you absolutely love it.
Find Study Groups, Classmates or Partners
Stereotypically, college students believe that college studying will be like high school studying. This is certainly not the case. Unfortunately! There are great resources on campus to help you adjust to your new environment.
Study groups will ordinarily have less than five students in a group and meet a couple of times a week. There are some great benefits that comes with a study group. One, for example, is that you can make learning fun; it’s a great way to socialize. Two, you can learn to take more effective notes. Three, if you’re not comfortable asking questions during class, then a small study group just may be perfect for you. Not only are study groups effective strategically, they can also be very beneficial for developing study habits. The purpose of study groups is to give and receive that extra help students may need.
Not feeling a study group, no problem. I’m sure you’ve struck up a conversation with someone in your classes. Ask this person if they’d like to do some one-on-one studying sessions.
Maybe you have a partner or friend that came to college with you, even better. This person is probably someone that knows you well. Therefore, they are more than likely going to be more patient if you need extra help learning. And let’s face it, they’re going to be right there at your fingertips should you have a question late at night.
Tutoring
Many colleges do provide free tutoring. Your college professor is a good source for extra help. Don’t be afraid to ask, if not during class then stay late. Bu using a provided tutor, you will build your confidence and obtain immediate feedback.
Knowing where to locate the provided tutoring comes with working with a great advisor. They understand the difference between studying in high school versus studying in college. They have also learned the skill of valuable time management. Take advantage of what your advisor has to offer.
Want simple or detailed? Zoho, 30 Boxes and WhichTime may be the ones for you. Actually, they’re all fairly simple, just play around with them until you find your perfect match!