The semester is well underway for many of my college students. Already with a few weeks of lectures, assignments, and quizzes under their belts, they have some lessons learned. Here are 3 things that helped pave the way for a successful start to school (or helped to get things back on track):
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Identify resources. Adding dates, assignments, exams, readings, etc. from syallbi into a calendar is a given. Consider creating a Google Doc or Notes in your phone with TA/professor’s contacts, time/location for free tutoring services on campus, learning center info, link to wellness center hours, etc. When students aren’t sure what to do, they can feel stuck or panic, which may lead to procrastination. A resource document, with everything in one place, provides potential steps to move forward and get out of the overwhelm.
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Find 3 places on campus to study. Where can you go to get work done in between classes? Hint: it’s not your dorm! Everything related to procrastination happens there – friends, sleep, food, TV, gaming. Even if you only have 30 minutes, find a bench or spot in an empty classroom, spend that time reviewing the professor’s slides before your next class, rewrite notes, study vocabulary terms. Set yourself up for success; if you tend to be more social, maybe skip the quad or coffee shop and hit an out of the way cubicle in the library.
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Look for a study buddy. Whether you sit in the same spot every class or not, double check with your seat mate anything that was not clear. Did you miss something in the lecture? Why not ask the person standing next to you as you file out of a busy lecture hall? This is also a great way to meet people and can feel less intimidating than introducing yourself.
PS Your study buddy could be a good candidate to add to your resource document.
