The summer has just flown by, and school is back in session! You may think that what you do in the beginning of the term isn’t that important, but nothing could be further from the truth! A lot of your future success this year will be determined by how you handle the first few weeks of school. Here are a few ways to guarantee that this is the start of an A+ semester:
When you get the syllabi for your classes, don’t just toss them into your backpack and never look at them again. Treat them as your guide to getting an A. As soon as you get them, make a master schedule with all the deadlines and assignments you’ll have for the rest of the term. You can do this by using a regular calendar or day planner, or a more high-tech tool such as Google Calendar or iStudiez Pro—whatever you’re most comfortable with. See when your crunch times are and set alerts for when you have to start key projects. You should also reread your syllabi often, as they may contain the teachers’ expectations, guidelines for writing papers, clues about exams, and other tips that will come in handy throughout the semester.
Lots of students view the beginning of the semester as an opportunity for slacking off. There isn’t much homework yet, the first test seems far away, and they’re still in a post-summer haze. But this is actually the perfect time to get a leg up on your studies. Keep up with all your assignments and, if possible, read ahead. The more you get done now, the easier it’ll be to keep your head above water when the work starts pouring in.
This is the perfect time to develop smart strategies for sleep, diet, and exercise. If you forge these habits now, before you get distracted by tests and assignments, you’ll be more likely to stick with them in the long run. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night, and keep a regular bedtime even on the weekends. Set up a schedule for exercising at least three times a week. And get in the habit of eating well, not skipping meals, and packing healthy snacks to eat on campus. Remember: your brain can’t function at full capacity unless you treat your body right!
We hope you have a fantastic year, and good luck! :)