Every job, from ground-level to executive positions, requires strong organizational skills. That is why colleges and universities, like FNU include a strict academic curriculum designed to challenge a student’s ability to comprehend the material within each course and also successfully manage deadlines.
This is why the first day of each semester can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, especially for first-year college students. Each semester the courses will intensify, becoming more challenging and demanding more of students. The sooner you can get organized in your academic career, the better you will manage those higher-level courses, making the learning experience a little easier.
Here are a few steps students can take to achieve effective organization skills:
Step 1: Use a Planner
Along with their textbooks, every student, new or experienced, should purchase a yearly planner.
You may find using the calendar, or planning app on your phone is helpful or you may prefer a physical planner works best. If you don’t know which will work for you, try both methods and stick with the one that works best.
You will quickly learn that staying organized and writing down due dates will help you succeed in college. It’s also a great way to help determine which course assignments and exams require top priority and which ones can wait a few days.
Create a Daily and Weekly Priority List
Most calendars give users the option to organize their tasks by the month, week and day. When acquiring a college degree, all three are necessary. It is important to look at the big picture by the month. It’s helpful for some students to look at the smaller picture by breaking it up into weeks. Yet, to fulfill those weekly duties, the daily tasks need to be completed. That is why it is highly recommended to create a weekly and daily priority list, which can be found in most planners.
Step 2: Assess Each Syllabus
The beginning of every semester can sometimes be overwhelming. Just reviewing a syllabus for one course may be enough to make a student say, “I can’t do this!” and run straight to the registrar’s office to drop the class.
Wait. Before you quit, try the tips above.
Completing courses, even challenging ones can be achieved. Hundreds of FNU alums can attest to this. All it takes is proper time management and organizational skills.
After getting over the initial shock of the amount of work that is expected to complete in one term, it is then time to assess the syllabus by looking at the assignments and due dates, then translating them into your own planner.
Step 3: Plan! Plan! Plan!
It is important to determine how much personal time is needed. Personal time is just as important as setting time aside for academic work. Without proper rest and mental breaks, you may get burned out, becoming fatigued and restless, resulting in in an inability to stay focused enough to study.
There should always be a certain amount of time set aside for studying outside of class. You should consider how much time it’s going to take to organize and read lecture notes, as well as complete homework tasks. Although you can estimate an amount of time, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to complete the coursework within that time period.
Give yourself a bit of a time cushion. Be prepared to sometimes go over in that time slot. A study schedule needs to be flexible but well organized. If other commitments interfere with study time, refer to your planner to determine what other tasks and appointments can be shortened to make more time for studying.
TIP ->>> Organize study time in hourly blocks.
Step 4: Know Yourself
It can be argued that truly knowing oneself is a lifelong task, and where you are now is a step in the right direction. It is important for a student to know their capabilities and limitations. Often, it is a journey of self-discovery as you may not know how far you can go until you accomplish a challenging task. At any rate, it is a step that needs to be assessed daily in order to plan effectively.
For example, if you study best in the morning or the evening, you should schedule your most intensive study items during those times. If you have a family event and know that Saturday will be completely lost for studying, you should readjust your scheduling plan for that weekend. Be honest with yourself as you plan your study time and accomplishing educational goals around your busy life.
FNU: Helping Students Manage their Academic Career
FNU understands the weight of academic responsibility our students must manage. That is why we are committed to making sure they are fully equipped to successfully complete each course with ease. With the assistance of FNU, there is no need to be intimidated by a lengthy syllabus. Get ready to manage your academic time like an FNU champion! Contact our admissions department to begin the enrollment process started today!
