Semester assignments have a way of “sneaking up” on us from time to time. During the first week of classes (also known as syllabus week) we are bombarded with syllabi. The over achievers typically read the syllabi line for line as they map out plans on how to execute in a timely manner, whereas the “average” students typically skim over the syllabus and depend on professors or classmates for upcoming deadlines. I’ve vacillated along the spectrum. I’ve been the careless student who learned that I had a test the day of and I’ve been the overachiever who had every assignment due date programmed into my calendar. As you can imagine, the latter equipped me to be a responsible and organized student! Below are a few tips that (if taken seriously) can lead you to a more productive and structured semester. These steps may appear to be time consuming, but trust me you’ll be an organized beast after you manage your time and plan accordingly. Plus, you know what they say, prior planning prevents piss poor performance! 1. Read each syllabus in its entirety- Ok, maybe not in its entirety but definitely read the main points. Most professors will read over the syllabus on the first day of class, but if they don’t, you definitely want to read over the grading policy, absence policy, semester assignments and class participation sections. I’ve had professors add some pretty bizarre stuff into their syllabi. For instance, “once class begins, the door will be locked and you will not be permitted inside.” You may want to be privy to the professors rules on eating in class, make-up assignments, etc… 2. Consolidate your syllabi– After reading over each syllabi I usually consolidate assignments by month. Each month I print a “Monthly Syllabi” which includes the assignments for each respective class. This really helps me to prioritize! It also eliminates that overwhelming feeling I often get when I look over ALL the work that I’m assigned for the semester. Below is an example of my consolidated syllabi, created in Microsoft Word. I’ll be focusing on September. 3. Write the due dates in your planner/calendar- You can either write the due dates a month in advance or for the semester. I typically write the due dates for each class (in a different color) in my planner a month in advance to avoid having to scribble out due dates if they happen to change. I hope these steps increase your efficiency! Please share your comments.
