A new semester in college means experiencing a period of changes and transformation, full of new experiences and thus pretty difficult. That’s why it’s unsurprising that many students don’t pay much attention during the lectures and take their time adjusting to the new environment and new routine. However, this means that you might also lose precious time and great opportunities that would boost your performance. In this blog post, we have prepared a few tips for you that will help you get into the study mood right from the start and settle into a good routine.
Reflect and Analyze
Before you start your new semester with all the challenges and opportunities, it’s crucial to reflect on your previous semester. Even if you are a freshman and know nothing about studying in college, you can still analyze your previous study routine. Define the mistakes that you need to get rid of in order to improve your productivity and academic performance.
You can also analyze your victories and achievements. Ask yourself what worked well for you and what helped you to study better. Or what made you distracted and needs to be improved in the future. By reflecting and learning from your mistakes, you can enter your new semester more prepared for the new challenges ahead.
Review the Syllabi
Course syllabi are the most important thing that you should carefully review once you get them and also review them throughout the semester. Sometimes, it happens so that students forget about the syllabi and make huge mistakes during the tests or when handing in the papers. But actually, almost everything you need to know is in that syllabus.
Be sure to take notes while reading them. Write down the important dates and details, as well as grading criteria. It’s easier to prepare for the course and meet the expectations of your professor when you know what is required from you and exactly how your work will be graded.
Create a Schedule
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of scheduling and planning. Being organized is often something that you need to learn, but it can definitely change the whole situation.
Feeling overwhelmed and all over the place with new classes, new mates, and new professors is totally normal at the beginning of a new semester. However, being not focused in the beginning might turn into being unfocused during the whole semester. The start of your semester is crucial, and it is important to get into the right routine and right mood as soon as possible.
Start with scheduling your next month. It might be too much to schedule more than four weeks because you still need to adapt and adjust. Some of your plans might not work out, while some of your routines might need improvement. That’s why we suggest you plan for the next three or four weeks to see what will work for you.
Use a calendar on your phone or in your planner to write down important events and dates. They might be dates of tests, deadlines for assignments, or college events. Also, be sure to put in your calendar various appointments like a dentist or car service if you have them planned.
Schedule Your Studies
The next step is to plan each of your days correctly. Start with scheduling your classes – you will probably receive your list of classes and times by this point. Set the time for breaks and meals, study sessions, and homework. It might take some time to figure out how much time you need to spend daily studying, but you will eventually come to an understanding of that.
Define how much time you have left. This is your free time you can spend resting, having fun, and socializing. Don’t be scared if there is not that much time you can spend out of classes and homework – when you have motivation, you are more productive and spend less time on assignments. By the way, another great way to do that is to turn to our team of professional writers as we work so that you can spend more time on things you love instead of writing essays.
Apps and Tools
Be sure to take advantage of modern technology. Time-management apps help a lot in planning your day and sticking to your schedule. You can also try setting a timer for your social media apps like Instagram. It is too tempting to spend some time scrolling through the timeline, but it can easily take more than an hour without you even noticing. All this time can be spent with more benefit if you use blockers and limiting apps in order to minimize distractions and stay focused.
Try Different Study Techniques
As we all are different, it’s hard to say which study technique will work well for you personally. However, some of them are called effective and widely spread for a reason. For example, the Pomodoro technique is quite effective when it comes to long study sessions and preparation for tests and exams.
Spaced repetition is also another very effective memorization technique. It basically is all about reviewing your notes and essential paragraphs now and then. And it can come very much in handy if you implement it in your daily routine right from the start of a new semester. You will definitely memorize more, and it will be easier to recall a fact or a date once you need to answer an exam question.
You can also try the Feynmann Technique by explaining complex things and chunks of knowledge to yourself in simpler words or by finding a real-life example. It is especially effective regarding theoretical knowledge that is worded in complex terms – economic or law.
Engage With Professors
It is important to let your new professors notice you among your peers. If you have ever asked for extra credit, you know how much easier it is when your professors don’t have a hard time remembering your face. Engaging with professors provides you with various benefits as they acknowledge your presence and your hard work, as well as your ambitions and aspirations.
Attending office hours to clarify some things regarding the lecture material is a great chance to let your professor know that you are interested in the subject. It also allows you to get valuable knowledge or even some additional hints about the upcoming exams.
Start Early
When it comes to work and various assignments, the majority of us tend to put them aside, especially when there is a lot of time until the deadline ahead. However, starting to really engage in studying and homework early can help you avoid the stress of completing the task at the very last moment.
When you have a big and complex paper that you need to work on, it’s better not to put it aside but to break it into sections and work on them slowly. That is how the deadlines are actually established by professors – they surely give you plenty of time to finish the task.
Stay Adaptive
Being adaptive and flexible when it comes to routines, plans, or work habits is crucial for your personal growth and development. If you see that some of the implemented techniques or study methods are not working for you, try something new.
Establishing a truly productive and effective routine is not that simple, and it takes time. You can even find that some of the things that used to work for you do not anymore. And that’s totally okay. Changing is a part of transformation, so don’t be scared of that.
By maintaining a positive mindset, you can overcome difficulties without stressing too much. Believe in yourself and your abilities.
Wrapping Up
Don’t waste your time when the semester starts – be ready to dive into the studying process and establish your daily routine. In order to avoid burnout, be sure to balance studies and fun and break larger tasks into smaller manageable portions. If you start your semester right without putting essential tasks and assignments aside, you can ace your studies much easier, including longer and more challenging study projects.
Karen Palmer
