Checklist: Managing Academics

Carry a planner.

A planner will keep you organized and allow you to practice good time management. It can be an electronic planner if you prefer.

Find a favorite place to study.

If your dorm is too loud, head for the library or perhaps a study hall. Find a space and make it your studying haven.

Designate specific hours to study and stick to them.

If you make a certain time for study part of your routine, you’ll get used to it and eventually count on it.

Choose a day to prepare a weekly schedule.

Pick one day each week when you’ll sit down and review your schedule for the following week. This will properly prepare you and help you determine your top priorities.

Build relationships with your teachers.

Even if they’re only your professor for a semester, building relationships with your teachers is important. It will make it easier to ask for help when you need it. If your class is taught by a Teacher’s Assistant, or T.A., get to know him or her as well.

Build a relationship with your academic advisor.

Make sure to stop and visit your academic advisor every now and then; he or she can serve as a good sounding board for any academic questions or concerns.

Set up goals.

Setting goals can help you organize your priorities, provide a "road map," help you concentrate your time and effort, give you a target to aim for and increase your motivation. So sit down and write out your academic goals for each semester. Hang it somewhere you can see it on a daily basis.

Get enough sleep.

Sleep is directly related to performance. You want as much energy as possible when it comes to your studies, so make sure to get a full eight hours.

Try to be optimistic.

If you do badly on one test, or miss an assignment, don’t be too hard on yourself; there are ways to make it up. If you start getting too pessimistic, it will affect the rest of your work moving forward.

Choose the right organizations.

When you get to college, you are inundated with organizations, opportunities and activities. Make sure you don’t get involved in too many or in one that monopolizes too much of your time. Remember, you came to college to study, not socialize.

Eat nutritiously.

This may sound obvious, but a lot of students get to college and forget to eat well-balanced meals. If you’re only eating pizza and drinking coffee every night, you’re bound to start feeling sluggish or jittery. Your family isn’t at school with you to nag you about your eating habits, so get the vitamins and energy you need to be at your best by remembering to eat some fruits and vegetables.

Blow off steam.

Stress hinders productivity so taking a trip to the gym, reading a funny book or meeting friends for dinner every now and then will do you good.

Schedule time for yourself.

Whether you’re into yoga, running, aerobics or swimming, scheduling time for personal activities will not only make your focus better, but your body/health better too. Meditation or attending a religious service can be additionally beneficial.

Give up having to be perfect.

Holding yourself to a perfect standard is only going to make you frustrated and anxious. Strive to be your best, but don’t beat yourself up trying to be perfect.