My Tips for Getting Through the Academic Year
design: Finley Banks
How to sail smoothly through every semester.
by SAMAYEE GUPTE ★ OCTOBER 05, 2023
When I first came to SU, I was excited to try absolutely anything and everything. I signed up for all the clubs that caught my eye and attended every freshman activity I could. But, as the academic pressure started piling up, I realized I was neck-deep in homework and assignments with no plan of action on how to complete them. Not wanting my academics to suffer, I developed my own systems and strategies to tackle my workload. These helped me throughout my academic career and they most definitely will help you too! So, here are some of my tips to succeed academically while also enjoying college!
Plan Ahead
Before starting your week, it is essential to have an idea of what it'll look like. You can use digital options, physical planners, or a mix of both! Personally, I use Google Calendar and connect it across all my devices. I color-code and time block classes, events, club meets, and study times. This provides an overview of my courses and how much time I'm planning to devote to various activities, making my life a whole lot easier
Keep Track of your Homework
Let’s be honest here, it can be hard to remember and keep track of all your assigned homework. Even small tasks like sending emails or scheduling meetings can get overwhelming. To make my life easier, I use Google Keep to record my homework. I have created lists for different courses. I plug every one of my assignments into the app, which helps streamline my work and allows me to look at everything I have to do without getting too overwhelmed.
Connecting with professors
One of the best opportunities at college is building a professional and personal connection with your professors! They can be mentors, support you with research, suggest opportunities, and write you professional recommendations when you need them. This is why it is vital to interact with them right off the bat. I recommend introducing yourself to them after your first day of class and talking about why you took the course. Actively participate in class and ask questions if you have any! Go to their office hours too; This will not only improve your academic performance but also show the professor that you genuinely care about the subject and are putting in the effort to do well.
Prioritize and Say No
In a perfect world, it would be amazing if we could be involved in every club or activity that sounded like fun and still have time for school and a social life. Sadly, this is not the case. To truly make the most of your college life, you have to prioritize. Look over your calendar and to-do list and rank your tasks according to importance and urgency. Think about the clubs or activities that you want to attend. Put them on your calendar and say no to the others. Don't feel pressured to say yes to everything, choose your own priorities!
Find your study spot
In his book 'Atomic Habits,' James Clear stated that our behavior is defined by our relation to our environment. He said that every room or space should have one purpose. Using this advice, I walked around campus and chose two spots, an individual room at Bird and a Sadler Hall study room, as my study places. In these spaces, I do nothing other than study. If I wish to take a break I step out of the room. This has helped me see the two rooms as study spaces and so whenever I walk inside I instantly feel more focused.
Study tips
These are a few study tips that have helped me academically, and I hope they do the same for you…
Active Recall: In her book 'The Only Study Guide You'll Ever Need,' Jade Bowler talks about this technique. The idea is to understand whatever you're learning and then be able to explain it in your own words without looking at the text. I usually try to explain whatever I've learned to my friends or myself to see how much I recall. Another method can be writing down everything you remember from the topic you're studying and then finding the gaps in your understanding.
Pomodoro technique and 'purposeful' breaks: I'm sure most of you are familiar with the famous Pomodoro technique, in which you study for 25-30 minutes and then take a break for 5 minutes and repeat the cycle over and over. It is a great way to get focused on a task and make progress without exhausting yourself. Research has shown that taking purposeful breaks is a brilliant way to get recharged. During the short and long breaks, rather than scrolling on social media, do activities that would energize you; Such as listening to your favorite songs, going for walks, exercising, meditation, stretching, drawing, or even talking to friends. This will allow you to feel refreshed and ready for the next study session.
I hope some of these strategies help you like they helped me and make your year more productive and stress-free. Good luck UGirls, you got this!