10 Hints on How to Plan Your Semester
The tricks to success for anybody starting a college career are planning and more planning. The time to plan for each college semester is in the weeks before that college semester is ready to begin. There are many areas of life that should be considered when making plans for the upcoming semester, including academics, work, family commitments, social life, and community service. Students who want to have the most successful college experience should make plans that encompass each one of these categories. If they do this, they will have good grades, an enriching social life, and have plenty of time for family and for giving back to the community. Prospective employers are more likely to hire a graduate that is well rounded, so the time to begin planning is as soon as possible. Here are a list of ten hints for planning a successful college semester.
Hint One: When searching and registering for classes, try to take at least one class that will be enjoyable. Students who take a schedule full of dry, boring classes often find themselves stressed out with no relief during their time at school. A class on writing, music, art, or p.m. can be the perfect balance to an otherwise intensely challenging schedule of classes.
Hint Two: It is important to remember that every hour of classroom time will most likely require the same amount of time outside of the classroom studying or working on projects. For lab classes, students may need even more time to study at home. It is a very bad idea to schedule too many hours of class and to leave yourself with too little time to study. This is especially bad form in classes where group projects are the norm. Nobody wants to be in the position of letting their peers down because they did not do their fair share.
Hint Three: Read the bulletin boards on campus. This are an amazing way to stay up to date on the latest events, shows, concerts, and parties. Bulletin boards are also an excellent way to become involved with study groups, charitable organizations, and fraternal, and social organizations. Finally, many employers use the bulletin boards on college campuses to advertise available positions. Make plans to check these out once or twice a week.
Hint Four: Make friends with teacher’s assistants. A teacher’s assistant or ‘TA’ is an individual who has proven him or herself to have enough expertise in their major to be an asset to their professors. Teacher’s assistants frequently teach classes and organize and run study groups. They are a great first line source of help when it comes to doing research and completing intensive assignments, such as finishing up a field research project or writing an essay. Plan to meet with your TA’s early in the semester.
Hint Five: Plan to give back five hours each week. Many colleges and universities include community service as part of their graduation requirements. Committing to five hours of community service every week is a great way to get started on this requirement. It’s certainly better than procrastinating and trying to get all of your service hours finished at the end of the semester. If community service is not a graduation requirement, there are still plenty of reasons to help others. It’s a great way to boost self-esteem; it makes the community a better place to leave when you graduate; and finally, it is a good addition to any resume.
Hint Six: Plan to take at least one trip home each semester to visit friends and family members. It is important to take breaks away from the intensity of college life and reconnect with loved ones. Doing this will recharge you for your return to school and the work ahead.
Hint Seven: Make plans to meet with your financial aid coordinator to discuss the possibility of participating in the school’s work study program. Work study programs can provide the opportunity to earn money towards school and personal expenses. These programs are also convenient, as the work is located on campus. Lucky students may even find work study opportunities that are related to their majors. Otherwise there are always jobs available in food service, maintenance, or helping others in the library or computer lab. If you need extra money, this is a great option.
Hint Eight: Try to have a night together with friends once every week. This doesn’t require a lot of planning or spending a lot of money. A simple movie night with popcorn and soft drinks is a great way to ensure that friendships are getting the nourishment they need.
Hint Nine: When creating your class schedule, don’t forget about prerequisites. In most cases, academic advisers do a good job of reminding their students to sign up for prerequisites before classes fill up. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to make sure he or she is taking all of the necessary classes. Not getting pre-requisites in can mess up future semesters.
Hint Ten: Make it a goal to stay healthy. Schedule medical appointments throughout the semester if you get sick; remember to get a flu shot; plan daily activities, so that time is left to eat a healthy breakfast and get in a little bit of exercise. A good night’s sleep is not added here, because that is something college students rarely get!
Students who follow these ten hints are far more likely to enjoy themselves as the semester progresses.
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