1. Plan your day to day schedule, especially how your extracurriculars fit into each day’s picture.
That way, you have a total of zero excuses about your lack of time. Once you figure out how much you can reasonably take on, you have no reason to complain that you have too much going on.
2. Read a little bit about the expectations for each class BEFORE the first class session.
The best way to do well in a class is simply to know what the professor wants. For the bare minimum, the syllabus gives a good impression of such. Don’t skim through! The smallest details might make the difference of a B+ or an A-.
3. Live it up so much that you’re ready to go back to the calm/dull rhythm of school.
For the last days of break, all I can say is live it up. Seize the moment to go on all the craziest adventures. Or if you’re not into adventures, do the activities you love most whether that be karaoke, going to the spa, or even record shopping. Considering you’ve already arrived in Berkeley, maybe spend some time in the East Bay Vivarium or look for the lesser known Big Fish House on 2747 Mathews St.
4. Spend the day before catching up with your best buds on how your break went.
It’s the perfect time to let them in on your goals for the semester and what you hope to accomplish in the next four months so that someone is keeping you accountable.