College demands organization in a way high school never did. Gone are the days of teachers reminding you about assignments, emailing your parents if you skip class, and reaching out to you to check in. At times, it can feel overwhelming to have sole responsibility for your academic success. Don’t get me wrong; the added freedom of college is great — it can empower you to be more self-reliant and responsible. Being forced to take the first step in terms of contacting professors has made me more independent and self-aware. I have also appreciated being able to choose my own major and take courses that intrigue me. However, keeping up with assignments and deadlines can be tough. Here are six tips you can start employing right away to be sure you remain organized.
- Find a planning method that works for you, like a planner.
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A planner can be a great resource for organizing assignments, to-dos, and general thoughts that pop up over the course of a semester. However, planners are not for everyone. My first three years of college, I bought a beautiful planner, told myself I would use it, and by the third week of classes, it was gathering dust. Planners have never worked for me. Instead, I write deadlines in my iPhone calendar, which neatly syncs up with my laptop. For daily to-dos, the Notes app is my best friend. I rely heavily on technology in school, so having all of my daily tasks written out on my devices is much more convenient than digging out a paper planner. I recommend that first-years try a planner, but if it isn’t working for you, don’t force it.
- Log your syllabus dates the day you receive them.
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With classes just starting up, syllabus week can feel like one giant block of free time. It is certainly a great opportunity to make new friends and explore campus, but it is also a crucial period for logging dates (in your planning method of choice). Syllabi are great because they present the entire semester to you at once, and professors will rarely change these dates. Looking at a syllabus (let alone four or five!) can be overwhelming, but logging the dates into your calendar allows you to better visualize the semester by breaking everything down. Additionally, you won’t have to dig out your syllabus every week to check for assignments; they will already be conveniently located in your calendar. Tip: Both iCal and Google Calendar are great resources for keeping your schedule consistent across all of your devices.
- Develop a routine, and stick to it!
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Having a different class schedule every day can make it feel impossible to develop a routine, but the sooner you do so, the better off you will be. For each day of the school week, decide around what time you will do things like eat, do homework, exercise, and do laundry. After all that is decided, you can use the remaining time to relax or to see friends. Routines are subject to change since one cannot plan for everything, but it is important to set aside specific blocks of time for getting work done. Having a routine can help you better manage your time so you won’t feel tempted to procrastinate assignments.
- Utilize campus resources.
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If you are struggling to manage time and stay organized, there is hope! Many people and organizations on campus are available to help you adjust. You may consider talking to your academic adviser, your class dean, or even an upperclassman. Depending on your specific needs (and your specific school), organizations like Well Woman, Beyond Barnard, or some of the many student resources offered by Columbia’s Office of University Life can also assist. Everyone at Barnard and Columbia wants you to succeed, so do not hesitate to reach out for help. Time management is a learned skill, and it is never too late to improve.
- Check your email—every single day.
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Believe it or not, I stumbled upon this tip while on Tumblr the other day (yes, Tumblr still exists). I saw a post reminding college first-years to check their emails, which had not even occurred to me. Checking my college email has become so ingrained in my daily life that I had forgotten the high school days of using email for little besides storing newsletters and, of course, college acceptances and rejections. Once you start college, email becomes your main method of communication. You must check your email every day (ideally, multiple times per day) to get any important information about your classes, clubs, sports teams, or your school as a whole. Occasionally, professors will assign readings or essays over email (or change homework assignments/due dates), so it is imperative that you are looking out for messages. Tip: you can set email notifications on your phone or computer to be alerted every time you get a message.
- Try out different methods of organization until something sticks.
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Organization is not one-size-fits-all. Different strategies work for different people, so use the fall semester to try different things and see what works for you. For example, some people make paper flashcards for exams while others use Quizlet. Some plan every single part of their day in their calendar, while others just note classes and appointments. Feel free to ask around to see what other people do for organization, but do not feel obligated to adopt their strategies. I assure you that in a semester or two you will have found strategies that complement your learning style, academic needs, and social life.