For many students, it seems like the fun ends when school starts. However, that shouldn’t be the case–the fun should continue throughout the school year. Granted, this is better said than done; some of my peers and I have decided to give some tips on how to start the semester off right.
Question: What are some tips to start the semester off right?
“Get your planner situated. This means putting in important dates like exam times, major paper due dates, holidays and game days. Also, make sure to plan out meal times and an ideal sleep schedule.” -Camille
“Try to get ahead on as much of your work as you possibly can. Make sure you get a good basis of what’s going on in the class and that the professor knows your face and name early on [in the semester]. Go to office hours, even if you don’t need them. It’s human nature to be more lenient and give leeway to someone you know personally. As fair as professors try to be, they do have their favorites, and they are people. Like in the real world, become friends with [the professors] and they will look out for you in the long run if things happen to go sideways or not as you planned.” -Jaamal
“Go to class. Just because you’re tired is not an excuse to skip. Also, make friends with/introduce yourself to your teachers. If you don’t know something, don’t hesitate to ask questions. It’s their job to teach you so they won’t be mad. Go over your schedule before the first day to make sure you know where to go and that you’re not late to class.” -Jada
“Don’t study in your room. Form study groups, go to office hours and stay organized.”       -Jerrod
“Organize yourself, because as the school year progresses, you’ll lose your organization more and more. Create and stick to some sort of schedule, factoring in time for schoolwork and fun. If you can establish a routine, things start to become second nature, and it really relieves a lot of stress!” -Illia
“I think some kind of planner is always necessary, even if it’s a notebook that you keep handy just for exams and assignments. It’s really easy for me to map out my study time if I can see what I have to do months ahead of time. When it comes to classes, I know not all professors are the most helpful, so I at least try getting to know the TA if there is one. If it weren’t for the TAs I’ve had in the past, I know I would have never gotten the material. Most importantly: sleep…always sleep. Self care is the best care.” -Zykuria
“1. Keep track of all due dates for all classes so you can schedule [time] to work on said assignment[s] without the worry of being behind or last minute.
2. Keep all distractions away from your study space and classroom. For example, keep your cell phone in your bookbag. Even though it sounds stupid, if you put that away, you are forced to engage in whatever is being taught.
3. Eat food of substance, and eat at least three times a day.
4. Have fun and get out. Don’t stay cooped up in your dorm/apartment/house.” -Kendall
On that note, a final tip would be to hang out with your friends as soon as possible. Go have a drink (or three) at a bar, go see a movie, have a kickback or grab a bite to eat. You’ll need to socialize and have a little bit of fun before the workload gradually increases during the semester.