As you start the fall semester, you should be aware that every semester has a “honeymoon” period – generally, the first two weeks of class.   Sometimes 3 weeks depending on the course.

What is the “honeymoon” period of the semester?  Well, it’s that time of the semester, when you’re just getting started in your classes, getting introduced to new material, and don’t really have any intensive assignments yet. Put another way, you don’t think you have a whole lot yet to do for your classes.

At least, no assignments that have a heavy impact on your grade are due yet.  No exams, no papers, no big projects.  You haven’t learned enough yet for these kinds of assignments.

And it’s super easy to think, this is a blast!  I’ve got all this free time.  Only being in class 12-15 hours a week is so cool! 

Nothing is due yet and students believe they’ve got lots of time to do it before it is due.

And this feels right to many students.  Most students often believe that they must only work a couple hours a week to do well in college. 

A recent survey of students at my college indicated that students thought they would spend about 5 hours a week doing classwork in order to do well.  That was for ALL of their classes combined!

I hate to burst the bubble here, be the bearer of bad news, and please don’t shoot the messenger………

But students should expect to spend on average 3 hours outside of class for every hour in class.  You heard me right!  3 for 1!  That’s the rule of thumb.

But we don’t know what we don’t know.  And you know why they say - Ignorance is Bliss!  They say it because it’s true!

So, then weeks three and four hit.  The first set of assignments and quizzes are due.  Exam #1 is coming up soon for each of your courses. And suddenly, students have a whole lot to do and not enough time to do it.

This is generally when the overwhelm starts kicking in.  Now you have multiple assignments due very soon, and you have dramatically underestimated how long these assignments will take.

DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!  I repeat - DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

Here’s what you should do instead:

1. Use a calendar system to keep track of all your assignments.  The last thing you want to do is get a 0 on an assignment because you forgot about it.  Review this regularly so that you are aware of what is coming up in the next two weeks.
2. Get started on assignments as soon as possible. Assignments in college generally are longer and will require multiple sessions to complete.  Do not assume that you can sit down and complete an assignment in one sitting.  Expect to have to use your book, your notes, and outside resources to complete the assignment.  Assignments will take some thought, planning, and possibly research.  All of this will take longer than you think.  And you need to give your brain time to process all this new information before it can be applied.
3. Build consistent routines and systems now for working on assignments and studying. You need to spend time on each of your classes most days of the week.  What should you be doing if you don’t have specific assignments to work on?
   • Recopying your class notes and adding in important information from your readings. This will make studying for the exam so much easier.  You want one concise set of annotated notes.
   • Reviewing the annotated notes regularly and then asking questions in class if you are confused. Do not put this off!
   • Put pencil to paper and redo stuff you did in class to start testing yourself.
   • Make flash cards and start studying NOW. You will be thankful you did this when the first exam rolls around.

Don’t get me wrong, you will still have time for all the fun activities colleges plan during the first couple weeks of the semester.  And you should participate in the activities fair and the mixers.  But you should also work on your classes at least five days of the week.

Then, when those assignment due dates roll around and it is time for the first exam, you won’t panic. 

You’ll be much more confident and far less overwhelmed.  And you’ll be able to go to the football game that Saturday without feeling guilty!

That’s a win/win every week!

Here’s to your best semester yet!