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By this point in the summer most of us have our class schedules for next semester. If you want to start the new school year as prepared as possible, it’s a good idea to start organizing and planning as soon as you can. While you need your syllabi to complete a detailed study and assignment plan, you only need to know your general schedule to do the things that I discuss in this blog post.

1. Prep that planner

This semester is obviously a lot different from previous semesters because of COVID-19. Many of us don’t know if dates, classes and events might change in the future which makes it hard to completely prep your planner. However, there are still a lot of things you can do right now that will be easy to change or add to as things progress.

If you think your class schedule might change, hold off on writing in your class times until you know more. You can go ahead and add these important dates to your calendar instead: first and last day of classes, financial aid disbursement, tuition and fees due date, holidays & other no-class days, any vacations you know you will be taking.

2. Locate your classes

This is especially important if you are on a new campus (like I am) this semester. Figuring out where your classes are by physically walking from one classroom to the next will make your first day so much less stressful!

Following your class schedule – walk from one classroom to the next based on the actual route you will need to walk each day. This will also give you a feeling for how much time you need to get from class to class.

3. Sign in to your school’s learning platform (Blackboard, Canvas, ect..)

Whatever learning platform your school uses, I suggest you set up your account and familiarize yourself with the layout of the website right away. Starting about 2 week before classes begin, I start checking in regularly to see if any classes have gone live (many professors will post the class a full week before class starts).

Often times when they do this there will be helpful information about textbooks, class expectations, and other information you may need to know. You will also have access to the syllabus which will give you a wealth of information about the class.

4. DON’T buy your textbooks ahead of time

This is a mistake the over-preparer in me has made a few too many times. I love to enter the first week of classes feeling 100% prepared, but textbooks are one of the few things that are a good idea to wait on. Unless you know without a doubt that you need a certain textbook or material, hold off on buying them until your teacher gives you more information.

5. DO buy your school supplies and set up your notebooks/binders

As soon as you know your schedule you can set up notebooks and folders for each class. If you have access to any syllabi, use them to further prepare. If you’re using paper notebooks, set them up with labels and integrate them into your organization plan. If you’re using an iPad or tablet for note taking, set up your note taking app with notebooks and folders.

Here is an example of how I set up my classes this semester using the Goodnotes app:

6. Organize your work space (physical and digital)

Something I always do before a new college semester is reorganize and purge EVERYTHING!

Haha no, but really.

Having a clean workspace that fosters a productive and motivated mindset is so important as a student. Before classes start, do a big purge both in your physical workspace, and digital. Rid your devices of any unneeded documents and organize the ones you do need into relevant folders. You can even clean up your browser’s bookmarks and refresh your wallpaper.

Make sure the physical space that you intend to work is clean and clutter-free. Establish a designated area to keep all of your school materials. Purge old notes, textbooks and other school stuff that you don’t need anymore. Doing this will help you stay organized and will reduce your stress overall.

7. Get into your rhythm

I highly recommend you start going to sleep and waking up as if classes have started at least (ideally more) a full week in advance. It can be so hard to change your sleep cycles, and feeling fatigued during the first week of school make things much more stressful.

Additionally, start thinking about things like your meals and groceries. What are you going to take for lunch each day? What are you going to make for dinner when you don’t have a lot of time? How and when are you going to make time for self-care and exercise?

Waiting until you’re “in the thick of it” is not the right approach if you want to be successful. Your health and wellness are essential in supporting the hard work your brain is doing in school – make sure that you take care of it and set yourself up for success by planning things out even if it seems excessive.

Wether you’ve taken a hundred online classes or none, this school year is going to look a lot different than normal for most of us. Many classes have been either partially or fully moved online, and there will be unforeseen challenges to overcome over the next few semesters adjusting to this new normal.

Because I have often had to work full-time while in school, my schedule each semester is usually at least partially comprised of online courses. I have excelled with this format of learning in the past, and thought I would share with you the tips and tricks that have made me so successful.

Tip #1: Communication is key

Just like with a regular class, asking questions and clarifying things you’re unclear on is integral to success.

It’s easy to feel like you might be pestering your professor if you email them with every question you have, generally this is never the case though. If you’re worried about sending too many emails, keep a short list of questions you want to ask and send an email with all of them at once. Never be afraid to reach out if you have questions, your teachers are there to help you.

If you have a proficient professor, they will not only be prepared to stay in contact with you via email, but will expect it.

At the beginning of each semester there will usually be discussion boards aimed at getting to know your peers, 99% of the time your teacher will be the first to introduce themselves.

I recommend taking this first assignment seriously; try to get to know your professor the same way you might in an in-person class. This will help you and your professor establish a relationship early on, helping ongoing communication feel more comfortable.

Tip #2: Check your email everyday

Check your email every single day.

I’ll say it one more time for the people in back, CHECK YOUR EMAIL EVERY DAY.

This is the only way that your professor can communicate with you. To get the most out of your class and stay on top of things, you need to religiously check your email for announcements, reminders, and other communications.

I recommend connecting your school email to the “mail” app on your phone so that everything goes to one platform.

Tip #3: Schedule it out – You NEED a routine

As soon as you get your syllabus, start scheduling. Look at the course load, your available time and energy and set your schedule.

Depending on your available time, this may look as specific as scheduling blocks of time devoted to that class on certain days of the week.

For others it could be more general. For example, you might decide that you need to spend 6 hours a week studying for a certain class, and simply plan to spend two, three-hour sessions studying each week whenever you feel like it.

When deciding this schedule be honest with yourself. The only person you’re going to let down is yourself if you don’t block of adequate time.

Whatever your method, do it as soon as you get your syllabus, write it down somewhere you’ll see it everyday, and do your best to stick to it.

For online classes I recommend adding 1-2 extra hours to your estimate of the time needed to do well in the course. Because you aren’t going to class, you will likely need to make up for this lost learning time with more studying.

Tip #4: Schedule those tests

Chances are, the second you get your syllabus, you will know when your exams and quizzes are. Add them to your planner now.

It’s easy to lose track of deadlines in online classes because you don’t have a teacher reminding you as frequently. You have to be your own boss in order to be successful. Set reminders, write it somewhere big an obvious, do whatever you need to do to ensure you don’t lose track of upcoming due dates.

Tip #5: Create a space that motivates you

This may seem obvious, but it is essential. If you don’t have one already, get yourself a desk and turn it into your own personal study-getaway. Make sure your space sparks joy and make you feel motivated.

If you don’t have space for a desk, try using a lap desk instead.

This one is a great option

While this isn’t as ideal as a traditional desk, it will still give you a designated work space to do your homework and study.

Tip #6: Avoid distractions

This may also seem like an obvious one, but it is extremely important nonetheless. If you do have a home office, make sure it’s free of distractions. Create your space away from the TV and in an area where you can shut yourself out from distractions. Utilize the do not disturb feature on your phone. Eliminate anything you know easily distracts you (we all have something).

Tip#7: Don’t expect it to be easier than traditional in-person classes

One very common myth I would like to debunk is that online classes are generally easier than in-person classes. While this may be true for some, for the most part, online classes are just as difficult. In fact, because they require you to be more disciplined and accountable than traditional classes, they can often be harder for students.

Go into your online course ready to take on the challenge, and start strong. Set yourself up for success, and hold yourself accountable!

7 Ways to Prepare for a New College Semester