Last semester went by like the blink of an eye, and with the spring semester upon us, now is the time to kick those old habits, form new ones and finish out the year with a bang. It’s all downhill from here in terms of time left toward the finish line; that is, graduation for some and summer break for others, but it should not be downhill in how you finish off with your grades.
If you are like me, then you probably looked at last semester and told yourself you could continue the study habits which got you by and that the following semester would require the same amount of effort from you. Not only is this ideology presumptuous, but it will leave a person uninspired to achieve greater things during their time in college.
Everyone is aware that decent grades are a must, but are grades everything? Some time ago I asked a friend working in media relations about what he looks for in a potential intern. Surprisingly, I found out that grades weren’t the deciding factor in this decision.
Many employers look instead for whether the student is well-rounded and has time management skills. While your grades should not be forsaken, it is perhaps more important to have other things to back them up; including leadership positions, participation in clubs and internships or co-ops.
It might take great grades to get an internship, but when it comes time to get a post-graduation job, potential employers would rather see what you did in college and if you made the time worthwhile. It is important to find an activity or club that you are passionate about and invest your time there the most.
It is no wonder that the busiest students often make the best grades. They are probably also the best at time management. If you can get a grip on your daily schedule and plan your time effectively, then you will be in great shape towards having a successful semester.
The single best thing you can do to prepare for the semester is to keep an updated agenda book detailing every due date for projects, papers, meetings, and tests. Ideally, on the first day of class you should take the syllabus and immediately write the important assignments in your agenda. This way, you will know exactly when everything is due and nothing can possibly spring up on you unanticipated.
I’ve found that by looking at an agenda book several times a day, I am able to plan for things, study in advance, and keep mental notes of what is going on in my life. Using these practices reduces my stress level greatly because I am less apt to procrastinate.
I recommend that you all get on the right track by figuring out your goals, become involved in something related to your future profession and take steps to have more organization in your life. You have eight semesters of college to get it right, so start preparing early before the time slips away in that blink of an eye.
Tell Rebecca how you keep organized. E-mail her at [email protected]
