Entering college as a freshman can be daunting as is, but for someone who is disorganized, the pressure of college can be even more overwhelming. Preparing to begin college has a lot to do with expectations and an understanding that college is a much different world than high school. Professors might not give students repeated reminders about assignment due dates or test preparation time. Professors provide a syllabus but may not provide any more reminders about the work that is due. Students are expected to do their reading, show up to class, and do the work. If you’re a student who is prone to disorganization and being forgetful, this can lead to missed deadlines and poor grades.
In order to prepare for college life, it’s important to focus on organization. Doing this involves discipline and motivation, but the reward is worth the effort. By using a planner, making a daily plan, creating an organizational method, and taking legible notes, you can go from being a disorganized high school graduate to being an organized college freshman — preferably without stretching yourself out too thin.
Get a Good Planner
In college, your planner will be your best friend. Each assignment, deadline, study group, required reading, exam, and meeting will need to be jotted down in a planner so that you don’t forget any of your class obligations. There are plenty of planners you can use. Some students utilize old-fashioned notebook planners; others utilize a calendar on their phone or computer; and some even utilize task management software to stay organized. There are also apps, whiteboards, or desk calendars you can use as your planner.
It doesn’t matter what you use — it only matters that you use it religiously. When you have a bunch of classes and a bunch of assignments in each class, remembering anything becomes difficult. A planner is the very basis of organizing your tasks, so choose one that feels natural for you so you can keep a log of your obligations.
Make a Daily Plan
Writing down deadlines and due dates isn’t the same as making an actual plan for completing your work. Make a habit of planning out each day in order to stay focused and motivated to complete your work without procrastinating. Plan out your writing, reading, and studying so that you can spread each task throughout your week instead of doing everything on the same day right before it’s due. Time management can be even more important for online classes as the bulk of your class will be spent on your own, so make sure you’re checking in on your online platform at least once a day.
Your daily plan should include a timeline of your day. If you tell yourself what you plan to do for each hour of each day, you’re more likely to complete it. This may sound daunting, but it becomes a comfort for many. Write down your class schedule, study times, an hour or so for reading, and the rest of your workload for each day so that you don’t forget or procrastinate until the end of the week.
Have an Organizational Method
Each of your classes will involve a slew of materials. You’ll have papers, handouts, a syllabus, notes, notebooks, and books designated for each class. This means piles of indistinguishable work will be floating around your desk, backpack, room, and car at any given moment. Unfortunately, many colleges don’t exactly have a locker to store some of these things. This is an organizational mess, so make sure you implement a method of organization with your materials. Keep all of your materials for each class in it’s own section, notebook, binder, etc. You can even color code each class in terms of pen, binder, folder, and sticky note color for easier organization. You can use planner accessories like stickers or washi tape. Pick your own method, but be sure to have one.
Your organization for your materials should include your workspace as well. Have an area for your books, highlighters, and notes. Make life easier for yourself by creating a work and study space that’s organized with everything you need. Not only will this help your process, it’ll also make you want to be there if everything is clean and organized.
Take Legible Notes
Note taking is a large part of your class time. Many classes, especially entry-level classes for freshman, will be lectures. This means paying attention and writing a lot of notes — both of which can be difficult in a giant lecture hall a few hours a week. However, it’s important to keep your notes organized and legible. One great habit to start college off on the right foot is to study a little bit each day. Taking good notes will aid you in this effort, as well as aiding you when studying for an exam or completing other assignments.
Some students prefer pen and paper; some use a laptop; and others use a tape recorder. Some photocopy their notes and keep them in a Google Drive. Whichever way works best for you, be sure you’re diligent and legible. You’ll thank yourself later.
Don’t Stretch Yourself Too Thin
It’s important to stay organized when you’re preparing to start college, but it’s also important to go easy on yourself. You should get a planner and schedule your days, but you should also schedule in some time for friends and other activities that bring you peace. Schedule some time for brunch, the gym, or a night out. Don’t schedule yourself too many classes each semester, and don’t sign up for early morning classes if you’re not a morning person.
You may find that you’re able to better keep up with studies by finding where your strengths sit within Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. Since your strengths will dictate your preferred learning style, taking some time to determine your own preferences will help you make the most of study time. For instance, a person with high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence may find it easier to memorize information by engaging with hands-on activities. Making the most of your study time by appealing to your preferred learning style will help you free up time for other things.
It’s important to stay organized and work hard, but it’s also important to take care of yourself, your mental health, and stress levels. Organization is supposed to help your workload — not add to it. So be sure you’re not going overboard or stretching yourself too thin.
In truth, starting college as a freshman is exciting. It’s a new adventure and the beginning of a lot of self-discovery in terms of your career. You’ll discover new aspects to your independence, have more experiences, and appreciate your family even more than you already do. College is hard, but it’s also exciting. Even if you’re prone to disorganization, trust that you can work through that hurdle. All it takes is a bit of planning and structure to become someone who has their workload organized. Your dorm may be another story, but at least you’ll know where your Anthropology notes are.
By Devin Morrissey: Devin is a jack of all trades from Daly City, but now roams the West Coast. He returns home to coach rugby and fix his friends’ cars, but luckily he can write from anywhere.
