As an academic coach, advisor and First Year Seminar Professor, I have decades of experience working with college students on how to manage their time, the heavier volume of course work in college vs high school and adjusting to a new life.

Here are my basic tips for everyone.

Academic:

Chunking: What is that?
Chunking is a term where you divide your time in chunks: Think of your semester and break it down into months, weeks, and days. Look at each course syllabi and map out what assignments are due and plug in each due date, quiz and test into your calendar. Then you can see your entire semester schedule and how you can go about chunking your daily schedule. Do you have a Politics essay due next week? Chunk out some time this weekend to prep and write. A quiz in Biology? Chunk some time each day to review class notes, and readings to stay up on what the professor emphasizes!
Tip: The most common place a professor takes questions for a quiz or test is from their lectures and class time. So, take good notes and review class slides!

Personal:

For first year, first semester students the ‘newness’ of college has probably faded by now. Phew! Now you need to buckle down, and figure how a more balanced schedule between studying, having fun and taking care of yourself. Make sure to join a club that is 1. Academic, 2. Fun, and 3. Something you’ve never done before. That’s at least 3 clubs, people. Go!

Career:

Go Visit the Career Services Office, now. (Even if you are a first year student.) It’s actually the best year to start. If you wait until senior year, it’s too late! Go, now. And attend presentations and events they offer. Networking is the #1 way to get internships and jobs.

You’ve got this!