Hey Beauties, it’s back to school season!
Now, that the Fall semester and school year has official begun, it’s time to buckle down and get back into the groove of studying and time management. The first few weeks came be a bit of a challenge to get back into the flow of school especially with how drastic the dynamics of attending classes and learning have changed. So, this is why I have some tips for you to help transition from summer mode to a more focused and balance education and life routine.
As a veteran Mathematics major and college Mathematics tutor, I’ve acquired a lot of tips, and lived experience that I hope can help you have a smoother transition and great semester. Some of these tips are geared toward Mathematics, but they can be applied to other subject matters as well.
Plan Out a Schedule
One of the most important things to do in order to achieve a successful semester is to practice good time management. Acquiring those skills are so important because it helps have a timeline in place for completing your goals. Just like writing a ‘to-do list’, blocking off times in a schedule to complete tasks gives a clear road map on when certain tasks need to be completed by. Also, having things laid out helps with procrastination and saves time from hours scrolling on social media…I’m guilty of that.
To do this, you want to pick up a planner that you like and take some time down to plan out a schedule. First start off with your classes, block off the time you are in class. Next factor in any time you spend working, then depending on the degree and level of difficulty, block off time to study, do homework, research, etc. For me it was about 1-2 hours per class for classes that I felt were easy for me and as I progressed into my degree that increased to 3-5 hours. I know that seems a lot but find what works for you and adjust based on your priorities and ultimate goals.
Below are some of my favorites. The academic Passion Planner is great for blocking off times in the day by hour. The Legend Planner is great because not only is it a planner, but it has great questions for self-reflection, habit tracking, and goal writing. I’m all about self-growth so I love to plan and journal. The last one is from Target and what I love is that it’s simple and easy to use for the more minimalistic person. I also love that there are tabs for each month.
Be Proactive
Stay ahead of the reading material/topic by reading the upcoming chapters, watching relevant videos this gives you an opportunity to review what will be covered and helps you come prepared with questions. We are blessed to live in a generation that is equipped with so many resources online.
Watching videos on the topic helped me so much when I was taking higher level mathematics like the calculus sequence and physics. One of my favorite sources is MIT. On YouTube, they have free lectures on their Open Courseware site on YouTube. There you’ll see that they cover topics from math, computer science, humanities, music, engineering, and more. Although they do have introductory courses, most of these will be higher level STEM related courses.
Create Virtual Study Groups
Now that most learning has shifted to remote or hybrid formats, it’s crucial to build relationships with your classmates. One of the best ways I find to do so, is to create a study group. You can do this by reaching out to your classmates and inviting them to create a group to review materials, ask questions, or work on problems together. This is a great strategy because sometimes your professor isn’t available, and you can’t seem to find the answers online so connection with your peers gives you an extra resource. You can create these groups by exchanging phone numbers, emails, and you can set up group chats through text, WhatsApp, Facebook, or Zoom meetings. You may have to be the one to take that first step and reach out but don’t be afraid. Afterall, two brains are better than one, especially when it comes to navigating this new form of learning for some.
Get Help
One of the biggest mistake students make is not asking for help or asking questions. Many schools offer tutoring services some even offer it for free. Ask you professor or the student affairs offices about touring. If it’s not free and you need help, there are great resources online and channels on YouTube that cover a range of topics. Khan Academy and PatrickJMT are my favorite. Khan Academy covers a wide range of STEM related topics, topics for kids, and even topics in other languages as well. PatrickJMT on the other hand covers mostly mathematics and physics.
Another great source is Stack Exchange. There you can search for questions or ask a new question and others will provide an answer. I’ve had more luck with searching for a question and have found multiple answers. Stack Exchange has tons of questions in relation to topics from Math, English, Computer science, Finance, and more.
Whether you choose to apply any of these tips, I hope you find it helpful and gave you some things to consider for ways you can help you have a successful semester. I hope you have a great semester and school year!
Shop The Post
* This post contains affiliate links and I get a small commission. As the customer, you do not pay any more or less. I appreciate your support!