Back in high school, winter break was almost three weeks. By the time school inevitably rolled back around, I was still in school-mode and had almost zero trouble falling back into the semester.
With college, it’s different. The break, depending on when your finals are, if you have any, can last well over a month. For me that means one month of lying around, eating copious amounts of sugar and hanging out with friends, with zero thoughts of university or assignments crossing my mind.
It’s hard for me to get back into thinking about homework, and I’ll take a risk and assume it’s difficult for other students to focus once again too, so here are some of my tips to lock back in so you don’t find yourself scrambling at midterms to raise those grades.
1: Plan your semester
This means not waiting until the day your classes start to see when and where you need to go. Plan where you’re going and when at least more than one day before classes start. Switching from having almost no schedule to falling back into the grind of schoolwork is difficult without proper preparation.
I don’t care if you use a calendar app or a physical planner or a napkin from Freddy’s — write down your schedule and look at where you’re going.
Also, take the time to read through the syllabi before the first day of class if they are posted. Some instructors, on purpose or not, neglect to go over crucial details from it, so be prepared. If you really struggle with deadlines, you can also put those on your calendar ahead of time if they’re in the syllabus.
Just be ready, don’t let your schedule and course expectations catch you off guard.
2: Remember academic advising
Advisors exist, and they’re here to help. If something goes wrong with late class registration or you just need to drop a class for the sake of your G.P.A., talk to them. Many of the colleges have walk-in advising including LAS which is offering walk-in appointments until Jan. 26; there’s almost always no excuse not to meet with them if needed. Students can use the Naviagate360 app or call to schedule appointments if their college isn’t offering walk-ins.
Remember to also connect with tutors, supplemental instruction and study groups if needed. There are tons of opportunities for out-of-class learning if you take the leap. It’s not always easy to admit you need that extra help, but don’t let your pride be the reason you fail a class.
3: Set goals
It’s easy to fall into the trap of needing to be the best, but that’s not always necessary. Not every student needs a 4.0 G.P.A. with 30 different clubs and 24 credit hours under the title card of a resume.
Set goals that are realistic for you and the situation you’re in. If you decide that C’s get degrees this semester because you want to focus on work experience or you’re just at a rough point in life, there’s no shame in that. If you want to join only one club, but stick with that the whole semester, do that. The possibilities are nearly endless in college.
There’s no need for pointless pressure to measure up to some invisible standard.
It’s rarely ever fun starting classes again, but it is possible to make it manageable. Take the time to prepare and get ready, and spring break will be here before you know it.
