3 answers
David
Student
Fayetteville, North Carolina
1
Question
Asked
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What are the biggest tools or tips to use when it comes to transitioning to college and learning to manage your time to balance school with other things?
I will be a Freshman in college next year and I am planning on playing a Varsity Sport.
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3 answers
Alexandra Grashkina-Hristov
International Tax Professional
188
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Alexandra’s Answer
Hi David,
Making the transition to college can definitely feel overwhelming, but developing strong time management skills early on can make a huge difference in balancing your academics with everything else. One of the biggest tools I’d recommend is using a calendar—whether it’s a physical planner or a digital one like Google Calendar. Scheduling all your classes, assignment due dates, exams, and even personal commitments in one place helps you see your week at a glance and plan accordingly. Setting reminders for important deadlines and tasks is a game changer; it keeps you on track and prevents things from sneaking up on you.
Another effective tip is breaking your bigger goals down into smaller, manageable tasks and actively checking them off as you complete them. This not only keeps you organized but also gives you a sense of accomplishment that can keep you motivated. Organizing or joining study groups can also be incredibly helpful for staying accountable and understanding material better—it’s a great way to manage your study time efficiently while connecting with peers. Additionally, don’t hesitate to schedule meetings with your professors, especially when you need clarification or support; building that relationship early can help you stay engaged and get the help you need.
Ultimately, the key is staying proactive and consistent with your planning. By making a habit of using calendars, setting reminders, checking off tasks, and leveraging support systems like study groups and professors, you’ll find it much easier to balance your workload and enjoy your college experience.
Good luck!
Making the transition to college can definitely feel overwhelming, but developing strong time management skills early on can make a huge difference in balancing your academics with everything else. One of the biggest tools I’d recommend is using a calendar—whether it’s a physical planner or a digital one like Google Calendar. Scheduling all your classes, assignment due dates, exams, and even personal commitments in one place helps you see your week at a glance and plan accordingly. Setting reminders for important deadlines and tasks is a game changer; it keeps you on track and prevents things from sneaking up on you.
Another effective tip is breaking your bigger goals down into smaller, manageable tasks and actively checking them off as you complete them. This not only keeps you organized but also gives you a sense of accomplishment that can keep you motivated. Organizing or joining study groups can also be incredibly helpful for staying accountable and understanding material better—it’s a great way to manage your study time efficiently while connecting with peers. Additionally, don’t hesitate to schedule meetings with your professors, especially when you need clarification or support; building that relationship early can help you stay engaged and get the help you need.
Ultimately, the key is staying proactive and consistent with your planning. By making a habit of using calendars, setting reminders, checking off tasks, and leveraging support systems like study groups and professors, you’ll find it much easier to balance your workload and enjoy your college experience.
Good luck!
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi David👋🏻...
Transitioning to college while balancing a varsity sport can be challenging, but it’s totally doable with the right habits. Here are some key tips:
1. Use a calendar or planner – Schedule classes, practice, study sessions, and personal time. Seeing everything visually helps you avoid conflicts and plan ahead.
2. Prioritize tasks – Learn to distinguish between urgent, important, and optional tasks... Focus on what has the biggest impact first.
3. Break tasks into chunks – Studying in shorter, focused sessions (like 25–50 minutes) is more effective than long, unfocused hours.
4. Set routines – Consistent sleep, meals, and study blocks make it easier to balance academics and athletics.
5. Use campus resources – Tutoring centers, study groups, and academic advisors can save you time and stress.
6. Communicate – Let professors and coaches know your schedule, they can be flexible or offer advice.
The key is to plan ahead, stay disciplined, and reflect regularly on what’s working and what’s not...
Balancing sports and academics builds skills that help you succeed long-term.
Transitioning to college while balancing a varsity sport can be challenging, but it’s totally doable with the right habits. Here are some key tips:
1. Use a calendar or planner – Schedule classes, practice, study sessions, and personal time. Seeing everything visually helps you avoid conflicts and plan ahead.
2. Prioritize tasks – Learn to distinguish between urgent, important, and optional tasks... Focus on what has the biggest impact first.
3. Break tasks into chunks – Studying in shorter, focused sessions (like 25–50 minutes) is more effective than long, unfocused hours.
4. Set routines – Consistent sleep, meals, and study blocks make it easier to balance academics and athletics.
5. Use campus resources – Tutoring centers, study groups, and academic advisors can save you time and stress.
6. Communicate – Let professors and coaches know your schedule, they can be flexible or offer advice.
The key is to plan ahead, stay disciplined, and reflect regularly on what’s working and what’s not...
Balancing sports and academics builds skills that help you succeed long-term.
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi David. One of the most helpful tools is a planner or calendar. You can use a digital one like Google Calendar or a paper planner, just pick what you'll actually use. You need to write down the things that must happen each week: classes, practices, games, workouts, team meetings, and travel days. When all these are laid out in one place, it's easier to see when you have free time for homework, rest, or fun. You can also use different colors to mark school, sports, and personal time so the schedule is easier to understand.
Another important habit is learning to break big assignments into smaller steps. In college, teachers often give you long deadlines, which makes it easy to put things off. To avoid last-minute stress, you may divide projects into small tasks you can do over a few days, and then schedule these tasks in your planner. This helps you stay ahead, even during busy weeks or game days.
Good communication is also important. You can talk with your professors, coaches, and academic advisors early in the semester, let them know about your sports schedule and ask questions if you're unsure about expectations. Professors are usually more understanding when you reach out before problems arise. Some colleges even provide academic support for athletes, like tutoring.
Moreover, try not to overload your schedule, saving time for rest is just as important as getting all your work done. All the best.
Another important habit is learning to break big assignments into smaller steps. In college, teachers often give you long deadlines, which makes it easy to put things off. To avoid last-minute stress, you may divide projects into small tasks you can do over a few days, and then schedule these tasks in your planner. This helps you stay ahead, even during busy weeks or game days.
Good communication is also important. You can talk with your professors, coaches, and academic advisors early in the semester, let them know about your sports schedule and ask questions if you're unsure about expectations. Professors are usually more understanding when you reach out before problems arise. Some colleges even provide academic support for athletes, like tutoring.
Moreover, try not to overload your schedule, saving time for rest is just as important as getting all your work done. All the best.