3 answers
Isabella
Student
Spring Hill, Tennessee
2
Questions
Updated
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What are some tips and tricks for managing studying, work, and extracurriculars in college?
I am currently a high school senior preparing to attend college in the fall, and I want to be as prepared as possible for my collegiate journey.
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3 answers
Ilan Marouani, Esq., LL.M.
Tax Attorney
25
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ilan’s Answer
Hi Isabella,
I wouldn't call it a trick, but making a schedule and sticking to it.
A lot of people do a million things in college, work, going out, classes, sports, dates... and for some it might sound like a lot, but if you have a schedule and you get into a routine, everything would feel natural after a few weeks sticking to it.
You first need to figure out your classes, which should be the basis of your schedule at least for the first year or two of college. After that you can maybe move things around maybe if you have a full time internship during school year, so you can work around it and not around your classes.
Secondly, you need to plan the amount of time you have to study for your classes, do HW if any, and plan studying for midterms and finals. For example, if you are a quick learner and only need an hour before and an hour after class to learn and absorb the material then great, but if you need more time you should plan for it throughout your week. By looking at it over a week, maybe instead of spending two hours straight, or right before and after class, you could split it into 20 mins one day, 20 mins at night another day... it is your schedule so do what works best for you.
Thirdly, you should plan what is important for you. For example, I know some people who need to be at the gym everyday for 2 hours. So they essentially block 2 hours of their day, doesn't matter if they have a final same day, a wedding, or feel sick, they will still go for 2 hours to the gym. So just like them, set some time to what is important to you.
Fourth, you should see how much time you have for anything else and try to make it fit into your schedule or move things around to make it work.
For example, let's say you take classes on Mondays-Tuesday from 11AM - 4PM. Those time slots are delt with and done.
Now, you found an internship for 20 hours of work a week, and they are pretty flexible. You can maybe work from 8-10AM on Mondays and Tuesdays, and then do an eight hour shift on Wednesdays-Thursdays and be done with it for the week. Or maybe you can do the 4 hours you are doing on Mondays-Tuesdays ("M/T") on Friday, and keep M/T for studying only.
You can make your Sundays your free day, doing whatever you want in it, but never school.
By kind of having something to first focus on, that it is school, work, activities... whatever you are not going to budge on, that should be your basis, what everything else will need to work around it will make it so much easier to plan your schedule.
Finally, the earlier you get on it, the earlier you start planning, and stick to it, the better off you will be.
Hope this helps,
Good luck!
I wouldn't call it a trick, but making a schedule and sticking to it.
A lot of people do a million things in college, work, going out, classes, sports, dates... and for some it might sound like a lot, but if you have a schedule and you get into a routine, everything would feel natural after a few weeks sticking to it.
You first need to figure out your classes, which should be the basis of your schedule at least for the first year or two of college. After that you can maybe move things around maybe if you have a full time internship during school year, so you can work around it and not around your classes.
Secondly, you need to plan the amount of time you have to study for your classes, do HW if any, and plan studying for midterms and finals. For example, if you are a quick learner and only need an hour before and an hour after class to learn and absorb the material then great, but if you need more time you should plan for it throughout your week. By looking at it over a week, maybe instead of spending two hours straight, or right before and after class, you could split it into 20 mins one day, 20 mins at night another day... it is your schedule so do what works best for you.
Thirdly, you should plan what is important for you. For example, I know some people who need to be at the gym everyday for 2 hours. So they essentially block 2 hours of their day, doesn't matter if they have a final same day, a wedding, or feel sick, they will still go for 2 hours to the gym. So just like them, set some time to what is important to you.
Fourth, you should see how much time you have for anything else and try to make it fit into your schedule or move things around to make it work.
For example, let's say you take classes on Mondays-Tuesday from 11AM - 4PM. Those time slots are delt with and done.
Now, you found an internship for 20 hours of work a week, and they are pretty flexible. You can maybe work from 8-10AM on Mondays and Tuesdays, and then do an eight hour shift on Wednesdays-Thursdays and be done with it for the week. Or maybe you can do the 4 hours you are doing on Mondays-Tuesdays ("M/T") on Friday, and keep M/T for studying only.
You can make your Sundays your free day, doing whatever you want in it, but never school.
By kind of having something to first focus on, that it is school, work, activities... whatever you are not going to budge on, that should be your basis, what everything else will need to work around it will make it so much easier to plan your schedule.
Finally, the earlier you get on it, the earlier you start planning, and stick to it, the better off you will be.
Hope this helps,
Good luck!
Thank you so much, Ilan!
Isabella
Vesna Dimitrijevic
Processed cheese production manager and final packagin for semihard cheese
4
Answers
Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia
Updated
Vesna’s Answer
Managing a busy college schedule requires shifting from a "to-do list" mindset to a "strategic calendar" approach.
Start by using Time Blocking to assign specific hours for studying, work, and extracurriculars, treating these slots as non-negotiable appointments.
The Eisenhower Matrix is a vital trick for high achievers; it helps you distinguish between tasks that are truly important and those that are merely urgent.
To avoid burnout, utilize the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25-minute focus bursts followed by short breaks to keep your energy high.
Always maximize your "dead time," such as reading course materials during a commute or between back-to-back lectures.
Establishing a "synergy" between your activities, like choosing extracurriculars that complement your career goals, can make your workload feel more cohesive.
Be sure to audit your digital habits, as small distractions on social media often steal hours from your study time.
Learn the power of saying "no" to secondary social events when your priority tasks are not yet completed.
Consistency is far more effective than "cramming," so aim to touch every subject for at least thirty minutes each day.
Finally, schedule physical activity and sleep into your calendar, as a well-rested brain processes information significantly faster.
Start by using Time Blocking to assign specific hours for studying, work, and extracurriculars, treating these slots as non-negotiable appointments.
The Eisenhower Matrix is a vital trick for high achievers; it helps you distinguish between tasks that are truly important and those that are merely urgent.
To avoid burnout, utilize the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25-minute focus bursts followed by short breaks to keep your energy high.
Always maximize your "dead time," such as reading course materials during a commute or between back-to-back lectures.
Establishing a "synergy" between your activities, like choosing extracurriculars that complement your career goals, can make your workload feel more cohesive.
Be sure to audit your digital habits, as small distractions on social media often steal hours from your study time.
Learn the power of saying "no" to secondary social events when your priority tasks are not yet completed.
Consistency is far more effective than "cramming," so aim to touch every subject for at least thirty minutes each day.
Finally, schedule physical activity and sleep into your calendar, as a well-rested brain processes information significantly faster.
Thank you for the advice, Vesna.
Isabella
Andres Padron
Accountant
1
Answer
Mexico City, Mexico
Updated
Andres’s Answer
Managing your time well is essential, from my experience attending college while working at the same time, good time management can make everything much easier. Make sure you organize your time intentionally, set aside time to study, time for work, and time for your extracurricular activities. It’s also important to include time for rest. Having a balanced schedule helps you stay productive without feeling overwhelmed and allows you to enjoy your college experience while still meeting your responsibilities.