Posted On: February 25, 2010

What is really important? In college you can get caught up in the parties, the activities, and the sporting events. You can either fail classes and throw away thousands of dollars, or you can pass classes and walk away with a degree. The choice is ultimately yours. You are the determining factor. So how can you prioritize your student life?

Make goals for what you want to accomplish each day. When you wake up in the morning, you may be excited about everything you can accomplish that day, or you may wake up stressed. Either way, it’s important to determine what you can and will get done that day. Make a mental to do list, and do what is most important first. It’s easy to spend an hour on Facebook instead of studying for an upcoming test. If you set realistic goals and finish them that day, you can go to bed satisfied. Setting goals helps you focus your efforts. They give you a reason to work. If you don’t have a reason for doing something, you will most likely not do it.

Plan how you will accomplish your goals. Set a schedule to follow each week. Our bodies like routine. You will feel more comfortable if you get yourself into a routine. It may seem silly to have a day planned for laundry, but it will help you. You won’t have to worry about running out of clean clothes. You will have a sense of control and time management. The less important weekly tasks will get done without you having to worry about cramming them into your schedule.

Organize your schedule. Use a calendar or a planner. Find what works best for you. Print out your class schedule. This schedule will be the template for you to add in your other activities. Add in your work schedule, organization meetings, and activities. See when you have time in-between activities that you could study, finish homework, and complete errands. Shorter, more spread out study times will help you remember the information. You brain will have time to process and relax.

Leave your study space. Don’t spend all day in the same spot. Going outdoors and going for walks helps you put your life into perspective. Plan in time to socialize and have fun. If you don’t have this social time, you will get burned out. You need to have some balance in your life.

Part of the college experience is the social scene. It is important to find the balance between working on school and enjoying life. College is a unique opportunity to interact with diverse students. You may find yourself studying in your room, when suddenly your friend pops in to invite you to a party. He or she may be very persistent that you put your books down and leave. What do you do? Do you go or do you stay and study? It is best to prepare for these situations. Stick to your weekly plan. Decide when you make your plans to keep them. Be flexible. Obviously spontaneous events happen. Be willing to adjust your schedule if absolutely necessary.

Remember why you are going to school. Your degree and education should come first. College requires work. Professors expect you to read and in a way teach each other. You can’t expect to graduate if you are not willing to put forth the effort to learn. Decide on a major that interests you. You will work harder if you enjoy what you are doing. But take the opportunity to explore other classes. Variety makes college life more interesting.

In college, education is top priority. If you organize yourself, make plans, and stay focused, you will graduate. You can be engaged in both schoolwork and in the social scene. It is up to you to balance your life. Make taking advantage of college your priority.