By Ryan Laspina
Senior Specialist, Red Flags and External Reviews at APUS
With summer winding down to an end in the next couple weeks, many students are heading back to school. The back to school season is exciting, stressful, and requires excellent time management in order for it to be a rewarding experience. Below are some tips for managing your time as the new student online, as well as ways to balance time at home with the kids.
- Wrap up your summer plans with enough time to spare.
If you still have some vacation time you want to use, you should probably try to use it before your semester starts. Make sure that when your classes do start, you are focused on homework and tests rather than the beach. - Buy all of your school supplies and textbooks well before your classes start.
You want to have all your books and supplies ready for the first day of classes. Starting out even a day behind is not a recipe for success. - If you are a parent who has children that are also getting ready for the back to school season, make sure you balance your child’s/children’s needs with your own.
If you are taking them school shopping for new clothes, pick up your own school supplies at the same time. If you set aside some time after school for your child to do his or her homework, do your own homework at the same time. Not only does this save time, but it can also strengthen the parent-child bond. - Memorize your schedule and your syllabi.
If you are taking online classes, map out a weekly plan based on when you will log in to each class. If you have early access to your syllabi (depends on the school and/or professor), take time to study it so you know when all assignments/tests/homework are due. If you already have a plan of attack in place before the semester starts, you are well on your way to success. - When you plan out your weeks, make sure you include some time for family time and entertainment.
While your school work should be a top priority, there are other things that are important in life such as enjoying yourself and spending time with your loved ones. College should not be a 24/7 job. Have some fun, but only indulge when the time is appropriate.
Back to school season is one of the most exciting times for scholars of all ages. It is a chance to learn new things and refresh previously learned skills. For most students, the summer is a time for relaxation and a break from homework and tests. If you follow some of the tips above, you will be able to smoothly transition from the summer season to the back to school season.