Staying Organized

As August approaches, you will notice that many stores have their major school supplies sales now! I know it is stressful to start thinking about school when you have the summer to enjoy!

One major key to surviving college is staying organized! Being organized will help you to keep track of everything that you need to turn in, everything that you have already done, and help keep you from being too overwhelmed with papers/projects/assignments when midterms and finals roll around.

There isn't a specific way that is best to stay organized, you just have to know what is best for you!

First off, I recommend getting a 3-ring binder or folders for each class. It is important to keep all of your class work separate.
When using a binder, you can use dividers to keep your classes separate (if you are trying to save money, I have even used a blank piece of paper with a post-it note glued on as a tab). If you opt for using a different folder for each class, you always have to remember to bring them on specific days! Binders are nice because you have everything in one place, but sometimes they start to fall apart when it becomes too full/heavy. Also, sometimes the papers rip out of the rings which can get pretty annoying. Folders can be great too, but papers can slip out and you may forget to bring a specific folder to class since your schedule is different every day.

Whether you are using a binder or folder, always keep your class syllabus and calendar in one place. You never know when you will need to e-mail a teacher or when your class calendar will be changed. You need to bring these to class every day! I always punch holes in them and put them and put them at the top of the class pile.

[For the record, I prefer binders. I have a very specific way of putting together a binder so I know exactly where everything is:

1. Blank papers (you can get packets of 70 unbound papers for really cheap at Target when they have all of the school supplies on sale. I usually buy two packets & that gets me through the semester. I always have roughly 25 blank pages in my binder at all times for notes, quizzes, etc.
2. Class Divider
1. Class Syllabus & Calendar
2. Homework Assignments
3. Class Handouts
4. Quizzes
5. Practice Tests
6. Tests
3. Next class divider w/1-6 from first example 
4. Next class divider w/1-6 from first example 
5. Next class divider w/1-6 from first example 

Find a system that works for you. Trust me, it is best to stay organized!]

You will want to keep all of your graded homework assignments, projects, papers, quizzes, tests, etc. Usually, a teacher does not pass out a progress report (though I'm sure if you are worried, your teacher will give you one upon request). Sometimes, you won't know how you are doing until a final grade is posted once the semester has ended. If something is wrong with your grade (at any point in the semester, not just after finals) you will want to have proof that you did assignments or that you had a different score.

Countless times I have completed an assignment, had it passed back with a score, and then I get a progress report saying I didn't do it. I would just show the assignment to my professor and all would be fixed. I even had an instance when my final grade showed up as a D-. I did some calculations and figured that my grade should be over a B...which it was. My teacher was happy to fix it for me! Don't feel embarrassed to correct your teacher, this is your grade at stake!

Staying organized will also help you keep on top of assignments. I always keep a planner so I can write down homework assignments that are coming up. If I see that I have a day where there are several assignments or tests, I can plan ahead and work on some things early.

Use your planner to plan out how you are going to work through major assignments! Say you have a major paper due. Give yourself set deadlines to finish little bits of the paper. You don't want to be sitting up the night before it is due trying to type out several pages!

I start by sitting down and looking at an assignment then figuring out how long it will take me to do it. It doesn't need to be done in one night! As an English major, I have had to write many papers! They average about 8 pages so I'll use that as an example.

• My first day would be sitting down and figuring out exactly what I need to do. Brainstorming and setting an idea.
• The next day or two would be research.
• The third day, I would write about a page (my introduction).
• Days 4, 5, 6, I would write about two pages a day.
• Day 7 would be my conclusion and proof reading. I don't want to miss any errors!

Of course, I might not spend a week on it, it might drag out over two weeks with me working when I can.

Your homework can get overwhelming at times! If you stay organized and know when things are due, you can prevent having too much work in one day!

Staying organized is especially helpful during midterms and finals. Midterms may not be that stressful because different professors choose to have their midterm at different times (some don't even have midterms). But every class at UVU is required to have a final. You might have a final project, paper, test, presentation, or a combination of any of those (Yes, I have had classes that have all 4)

Mapping out your finals week early will help you when they actually come! And don't forget to schedule study time! The two weeks before finals are always very mapped out for me. I know exactly what I am doing each day. If I start to fall behind, I keep re-writing my plan of action so I can get everything done.

But more on finals week later!

Click here to see my post on general school supplies you will need!

Next post: Study habits!