A new semester is just around the corner, and whether you’re an incoming Aggie or returning, academic success is something we all want for ourselves. We’ve heard that we shouldn’t skip class (it won’t help in the long run), take notes and study, but sometimes it’s how to approach these tips that’s the challenge. So, to whoever’s reading this, I will share a method that improved my grades, hoping it can benefit you too.

Scheduling your time

The first thing that I did after confirming my classes for the semester was to transfer my schedule to Google Calendar. Doing this can help you make a solid study plan around your classes, including your other daily activities. I understand that you may have multiple classes a day, and figuring out how to study simultaneously can be difficult. The importance of scheduling your time is to have a visual reminder of what your daily goals are to keep yourself focused, so it’s okay to change things where necessary. To make the scheduling a little easier, regardless of how many classes you have, first start by placing at least a 30-minute time slot for each of your classes on the days that you have them. When you see how it looks, you can then begin shifting the times and making adjustments as you please.

Utilizing Office Hours

I know, it’s almost tiring at this point when you hear about office hours, but they’re important for a reason. For my differential equations class, I attended my professor’s office hours weekly, and they aided in my success along with practicing the material weekly. If the given times do not work for you, communicate your concerns with your professor. Establishing this habit EARLY is extremely helpful because it can save you from doing things at the last minute.