When it comes to time management, college students have unique challenges and opportunities for success. Sometimes it’s hard to balance academic obligations with the very real need to recharge, nurture friendships, or pursue extracurricular interests. When all those things are beneficial to college students’ intellectual and social development, how should they prioritize?
Here are some suggestions from our trusted collegiate tutors.
What Does Academic Balance Look Like?
It’s good to know what your goals are when preparing for success in college. What do we mean by academic balance? Also called academic-life balance, think of it as work-life balance for college students. Of course, grades are important. But if all you do is study, burnout can quickly hurt your academic performance and make it hard to get back on track. The good news is, with a little planning and flexibility, college students can achieve and maintain academic balance throughout their time on campus.
First: Read Your Syllabus
When it comes to planning how much time to spend studying and prepping for a class, your syllabus is your friend. Read it carefully to notice:
- Assignment Due Dates
- Test, Quiz, and Exam Dates
- Professor Office Hours and Location
- Grade Calculation/Weighting/Rubric Guide
- Typical Assignment Length
- Extra Credit Opportunities
Most syllabi follow a general flow and pattern of assignment length, due-date frequency, and testing dates. Meeting with your professor/instructor during their office hours can give you more insight into the best strategy for successful, balanced studying in their class.
Then: Schedule Accordingly
Once you have a sense of how each class is structured and how assignments flow throughout the semester, you can plan accordingly. Some classes may require more study at certain times of the month. Some may be fairly consistent from week to week, while others may grade you more on participation than written assignments (like physical education classes, arts classes, and some electives). Schedule your study time for each class, and notice where you have more free time. Those would be good days/times for extra rest, social functions, or extracurriculars.
Next: Adjust as Needed
Your study schedule and recharge time don’t have to be set in stone. Make adjustments as needed for normal fluctuations in the academic year. If you notice certain classes are more demanding than you expected, allocate a bit more time each week to studying for those classes. If some courses are easier than you expected, you can build in a little more ease for relaxation, hobbies or sports where you’d originally scheduled study time. Your peers may be a good resource here: you can study together/share studying tasks so all the notes and exam prep don’t fall to one person every time.
Finally: Plan for Success
Sometimes, even with planning, you need extra support to supplement your improved college study skills. College tutors offer subject tutoring that can make those scheduled study hours more successful and less stressful. If you’re considering tutoring, let your instructor know. They may offer suggestions for how to best focus your study/tutoring time.
Out of Balance? We Can Help!
College classes can be difficult and unpredictable, even when working to include regular study time. Coach Kelly Live has trained college tutors, offering subject tutoring in convenient 25, 50, 75 or 100-minute sessions. Our tutors are ready to help you (or your college student) study, review, and complete assignments and projects with specialized guidance. Subjects offered include Algebra, Biology, Calc 1/2/3, Computer Science, Physics 1 and 2, and Statistics. Help yourself or your college student regain academic balance. Schedule a tutoring session today!