This is a guest post written by Elizabeth Cutten. She helps run FindCollegeCards, a student credit card / blog helping students with everything from preparing for college to graduating.
Whether you’re going to start up high school this year, or maybe it’s your first year in college, what I have found is that if you’re organized, life is going to be a lot easier. I wanted to give you eight tips that I have followed throughout my education career that worked fantastic for me.
#1 Take advantage of technology – The iPhone , as well as the Android has a ton of fantastic applications that you can take advantage of today. From voice recorders to taking pictures of the white board, you’re going to find out that technology can be your best friend.
#2 Folders are key – For every class that you have, you should have a folder. The best way to do it is simply label the front. To make it easier, I would color code my classes such as English, Math, and more.
#3 Notebooks for each class – To avoid confusion, grab a cheaper notebook and have one for each class. While those 5 star binder notebooks are nice, you will find that you may take notes in the wrong section, only leading to confusion.
#4 Don’t forget a bag – If you’re going to bring around a laptop, try and find a nice laptop backpack that will not only fit your laptop, but your books as well. This is a great way to carry one bag, rather than 2.
#5 Create a schedule – This is a big one for college students. Since you will have classes all over the place, you will want to make sure that you know when you’re going to work, have class, as well as make free time for friends.
#6 Organize your backpack – No matter what kind of backpack that you’re going to get, you’re going to find that they have pockets. Assign each pocket to a certain item such as pencils, calculators, pens, and more.
#7 Get ready the night before – Since you’re going to be exhausted in the morning, you probably don’t want to think about getting your items ready. Instead, set out your clothes, as well as make sure your backpack is prepared for the next day.
#8 Make a to-do list – This is another one for the college kids. Every week, you will probably have things to do. Get in the habit of creating a to-do list before the week starts. Things such as groceries, laundry, and everything else should go on here.
Everyone has their own way of organizing, but what you’re going to find out is that if you’re not ready for school, you’re not going to be able to focus while being there. Since it’s essential that you learn in an atmosphere such as this one, the tips above are a great start to get your organization skills started!
