If things didn’t go as planned last semester, reflect on what went wrong. Were you too distracted? Try an app that blocks out distractions and even rewards you for doing so. Need to improve your study skills? See our post on how to do that. Always forgetting deadlines? Here’s how to step up your organizing game this semester.

3. Practice Effective Goal Setting

One huge difference between college and high school is that a vast majority of learning in college goes on outside of the classroom. Therefore, you’re the one in charge of making sure you’re making the most of your education. 

The best way to staying on top of school is to set goals and milestones. 

As we’ve mentioned before, there’s a science to goal setting: The best, most achievable goals are specific and “bite-sized”. One goal you may have for this upcoming semester is to “make good grades.” A more specific goal is to make at least a “B” in all your classes by averaging an 85 on all your exams and by completing all your homework on time. 

From there, can you decide what you need to do in order to complete those smaller tasks. Breaking your goals down and figuring out what you need to do in order to achieve them, makes it much easier to reach your full potential. 

4. Get Organized 

Some of my favorite planners: 1, 2, 3, 4

One of my favorite mantras is “Proper planning prevents poor performance.” By being organized and knowing where and how to spend your time, you not only save it, you also use the time you have more effectively. 

My #1 tip for anyone going to college is to invest in a planner and actually use it. Even though there are so many pretty ones out there, planners are more than just accessories. We’ve talked about how to use one effectively before and those tips still ring true. By creating a daily to-do list, I give myself a set list of goals I can aim to accomplish every day.