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Post by Marnie Winters on May 22, 2017 15:01:51 GMT
This is a place for students to ask questions about being organized in college.
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Post by Marnie Winters on May 22, 2017 19:47:23 GMT
Organization in college includes what to take to your dorm room and how to arrange your room, the supplies you will need whether you live in a dorm or at home (and commute), how to organize your study time, how to organize your time in general, how to organize your notebooks and folders, and how to stay on track towards your goals.
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Post by Marnie Winters on May 24, 2017 12:19:36 GMT
Organization in college is an extremely wide topic. It includes areas such as organizing your time, organizing your dorm room or your bedroom/study area (if you live at home), organizing your notes, organizing your study time, and organizing your backpack. These are just a few examples. Today, we will start with organizing your study area. You will have a really hard time being successful in college if you don't have a dedicated study area, or if your study area is disorganized.
Make sure you have a place to study. It should be in a quiet area where you won't be interrupted. If you are a commuter student, consider putting a student desk in your bedroom. If you live in a dorm, you will have a student desk in your dorm room that you can use as a dedicated study space, although you may need to go to the library to get a quiet space, sometimes.
In your dedicated study space, have a student desk or a small table where you can study. Make sure the surface is uncluttered. You want to be able to put things down such as a laptop, a notebook, a folder, and a book. You may not have room for all of these things at once, but you should at least be able to use a couple of them at a time.
It is ok to have a few things on the top of your desk or table. There will be a few things you will need as you study. Those items include a small desk lamp; a pencil cup filled with pens, pencils, highlighters, and a fine tipped black Sharpie (good for labeling items); and a small basket or tray with items such as a big pink eraser, paper clips, a mini-stapler loaded with staples, a mini-pencil sharpener, and post-its. These are the items you will likely use constantly, so it is good to have them handy.
If your desk has drawers, use them to store your school supplies. If you need additional space, consider buying plastic storage drawers and keep them nearby. If you have a printer for your computer, then get a printer stand and give your printer its own space. A printer stand with drawers will be beneficial. You can use the drawers to store reams of paper and ink cartridges.
Use the wall space around your desk. Hang a wall calendar. Hang a bulletin board. Hang a dry erase board. You can use these tools to help keep yourself organized. If you have shelves nearby, you can use those for storage space for supplies, too. And, if you decide to implement a manila file folder system to store important college documents or to keep documents from classes you have completed (or are completing), then you can get file folder storage containers and place them on the floor near your desk. You can get a file folder holder organizer and put it on top of the storage containers, for the folders you currently working on or need to use.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 6, 2017 12:51:09 GMT
Organization at college is an extremely wide topic that applies to so many different areas. Right now, we will tackle organization of notebooks, folders, and the ever-present backpack.
When buying school supplies, buy single subject notebooks and two pocket folders. Buy a notebook and folder for every class you are enrolled in for that semester. Buy each notebook and folder in a different color and try and match the colors of notebooks and folders, if possible. So, if you have four classes, then buy four notebooks and four folders, and remember--all different colors. So, for example, buy notebooks and folders in red, green, yellow, and blue. Pair up the folders and notebooks based on matching colors and assign a color per class. For example, red belongs to math, green belongs to science, blue belongs to English, and yellow belongs to history. Take a black sharpie or marker and write the course number and name on each notebook and folder. Pairing up different colors to classes makes it easier when you pack your backpack or are trying to find the information you need to study. When you look at the red notebook and folder, you will visually know that the info in those two items belongs to math.
When you take notes in your notebook, start a new page with each class. Write the date in the top margin, so you know what date you took those notes. It makes it easier to refer back to information. And, if your tests in the class are not comprehensive, and based only on new information you have learned since the last test, then it will make it really easy to figure out where your starting point should be in your notes.
Periodically go through your folder and clean it out. A good timeframe is about once a week or once every two weeks. Don't keep items in your folder if you don't need them. If there are items in the folder you want/need to hang onto, but don't necessarily want to throw away, then take it out and put it in a manila folder, and keep it at home. You can find a cheap file storage box at any office supply store and can keep the folders in the box.
Keep your backpack stocked with items you will need when you go to class or to study someplace. Buy a pencil pouch and stock it with those items. Good items include: pens, pencils, a big pink eraser, a mini-stapler and staples, a jump drive, paper clips, highlighters, and a fine tipped black sharpie. Always keep these items in the backpack and don't remove them.
If you have an early morning the next day, pack your backpack the night before and leave it by the door. Put your notebooks, folders, textbooks, and any items you need into the backpack. It will save you the trouble of having to pack it in the morning and risk forgetting something important.
What strategies do you have for organizing your notebooks and folders? What do you do to make your mornings easier and to prevent yourself from forgetting something important?
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 10, 2017 8:08:35 GMT
Dorm room organization:
Are you or your child going to college this fall and live in a dorm? Dorm room organization is extremely important? Not every possession can be taken. Dorm rooms are small and it is likely two people will be living in it, so space will be limited. Here are some tips on what to take (and everything else stays home):
Clothing: This is really important because closet space and dresser space will be limited. Only take seasonal clothing. And, because the seasons and weather can change drastically during a semester, it is possible that the dorm room wardrobe may have to be swapped out midway through the semester. For instance, fall semesters generally begin in August and end in December. In many states, there is a big difference between weather in August and weather in December. You may be wearing shorts and tank tops in August and parkas and snow boots in December. It is ok to swap out a wardrobe midway through the semester. It is a good reason for a visit home some weekend. Or, you may do it gradually over several weekends, as the weather begins to slowly change. Limit yourself to about 7-10 days worth of clothing. You only need enough to last until the next time you do laundry, and this should be about once a week or so. And, only take clothes you know you will wear. Don't take a clothing item if you won't wear it because it will just take up room in your closet or dresser. And, make sure to take your own hangars and a dirty clothes hamper.
School supplies/technology supplies: Of course these supplies go with you. Only take the amount of supplies you need to get through one semester. You will have a student desk to store them. You can take a plastic storage container if you need a little extra room. But, you will want to actively be using the majority of those supplies and should not be storing a lot, but of course some things will be stored because you won't be using everything at once (like an extra ream of printer paper or a printer ink cartridge).
Bedding: You'll need bedding. Likely, you'll have a twin size bed. Take two sets of sheets, but that is the maximum amount of sheets. One set to be on your bed and a spare set so you can change your dirty sheets and don't have to immediately run to the laundry room in order to remake your bed. Buy one comforter or bedspread, the amount of blankets you will actively use each night, and the amount of pillows you will use each night. No extras. If you think you might need an extra blanket, you can always keep one folded on the end of your bed.
Personal possessions: Keep it to a limit. A couple personal photos, a favorite item, or whatever you can't live without. But, don't take a lot. Valuables are safer at home anyway. Speaking of valuables---leave anything of value (jewelry, watches, expensive technology, anything that cannot be replaced if lost or stolen) at home. It isn't worth the risk to have it at college. For those valuable items that must go with you, buy a safe, a foot locker, or some permanent container that locks and isn't portable or is one that can be chained or affixed to a permanent structure, and lock your items up with you are out of your room.
Food: A lot of dorm rooms have small refrigerators, coffee pots, small appliances, and food. It's normal. Only keep enough food in your room for about a week. You won't have the space to store much more than that.
If you've lived in a dorm before, what recommendations do you have? What worked best for you? What didn't work? If you could go back and do it again, what would you change?
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 17, 2017 15:18:12 GMT
If you are not a morning person and routinely have early mornings where you have to leave the house before you would even prefer being out of bed, then organize yourself as much as possible the night before.
Pack your backpack with everything you need for the following day and leave it by the front door. If it is cold weather, leave your coat, gloves, hat, and scarf by the door, too. Leave your purse, wallet, car keys, and essentials there, too.
Pick out your clothes for the next day and leave them at your bedside. When you get dressed the following morning, don't challenge what you picked out to wear. Just put it on.
Shower at night. This will allow you to sleep for an extra 15 minutes or so in the morning.
Pack a breakfast and take it with you the following morning. You can pack yogurt, fruit, a granola bar, pop-tarts, and similar items. Leave the house five minutes early and get a coffee at a drive-thru window.
If you have kids, implement these same strategies for them, too-although you should feed them prior to letting them leave the house, but you can make quick foods for them such as cold cereal, oatmeal, or toast.
Schedule classes as late in the morning as possible. If you aren't a morning person, it is probably unwise to schedule a class starting at 7 a.m. You will feel a lot better if your first class starts around 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.
Are there any strategies you have used that are not on this list? What were they? I'd love to hear them.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 24, 2017 13:34:43 GMT
De-cluttering Your Space
Half the battle to being organized is ridding yourself of clutter. Clutter gets in your way and makes your life difficult. You will end up spending a lot of time sifting through things you don't need just to get to the one thing you do need. Here are some strategies to de-clutter:
Keep your class folders de-cluttered. Go through and clean out the folders periodically. If you are enrolled in a class that has tests in it, then clean the folders out after each test. If the class you are enrolled in does not have tests and you are graded on papers, homework assignments, and other assignments, then clean out the folder about once every two weeks. Don't throw the stuff away, though! You may still need it before the end of the class. Take the handouts, assignments, and papers you do not need and place them in a manila folder. On the tab on the folder, write the course number and name of the class, so you can quickly identify the contents of the folder later on down the road. Get yourself a desktop file folder organizer or sorter and put the folder in it. Keep the folder in it until after the class has finished, so you have easy access to it. Then, you can purchase a plastic file folder storage box and move the folder to storage, once the class has concluded and you have received your grade. This practice allows you to carry the information with you that you really need and it will save you time when searching for documents. Only remove items from your folder that you are absolutely certain you will not need. If you aren't sure if you will need it again or not, then just leave it in your primary folder that you carry around with you, so you will have it in the event you need it.
Set up electronic folders. Folders are one of the best computer tricks ever. Having folders will allow you to find exactly what you are looking for pretty quickly. If you have ever had a computer that you have used heavily for several years, you are aware of just how full those computers can get and exactly how frustrating to have to search for something when you aren't quite sure where it is, and it is even worse if you can't exactly remember what name you may have saved that document under. Set up folders in your e-mail, set up folders in your "My Documents" area, and set up folders in any other area where you have a lot of documents and such that you need to locate and use.
Unless you are a neat freak and keep your study area spotless, you will need to plan to clean up your study space at least once a week. Maybe twice, if you are disorganized enough. You'll be able to study much more effectively if your desk space is clean. You can likely do a really good job in just 2-3 minutes. Empty your trashcan. Dismantle your piles and put away textbooks, notebooks, and everything that has piled up on your desk. Return all pencils, pens, and highlighters to their proper pencil cups.
De-clutter your backpack, too. A lot of stuff ends up in our backpacks that doesn't really need to be there. Old receipts, old wadded up pieces of paper, unidentifiable objects. Throw them out. If it is something you need to save, but not necessarily be kept in your backpack, then find a different home for it and get it out of your backpack. It is important that you use your backpack only for the items you need while in class or for school-related purposes. It will also be important that you be able to find those items quickly.
What de-clutter strategies have you used in the past that have worked well? What hasn't worked well for you in the past? I would love to hear from you.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jul 5, 2017 8:03:20 GMT
What are you taking with you to your college dorm room?
Start making your lists now. School supplies and dorm room supplies will be on sale in just a couple of weeks in most places, and even sooner in other places. And, you will need to start packing the possessions you already own pretty soon. Here are some tips and strategies as the dorm room moving season begins to ramp up.
Pack as little as possible. Take only what you absolutely need. You will have limited space in your dorm room. It will be a small room and you may end up with a roommate. Packing may be easier if you divide your list up into categories. Here are the categories:
Clothing: Only take enough to last you about 2 weeks. You will have to learn to do your own laundry. Take only seasonal clothing. Odds are the weather at the beginning of the term will be very different than the weather at the end of the term. If you are on semesters and it begins in August and ends in December, you may start the semester out with temperatures in the 80's or 90's at the beginning of the semester and in the 20's and 30's at the end of the semester. You will need to swap out your wardrobe partway through the semester. You may have to swap it out more than once, as the seasons gradually change. Take a dirty clothes hamper, laundry detergent, and clothes hangers. You won't need any formal clothing. Just take your day to day casual clothing and your favorite shoes.
Bedding: You'll need a bedspread, pillows, blankets, and twin size sheets. Take 2 sets of sheets; if you change the bedding on your bed and don't have time to immediately do laundry, you will want to be able to put clean sheets on your bed.
Appliances: If you are permitted to have appliances in your dorm and want them, then contact your roommate to see if he/she is bringing any appliances. You don't want duplicates. Nothing more defeating than two coffee pots and no fridge or microwave.
Food: If you are permitted appliances in your dorm room, then you are obviously permitted food. Don't buy food until you get to campus. Don't take up the extra room in the car with groceries. Instead, use it as an opportunity to find out where your campus grocery store is located, and to get familiar with the layout of the store. Buy foods with a shelf life and that store easy. Also, consider foods that don't require much preparation and also can easily go in a backpack.
Personal items: Really limit these. You won't have a lot of space. Your favorite items will be safer at home. It something is irreplaceable, don't take it with you. Some of the most popular items college students take to the dorm includes just a couple/few framed pictures, a bicycle (make sure to invest in a sturdy lock), rollerblades, a skateboard, an iPod or music player, a cell phone, and an eReader (like a Kindle or Nook).
Safety and security: Invest in a foot locker that has a lock or one of those metal handles where you can put your own lock on it. You will want to have someplace to lock up your valuables when you are out of your dorm room. Also, consider getting a smaller lockbox that can be either stored inside the foot locker or can be strapped and locked around the foot of your bed or in your closet. It is a good place to store credit cards, a debit card, a checkbook, small electronic items, a cell phone, a phone calling card, and other small items.
Shower: You won't have your own bathroom. You are going to have to share it with everyone else on your floor. Be prepared. You will need a robe. You will need cheap, rubber flip flops. When in the shower room, don't take the flip flops off. The floors are filthy. Even when cleaned, they still harbor germs and bacteria. And, since the bathrooms are constantly wet, mold and mildew are constantly growing, even if you cannot see it. Keep the shoes on. It is really to get foot fungus and foot diseases from commonly shared bathroom floors. Also, you will need a bag or a plastic tote that you can use to keep all your shower/bathroom supplies in. This includes things like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, soap, and towels.
School and Technology Supplies: Only take the school supplies you will need for that semester. Don't go overboard. If you need to purchase a few more school supply items during the semester, there will likely be plenty of stores close by you that will sell what you need. Your school will likely have a computer and printer you can use, but it is going to be much easier on you if you have your own. The computer labs have hours they are open and closed, and if you ever have a really late night or early morning of studying, you'll need your own computer and printer. A laptop computer is recommended because of its portability and functionality.
Storage: I generally don't recommend taking so much stuff to the dorm that you need storage, but it does come in helpful from time to time. You can buy storage drawers and store extra school supplies in them, like reams of computer printer paper and ink cartridges. Large, shallow storage bins can fit under your bed and store those extra bed sheets or blankets, or some clothing that does not fit in your closet. You can also use some of the various sizes of storage containers or drawers for the food you keep in your room.
Overall, my recommendation is to take what you need to college, but try to minimize what you need. You don't want to be without something you truly need, but you don't want a bunch of random things sitting around your room that you will never use. Plus, moving day is going to be a lot easier on you if you take fewer possessions.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jul 11, 2017 9:42:51 GMT
You'll need to organize your time while in college, in order to be successful. Going through college with a plan for your time can aid you in being successful in college. Time Management will be another post, but I am going to touch on some of those aspects in this post.
At the beginning of each week-on Sundays, for instance-sit down and look at everything you need to do for the week and map it out on a calendar. Plug in all your commitments that are set in stone, first. This would be class times, work times, activities, anything with a pre-set time that you cannot change. Then, plug in the things you have control over: study time, exercise time, mealtime, sleep time, the whole nine yards. Balance each day out and try and spread things out so you don't have an overwhelming amount of things happening on any one day. If one day is bombarded with events, try moving something. If your days are more organized and balanced, you will feel better.
During those Sunday planning sessions, plan out your study time. For every one hour you are in class per week, you need to schedule two hours of study time. If, you are enrolled for full-time status, schedule the study time out over at least 5 days; 6 is preferable. If you are enrolled for part-time status schedule your study time out over 3 days; 4 days is preferable. If you try and schedule all your study time out over one or two days, you will really be shortchanging yourself. Even if you squeeze in the recommended "2 hours of study time for every 1 hour in class", you will be shortchanging yourself. It means you could potentially end up studying for like 10 or 12 hours in a day, and this will be rough on you. You start losing your effectiveness after awhile. It becomes difficult to sit for an extended amount of time to study. After you have been there for more than 3 or 4 hours in one sitting, it becomes really difficult to focus and you start absorbing less and less information. Spread your study time out over several days, so you can study more effectively. If you keep it to a max of 3-4 hours per day, your attention span and ability to mentally process information will be better.
Each Sunday, get the syllabus for each class and take a look at everything you need to do for homework and class preparation that week. Figure out how long each assignment will take you to complete or how much study time you will need for a class or test. Map it out. When are you going to do it? What day? How many hours that day? When you actually sit down to study that day, it will make things easier on you because you will know what you need to do. When you sit down to do homework, plan out your goals for that particular study session. What do you need to do? How long will it take you? What are the specific assignments, when are they due, and are there any special instructions for completing them? This should only take you about 3-5 minutes to complete. Probably less time than that, since you did Sunday planning. Just organize yourself so you know what you need to do for that session and you don't miss anything.
What time planning strategies have you used in the past? What has worked well for you that you would like to add? Do you have any comments or recommendations on how to make these steps better?
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jul 15, 2017 13:29:18 GMT
Time management:
Time management is a huge part of being successful while in college. This topic applies to every college student: traditional students between the ages of 17 to 26 who live in a dorm, those living at home with parents, adult students over the age of 26 who are earning their first bachelor's, or those earning a master's or doctoral degree. If your time is disorganized, it can be really hard to get anything accomplished. But, if you put a few time management strategies into place, it can make your life a lot easier.
For every one hour you spend in class per week, plan to spend two hours studying. Spread this time out over at least 5 days per week. Don't try and cram it all into one day, not even if you are only taking one class. If the class you are enrolled in, for instance, is worth 5 credit hours, then you will be spending 5 hours a week in class and it means you need to spend 10 hours studying. Ten hours is a LONG time to sit for one day. And then, if you are enrolled for more classes, full-time, for example, you will be in class at least a minimum of 12 hours per week, which equals 24 hours study time. You'll definitely need to split this up over multiple days. Spread it out. If you can, shoot to spread it out over 6 days. If you can't, at least get a minimum in of 6 days.
At the beginning of each week, make yourself a calendar. You can make your own calendar by using a spreadsheet program (such as Microsoft Excel) or you can create a table in a word processing program (such as Microsoft Word). Or, you can even create one in a notebook or on a piece of looseleaf paper. Draw out the calendar. Make a column for every day of the week and make a row for each hour of the day. Start out by putting in every commitment you have. Put in your work schedule, time when you have class, drive time back and forth to work and school, time you need to shower in the morning, time to eat dinner, time to cook, all your extra-curricular activities, and the time you plan to sleep. Now, there should be some blank areas where you have nothing scheduled (hopefully). Start plugging in your study time. Previously, I had mentioned scheduling 2 hours of study time for every 1 hour of class time. Figure out how much study time needs scheduled for that week and plug it in. You don't have to have an equal amount each day. With many people, that won't work because some days are more commitment-heavy than others. But, try and get it as equal as possible.
At the beginning of every week, on Saturdays or Sundays before you start the week of classes, sit down with all the syllabi for your classes and your student planner. Figure out what studying you need to do for the week. What homework assignments need completed? What papers need written? What upcoming tests do you have? Figure out how much time it will take you to complete each one of those objectives and then determine the days when you will be completing those assignments or do that studying. If you are having trouble deciding what to do first (and sometimes that may happen, even to the best of planners), then consider making decisions based on this order: first, start with the order the assignments are due. If you have an assignment due on Tuesday, you need to plan to start working on it by Sunday or Monday, not on Tuesday or later. Second, start with the shortest assignments before the longest assignments. You'll have a sense of accomplishment and this can help motivate you to keep studying. Also, if the assignments that you think will take you a long time to complete actually end up taking you longer than anticipated, then it is going to cause you to be stressed. You will feel pressured to complete the assignments as soon as possible, so you can move onto your other homework assignments. Feeling rushed can cause you to make errors on the assignment or not do as well on the assignment as you could if you did not feel rushed. Third, put the easier assignments before the harder ones. You'll be able to complete them faster and then move onto the more difficult assignments.
At the beginning of every study session, identify your goals. What assignments will you be completing and how long will they take you? Do this even if you plan to do only one thing during that study session, such as study for a test. This step will help keep you focused and stay on track with the goals you have set. It is possible that you may spend one study session doing only one assignment. Sometimes, some assignments or study objectives will take a long time. It is possible you may have to split the study objective up into more than one study session. For example, if you have an upcoming test, you'll want to spend more than one day studying for it. The amount of time and study sessions you have for the test will be up to you. But, it may take several days of studying for you to feel adequately prepared.
Always use a student planner, so you can write down important dates, assignments, tests, and so forth. Carry it with you to class and anytime you do any studying, so you can make notes and add assignments to different dates. It will be used to help you remain up-to-date with classes and remember what assignments are due on different dates. At the beginning of every term, make sure to take your syllabi for every class and plug the assignments and tests in to every date. Make sure to update your planner regularly.
Make sure to schedule some time for yourself. In order to be successful, you need a chance to relax every once in awhile. Plan at least 30 minutes a day where you can read a book for fun, watch a TV program, take a walk, or just sit on your deck or front porch and relax. It really will help make your days better and can increase your productivity. You need to give your head a chance to shut down a little.
If you ever, at any point, feel bombarded and like there is not enough time to complete all your obligations, or that you are completely overburdened, then you may need to alter your commitments and stop engaging in so many activities. Now, if it just happens once or twice, they may be isolated incidents, as a result of just having a busy period. It happens. Everyone has periods where their lives get incredibly busy. But, if it is something that happens frequently, and those feelings of being bombarded don't resolve in a short amount of time, then it may be that you truly are overburdened and need to eliminate an activity, or at least decrease the amount of time you spend on an activity.
What time management strategies have you employed in the past? What has worked well for you? What has failed you? I'd love to hear about it.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jul 22, 2017 13:49:09 GMT
School shopping season is now upon us. The K-12 students start back in about a month. Colleges will start either sometime in August or September; the official start date will vary from school to school. Now is the time to shop for school supplies because all the stores have their seasonal aisle stocked with supplies. If you are in college, now is the best time to get your supplies, because everything is on sale.
Before you begin shopping, make lists of everything you need for college. This includes everyone,. whether you are 17 or 18 years old and moving to a dorm or planning to live at home, are a young adult who plans to live at home with their parents, or an adult with a full-time job and a family. Make lists of everything you need and then use those lists to get your supplies.
Once you have gotten an item, you will need to find a way to check that item off your list so you know it is done. Many people are inclined to take a pen or pencil and cross it off the list. I actually recommend using a highlighter on the list. Designate a special color, like orange for instance, and cross off each item as it has been purchased. Why? Because you will still be able to see what you have written once the item has been crossed off. There's nothing more frustrating than to try and read something that has been scribbled over of has a heavy line drawn through it. If, down the road, you find yourself wondering...what items, exactly, have I purchased?,,,you can refer back to the list and see all the items you have gotten. It is just a convenient way of seeing where you stand.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Aug 1, 2017 23:54:55 GMT
My name is Marnie Winters and I am the administrator for this particular forum. I would love to field your questions. If you have a question, please feel free to ask. If there is a topic you would like to see discussed, please post it. If you want to remain anonymous or don't want to register with the forum to ask a question or request a topic, please e-mail me at FindingMyPath@hotmail.com. I check this e-mail frequently and would be more than happy to address the question or topic for you. I really am receptive to hearing from you and hope to hear from you soon.
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