How to Prepare for Fall Semester

By Denise Gibson on August 28, 2017

Whether you are a freshman or a fifth-year senior, you know that after summer break you will be back to hitting the books and studying for tests. As we all know this is usually the time that students are moving into dorms and apartments and purchasing books and school supplies. All of this may be stressful for students.

But it doesn’t have to be. I am going to give you some quick tips on how to prepare for the fall semester.

1. Check around your house and in your backpack and decide whether or not you need to pitch, save, reuse, or donate those items.

These past two weeks I decided to go through my binders and I found so much unused lined paper and biology tests and quizzes that I had taken in high school. I also had some extra binders that I was no longer using and decided to donate them to my siblings before they went back to school. Additionally, I had a ton of page protectors that I was no longer going to use.

I also went through my backpack and my binder from this past semester and the semester before and decided to figure out what I wanted to keep, organize (old papers and example assignments that I may need later), and toss. After doing all that, I felt so relieved and ready to start the semester.

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2. As soon as you register for classes, start buying books.

You can still get them the day before or the week before, but I have found so much relief in buying my books months in advance. It saves me a lot of time, energy, and money. Yes, money! When you purchase your books in advance you get to find the best price way before classes even start.

And do not be ashamed of buying e-textbooks. You are not in elementary school anymore! Buying e-textbooks is great because you can access them 24/7 and just think about how many trees you saved. Plus with e-textbooks, you control the lighting, whereas, with a paperback book, you can only read in bright light, dim light, and probably even darkness. But I think the greatest benefit to e-textbooks is the less amount of strain on your back.

3. As soon as you get the syllabus, download it to your device or print it.

You probably want to know when your first and your next few assignments will be along with the first exam. Well, all of that information will be provided in your syllabus. Always make sure that you are checking it in case the professor decides to make any changes. That is why when you receive it, tentatively is always in the title.

4. Always keep a notebook.

Some professors require that you take handwritten notes so it is always good to keep a notebook in your backpack just in case. It is also helpful to have just in case you forget your computer to type your notes on.

5. Study your notes.

If you study your notes several weeks before the exam you are better prepared for the questions that will be on the test. It does not matter what form your notes are in,  just as long as you review the information.

P.S. If you are an auditory learner like me, replay the lecture on the same day. That way the information stays fresh in your mind.

6. Get a tutor.

You may want to do this a few weeks in advance just in case there is not one available once the semester begins. If you know you are going to have a difficult class, call your school’s learning hub. They can pair you up with someone that can help you through the class. This was a big help for me when I took statistics two semesters ago.

7. Keep a regular sleep schedule.

Don’t think that just because summer is over you can fool around with your sleep. You should be going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. If you go to bed later or earlier then you will not be physically and mentally prepared for your classes.

8. If you have to read, spread out your readings throughout the course of the week.

I don’t like to read and just because I majored in English does not make me an avid reader. As a matter of fact, my concentration is in writing, rhetoric, and language. But even as an English student I still have to read. So, how do I get through the readings each week?

I either skim through them or I spread them out throughout the week. This way I can still get the information I need without forcing myself to read. And it helps me pull the information I need for the discussion board.

9. Get involved!

My last and final piece of advice: ask around and see what you are interested in. If you like to act, then audition for a play. If you want to make new friends and build a community,  join a sorority or a fraternity (these are not the only ways to make new friends and build a community). No matter what you decide to do, just make sure you enjoy doing it. If you find that it is not for you, then move on to the next thing. The sky’s the limit!

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