Student Tools, Student Resources, Teacher Tools

Study Tips: Time Management Guide

John — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:48:33 +0000

Effective time management is essential - you’re busy, and so you need good strategies to to be able to get important things done! The first step is to increase your awareness of how you’re actually spending your time. This way, you can get a sense of what activities you spend most of your time, and then you can evaluate if this makes sense according to your needs and priorities. Start by filling out the following Weekly Routine Worksheet (WRW) below.

Weekly Routine Worksheet (WRW)
Activity	Hours
_____ Hours of sleep each night x 7 =
_____ Hours spent grooming per day (shower, getting ready, etc.) x 7 =
_____ Number of hours for food/meals/snacks per day x 7 =
_____ Total travel time on a weekday x 5 =
_____ Total travel time on a weekend x 2 =
_____ Total hours per week for weekly meetings, regular functions such as for church, clubs, meetings, etc.
_____ Total hours per week for errands, chores, other duties
_____ Total hours you work per week
_____ Total number of hours you are in class per week
_____ Total number of hours of fun time (socials, movies, television, chatting online, video games, dates, sports, etc.)
Subtract the above number from 168 - _______ = _______ hours
This number is the much time you have left for studying! Is it enough? If not, you probably need to drop something.

Surveying your daily routine

How many hours do you have remaining for studying? If this number seems too low, then you’re overbooked! You need to drop some things. Also beware of typical time-sinks and time thieves:

Things that steal your time

Instant messenger - do you need to set limits?
Telephone calls
Television and video clips
Social networking websites like Facebook, MySpace, etc.
Online computer games/video games
Unexpected visitors
Procrastination!
Stress
Being disorganized
Taking on more than you can handle

Other Time Management Tips

Be sure your room is clean and organized. You don’t want to waste time looking for things you’ve misplaced!
Buy a large calendar for your room or a personal organizer that you can carry around with you at all times. Write all important due dates, exams, and other events that you need to prepare for.
Start managing your time at the beginning of the semester.
Set measurable goals for yourself (e.g. grades you would like to receive). Determine how much time it will take to accomplish these goals.
Divide tasks into smaller, more manageable jobs (Example: First week - Outline of paper done, Second week - Research the topic, Third week - Finish a rough draft, Fourth week - Complete the final draft)
Make a weekly schedule for classes, lectures, labs, seminars, regular meetings, study time, etc.
Create “To do” lists and/or checklists when you have a lot to do in a day. In addition to the easy tasks, prioritize the important tasks and make sure you have progress with them.
Ask a buddy to keep you in check with your time management.

Should I Apply For Grad School?

John — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 07:24:36 +0000

Graduate school is a huge investment, and the opportunity cost can be high for going. Is graduate school worth the effort? What are the pros and cons for going? First, let’s start with the drawbacks.

Drawbacks and disadvantages (Cons) for going to grad school

You’ll likely be living the poor life for several years. Compared to working for a company, grad school tends to be far less lucrative. Money should definitely not be the main incentive for going.
High stress. Homework, research, presentations, conferences, networking with professors, etc.
It is a big commitment. In terms of timing, you might not be at a good place to dedicate your life to such a big undertaking, depending on the things going on in your life (e.g. other priorities in your current stage of life)

These are some pretty unattractive drawbacks. However, the good news is that there are many advantages and benefits to completing a graduate degree. These include the following:

Benefits and advantages (Pros) for going to grad school

You’ll have access to brilliant, intellectual minds like never before in your life. Very smart people will become your colleagues, mentors, and collaborators.
It can open up some new opportunities. A graduate degree can open up new career possibilities, such as teaching, consulting firms, research groups, etc. The experience itself can open up new life opportunities that otherwise would be unattainable.
It can provide credentials for work.
A great deal of flexibility related to lifestyle. Those who dislike the rigidity of and 8 to 5 job may find the flexibility of academia to be very satisfying.
Open-ended freedom in subject matter. Unlike the corporate world where a manager may give you projects that you have zero interest in, grad school allows you to study what you want to study.
Deeply rewarding to be able to seek answers to questions that matter to you.

Well, what do you think? You will need to weigh these pros and cons before ultimately taking the plunge to graduate school. It’s a big commitment not to take lightly. Hopefully this little article has given you some things to consider.

Five Steps to Choosing a College Major

John — Thu, 24 May 2007 04:16:50 +0000

Choosing a major can be one of the toughest aspects of college. There seem to be so many choices! This helpful guide will help you narrow the options and get you onto the path of a rewarding career — doing what you were created to do!

Five Steps to Choosing Your College Major

Assess or evaluate your interests. What are your passions? What are you deeply interested in? What types of things excite you? What kind of work appeals to you? Think about it and remember this.
Take an honest look at your unique strengths and abilities. What are you good at? What are the things that you’re better than most people at? What were your best and most enjoyable subjects in high school? What activities and clubs were especially enjoyable to you? You were created with many different innate preferences and skills - these are the ones that you should hone and refine, and so you should choose a major that uses those skills.
It’s all about values. Consider the things you value in work, such as growth, fixing things, being around people, helping the needy, working under pressure, security, counseling others, working in groups, attention to detail, making things, and many other values. Considering what kinds of jobs can meet these values can be helpful as you consider some career options.
Go explore career possibilities. Various online resources can show you what you can do with various majors (e.g. a great resource at Ashland University). You can also learn more about various occupations, including future trends, by searching the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Do a feasibility check. Ask yourself honestly: “Does the career I have in mind match who I am?” Be realistic. Someone may wish to become an architect, but if he or she has little skills in math (geometry) and drawing, then perhaps the person should reconsider choosing that major. Sometimes there are ways to bypass these obstacles, but be wise and then you can avoid wasting your time and money on a wrong major.

Other Tips to Help You Choose Your Major

Be sure to:

Talk to upperclassmen and other classmates. They’ve been there and done that. You can benefit from their advice — what they’ve learned and the struggles they’ve gone through in their major. Don’t hesitate to consult them as a resource to gather more information about various majors.
Explore your college’s course catalog. You might be surprised at the assortment of majors your college has to offer.
Talk to your academic adviser and other professors. They will almost always be more than happy to give you some helpful advice. They’ve been there and can tell you what their field is all about.
Your family and friends who know you well. They know you best. Be sure to filter out any unreasonable or bad advice, but be sure to listen. They often have a lot of insights into who you are and what you are good at.
Visit your school’s career center. Not many people take advantage of the vast amount of resources. There is a wealth of information that can literally determine your future. Visit them early and ask questions. They often have good resources for internships and job opportunities too.