I’m so excited to announce my first guest post on the blog! This post is written by Mish from Lattes with Mish. Be sure to check out her blog for other amazing college resources.
As the summer comes to an end and classes are about to begin, it becomes time to start preparing for the return to student life.
This year, college might be looking a little different with the whole pandemic. For most, 50% of classes are online while the other 50% are in person. For others, it’s all online. Regardless of whether it’s all online or half online, the point is that there will be online classes.
Having online classes is not ideal for many. Freshmen will miss out on all the fun freshmen college activities and seniors will also miss out on living that senior life in college. Although this sucks, the decision to do online classes is completely understandable during this pandemic and it is a safe option for all.
So on a more positive note, I’m going to be listing the do’s and don’ts of online classes that will help you ace your courses.
Do: Create a Schedule of When You're Going to Watch Your Lectures
If your lectures are not live and are going to be posted as videos, make sure you set a time to watch them and stick to that schedule. The last thing you want, is to get closer to a test date and realize you haven’t seen any of your lectures! Setting a designated time for each of your lectures ensures that you will be caught up with lecture material.
Don't: Be Lazy About Your Classes
Often with online classes, people fall into this mindset that they don’t have school or that it’s ‘optional’. I’m a little bit guilty of this myself. Don’t put your classes on the back burner just because it’s not in person. This can be hard, but by setting aside a designated time to work on school, it will be easier to get into a routine and not be lazy.
Do: Write Down All Your Deadlines in a Planner or Calendar
Writing down all your due dates into a planner or calendar will help you visualize when everything is due. It also helps you see what weeks you will be busier than others. This way, you can start on assignments ahead of time if you have 2-3 assignments due on the same day.
Note from Ashley: I highly recommend using a Day Designer Planner with monthly/daily style for students. This planner has been a life saver and will give you all the space you need to plan everything for class.
Don't: Play on Your Phone While Watching Lectures
Having your phone around when you’re watching your lectures is the worst. It’s so tempting to just grab your phone when lectures get boring. Even though it may be boring, you may be missing out on testable information. Therefore, just leave your phone in another room.
If I want to be super productive I just let my phone die and not put it on charge. This allows me to not be distracted every few minutes because of the temptation to check my phone. It works super well for me and allows me to get things done so much quicker. If this is something that may work for you, try it out.
Do: Find a Good Place to Work
Taking your classes in your bedroom may not be ideal just because the bed can be really tempting and you may end up going back to sleep (haha). If you can, try to find another room in your house that has a comfortable space for you to work and has the least amount of distractions. Having little to no distractions will enable you to get your work done quickly and efficiently.
Don't: Procrastinate
When things begin to pile up it can become very overwhelming. Therefore, it’s best to be caught up in most of your classes, if not in all of your classes. This will make your life easier and you will be able to ask your professor questions and get things clarified before it’s too late.
Do: Study for Tests
I know with online classes it’s easy to look up answers to questions when taking a test. Even if the test is open book, I recommend studying for it even if it’s just a little bit. This is to ensure that you have enough time to answer all your questions and you’re not spending all your time searching for answers. The last thing you want is to run out of time and not be able to finish the test because you spent too long looking at your notes.
Don’t Stress, Just Do Your Best!!
Living through this pandemic is an obstacle on its own + add in all the other worldly things like school, work, extracurricular, etc… It can get tough! So don’t stress, just do your best!
About the Author
Mish is a recent university graduate from Toronto and is transitioning into adult life. On her blog, Lattes With Mish, she talks about all things lifestyle, college, and post grad life. She’s spilling all the tea while giving her best tips and advice that she has learned along the way. Find her on Pinterest at Lattes With Mish, on Twitter @latteswithmish and her website Lattes With Mish.
Had so much fun collaborating with you, Ashley! Thanks for letting me writing a guest post on your blog 🙂
Author
Thanks so much for writing such true and inspiring words! Your tips are so helpful. Hope to have you again.