The first week of college has a few guarantees: you will be late once, the bookstore prices will more obscene than last semester, and you’ll receive a syllabus on the first period of each of your classes. Though you might want to ignore it or throw it in your backpack for later, maximizing your syllabi will help you boost your GPA and better manage your time.
Use it to prepare for essays
If you get the privilege of getting your essay questions in advance, make sure to use it to your advantage. Before you do the reading, keep in mind what your upcoming essay’s topic is about. Highlight and mark pages, so it’s easier to go back and find the perfect passages and quotes to support your thesis!
Plan it out on your planner
By writing down all your assignments (or a few weeks at a time, in case things change), you’ll know when you need to start working ahead before you get overwhelmed. Compare your syllabi so you know well ahead of time to tell your professor if you have a conflict with an important date, like going to your cousin’s wedding. You’ll also be able to plan doctor appointments or vacations around important dates.
Mark important dates (exams, midterms, finals, & presentations)
Along with your assignments keep track of your extracurricular commitments, professor’s office hours, friends’ birthdays and your work schedule to be able to get a better picture of upcoming months.
Carefully consider if the class is right for you
Review the workload, amount of reading, time commitment and weight of exams. If you are a bad test taker and over half your class grade is made up of the final exam and quizzes, you may consider looking for a better fit. If your passing period if less than ten minutes from U-Hall to St. Rob’s, you also may reconsider.