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Get A Fresh Start To The Semester

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Morgan Raphael
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Rachel Lytle
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at PSU chapter.

Ah, that amazing, glorious feeling of relief hit you when you were finally done fall semester.  Every last notecard has been thrown away, every pen has run out of ink and you can finally relax.  Unfortunately however, two weeks of break seems to fly by.  How can you already mentally and physically prepare for another semester… and make it successful one? 

Take advantage of having a fresh start and achieve success this spring with these tips:

1.      It’s never too early to organize

Personally, I admit I’m am a tad-bit OCD when it comes to my classes and school supplies to match, but I have to confess, it never fails.  Color coordinating your folders, notebooks, etc., will make it nearly impossible to forget your essentials for each class.  Take a close look at your schedule before beginning the semester and think about what you truly will need for your class.  Also, it is crucial (if you’re like me) to stock up on notecards, pens, pencils, Post-its, and highlighters. 

2.      Plan ahead

A planner is a complete necessity in these crazy, busy college lives we live, and if you don’t currently own one, I strongly suggest buying one for the new 2013 year. Trust me, using your iPhone just doesn’t cut it anymore. Having an agenda handy makes it super easy to plan out your days and see your schedule weeks in advanced.  Upon receiving all of your syllabi, writing down the dates of each exam, quiz, projects and homework will help you save massive amounts of time by knowing when and how to prepare for each assignment.  Sure, dates may change, but it never hurts to know when you have one of those really, really dreadful weeks of multiple exams so you can start studying early (and then ace them, of course).

3.      Set realistic goals

Maybe last semester wasn’t your biggest accomplishment when it comes to your GPA.  In contrast, maybe you got an amazing GPA that you never expected to get with your harder classes this upcoming term.  Either way, that doesn’t mean you should give up.  This is a new, clean slate and it is important to start the semester with an optimistic point of view.  By setting goals for what GPA you would like to achieve, you can push yourself to get there.  Just be realistic so that you don’t stress out and disappoint yourself.

4.      Balance your time

When you have class all day, club meetings, and then on top of all of that chaos, hours of homework to do, it is a must to know how to plan out your time.  Writing down a to-do list each day may seem like a tedious task, but it works.  You can even squeeze in your lunch date with your friend and specify a time after class to break a sweat at the gym.  By setting aside specific times for each activity, everything you want to achieve for the day can easily be completed. Better yet, at the end of the night you will not only feel great, but productive. 

5.      Know when to treat yourself

Yes, our parents send us to college to learn and gain real-world experiences, but that doesn’t mean we must lock ourselves in the library for hours on end.  Part of college is enjoying these four years that do not seem to last long enough, and mental breaks are necessary. Once your homework is complete, enjoy the amazing atmosphere State College has to offer and have fun.

Key points to take away: Take advantage of the clean slate and the opportunities you are given and try your best. Who knows, these tips could lead to a 4.0, your first Dean’s List, or the most exciting and fulfilling semester yet.

Good luck!

Photo Credit: subtlyfabulous.com

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Morgan Raphael is currently a sophomore studying Public Relations at The Pennsylvania State University.  She is an active member of the Greek community, serving on her executive board.  More than anything, Morgan loves school spirit and is so happy to be a Nittany Lion.  She loves writing and sharing her ideas and work with the nation through Her Campus and is so blessed to have such an awesome opportunity.  
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Born and raised by two Nittany Lions, Rachel continued the tradition by attending Penn State University in the fall of 2009. Currently a senior journalism major, Rachel also spends her time minoring in both psychology and Spanish. During her sophomore year she wrote for the Greek newspaper at Penn State as a member of Alpha Xi Delta, followed by joining the Her Campus team as a writer and the Public Relations/Social Media Manager in the fall of her junior year. In search of mastering the Spanish language, Rachel indulged herself in the country of Spain for five months while she studied abroad in the city of Alicante during the spring of 2012. In order to keep her English up to par, Rachel blogged about her experiences for both her personal account and Her Campus at Penn State. With a love for shoes, smiles, and a good bowl of mac and cheese, this social media fiend never leaves her twitter by its lonesome. Follow Rachel @hayhayitsrayray as she pursues her dream as an aspiring magazine editor and world traveler.