Thriving in college is a lot like communism: it seems simple on paper, but it's really difficult to execute. You want to finish writing a paper and your phone buzzes: pickup football game on the intramural fields. Let the self-justifying begin.You can't leave your college career up to what you plan on doing. Arrange a system in which the worst case scenario allows for a speedy academic recovery. The would-be self that walks out of tests with a pale, horrified face will thank you.
Step 1
Buy a large calendar. Write down the dates of tests and quizzes in capital letters with a permanent marker. Hang the calendar up in your room next to the television. Then, as you discover the reading and homework assignments, write them down as well. You can't forget about test dates that you can't escape.
Step 2
Set up alarms on your phone. They should go off once a day during the week before a big test or paper. The goal is to annoy yourself with the updates until they are imbued in your memory.
Step 3
Join a study group for every class that you have. If none are available, try to organize one through word of mouth or through the online class page. Committing to studying is much easier when people are counting on you, and nagging you, to be there.
Step 4
Talk to your job manager about having set hours every week. Often, in food service and retail jobs, managers schedule you for when they need you. This quickly leads to "I can't be there, I have a conflict" and the boss looking for a new employee.
Step 5
Leave the rest of your calendar open. With work and studying now scheduled, there's room for spontaneity. If you really want to be a stellar student, try to make friends with your classmates. Reminders of papers and tests are more likely to arise in conversation.
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