Keeping Freud and Canines at Bay: The Importance of Prepping for School
Keeping Freud and Canines at Bay: The Importance of Prepping for School
Freud’s Underwear
We’ve all had those college nightmares. You know the one where you realize you’re extremely late for that big test. Or the one where you can’t find the exam room, and then you realize you’re in your underwear to boot! It doesn’t take Freud to explain that these dreams are the result of a certain amount of fear and anxiety around starting a new semester of school.
It’s Okay to be Nervous
Give yourself the permission to feel nervous. It’s totally normal and expected. The reality is that it’s everyone’s first day at school and whether they show it or not, they are just as nervous as you are. In truth, being nervous just means that you care about what you’re doing and you’re taking your studies seriously.
Academic Goblins
There are, however, effective ways to reduce this stress. We don’t want you having any more nightmares before school, so we’ve provided some useful information below that will help vanquish those imaginary monsters and academic goblins that go bump in the night.
Make a Good Impression: Take an Orientation
There is nothing more stressful than arriving late to your first class, and it doesn’t make a great first impression on your instructors either.
A great way to reduce stress before starting school is to take an orientation. Most schools offer one, and they’re an effective way of familiarizing yourself with the physical layout of the school before your first official day on campus. An orientation will also help you locate the on-campus services that can help you: the tutoring center, disability services, counseling services, and any other resources that will assist you when you need it.
Preparation Meets Opportunity
One of the best ways to keep the anxiety at bay is to be prepared! Before you start your courses, be sure to check out your courses syllabi and reading list. If the instructor has not listed this online, take the time to contact them and ask.
Contrary to public opinion, instructors are, on the whole, very nice, encouraging and appreciative of students who care about their studies and academic success. You’d be amazed how much information and advice your instructors will give you if you simply contact them and ask!
Once you know which books and readings are required, it’s best to get to the school bookstore early to avoid long lines and the possibility of the readings being sold out! Most school bookstores also sell used books, but they sell out quickly!
Knowing what each course entails, how many assignments and tests are given and the general workload can help you start to plan your semester even before you begin!
Keeping the Dogs Away with Time Management
You may find that in college or university things are fast-paced. With multiple courses, work, and extracurriculars, it’s easy to lose track of things and get behind. The best way to combat getting overwhelmed is by implementing good time management skills. This will make prioritizing and remembering things much simpler, and will make your academic life so much easier!
The most effective way to plan your time is to create a detailed daily schedule that blocks off time for your classes, homework, study and personal time. One of the best organizational hacks is to mark down in your calendar all your assignment due dates and test at the beginning of the semester.
If you plan out how much time you’ll need to devote to each assignment, you’ll never have to tell the instructor that the dog ate your homework!
Have a great semester and remember to avoid any class where they make you read Beowulf!
