Using to-do lists

Getting everything done when you need to finish a bunch of stuff can seem crazy for some first generation or low income college students. It can even feel downright overwhelming as finals are fast approaching.

But one of the easiest ways you can juggle all that you need to juggle is to keep track of it all by using to-do lists. A good to-do list will help you figure out your priorities, keep track of what you've accomplished, and help you plan out your day.

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When making a to-to list, here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

Be specific. Provide yourself with details, like instead of saying "Go to office hours" put down "Go to Psych 101 office hours to ask questions about midterm" on your to-do list. Do yourself a favor by laying it out.

Break down larger tasks in smaller steps. For the big tasks you have on your plate, always think of them as a bunch of little tasks. "Write 10-page research paper" is easier when you break it down to "Write 1-page intro," "Research sources at library," "Write 8-page body," "Write 1-page conclusion," and "Finish reference page." Things will be less scary if you take it one step at a time.

Prioritize tasks and set deadlines. Make sure you know what is most important, when it needs to be finished, and plan to get that done first. You can use numbers, ranks, pluses and minuses, smiley faces, or whatever to note what you need to accomplish first. This is definitely where paying attention to details will come in handy.

If you really want to write a killer to-do list, check out 43 Folders' Building a smarter to-do list. As you craft your to-do lists, have a productive day of academic achievement.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

How many classes should I take?

A reader writes:

I work 24 hours a week and am in 2 organizations on campus. I need to be a full-time student for a scholarship of mine and financial aid. My question is how do I figure out the number of credits I should take each semester?

I am all about recommending balance for first generation or low income college students, but finding that balance in your academic life can be difficult sometimes. There is no magic number out there for how many classes you should take because it will depend on you as an individual. However, the Carnegie rule can help.

The Carnegie rule is that for every hour of in-class time, you should expect to spend at least 3 hours of out-of-class time preparing and studying for the class. For example, if you have a class 4 hours a week, you should plan on spending an additional 12 hours a week doing stuff for that one class. Use this as a guide to consider how many classes you can manage.

After the Carnegie rule, it boils down to knowing your requirements. First things first, you need to know exactly how many credits are required for things like full-time student status, financial aid eligibility, and other requirements. These requirements, which vary widely from campus to campus, will set the minimum number of credits you have to take.

Beyond the required number of credits, you also need to figure out what specific required classes you have to take. What classes are required for your major, general education, or other campus-specific requirements? Is there a specific progression of classes or prerequisite classes that you have to take?

Generally speaking, your best bet is to start off the academic year with the minimum number of credits. If you find this minimum load manageable, add a class and see how it feels. It will be all about trial and error.

After you've figured out how many credits you have to take and what classes you need to take, also think about how those will balance with each other. For example, try not to take too many writing-intensive or laboratory classes at the same time, unless they are in your major.

Regardless of what you do, I highly, highly, highly recommend talking to a campus advisor or checking out your school's catalog for more information. Good luck!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Pay attention to deadlines

From when you can register for classes to the last day of final exams, there are all kinds of dates and deadlines you need to be aware of as a first generation or low income college student. And those deadlines matter!

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Knowing about and meeting deadlines is vital to your success as a first generation or low income college student. Here are 4 tips to keep those looming deadlines fresh in your mind:

Map it out. At the beginning of every semester, create a master calendar for yourself with both campus deadlines and assignment deadlines for each class. 

Lie to yourself a little. On your master calendar, consider setting deadlines a day or two before the actual deadline as extra insurance that you meet those deadlines, especially if you tend to procrastinate.

Be aware of the consequences. While you are plotting out your master calendar, make sure you know what will happen if you miss a deadline. Missing a deadline can cost you time and money or even impact your grades.

Remind yourself. If you use an online or electronic calendar like Google Calendar or iCalendar, set email or text message reminders for important deadlines. 

Now, stay you on your game, meet those deadlines, and have a great day of academic achievement. 

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.