The secret to being successful in school, whether you're in elementary school or in college, is being organized. During both my education and my ten-year teaching career I have found that organization is essential to academic success. If you've ever searched through a stack of papers looking for the one describing the project that's due the next day, or arrived at class to find you're the only one who didn't know there was going to be a test, then you need to get organized. The following steps will help you.
Instructions
1. Get an academic planner. These start in July or August so you can write down the days you need to register or pay tuition. Attach a mechanical pencil to your planner and carry it with you at all times. If you take a laptop to class, install software such as Lotus Organizer or Outlook and keep it open so you can refer to it often.
2. Read your syllabus for each class. Write in the planner which chapters need to be read for each class, when the tests will be, when projects are due and when the teachers or professors are available for help. Be neat. If you use a laptop, ask if you can access the syllabus online, or scan the syllabus so you'll have it on the laptop.
3. Get a binder for each class. It seems more efficient to have one large binder for everything, but it will be clumsy to use on the small desktops in most classrooms. Your binders should have a front cover that can be folded behind the back cover, giving you room to take notes.
4. Insert dividers into each binder. Use dividers that allow you to write on the tabs, but don't write on them until you know what each class requires. Use a pencil so you can make changes.
5. Invest in a hole puncher for each binder. As soon as you receive handouts, punch holes and insert them in the binder. If you use a laptop, get a paper folder to put your handouts until you can get home and scan them.
6. Be neat. Take the time to write your notes neatly and to mark your handouts so you can read what you wrote later. If using OneNote, you can put everything on one page and then cut and paste later, but it takes more time than switching pages and sections as you go.
7. Make time for organizing. Although you'll do as much as possible during class, you also need to go through each binder and your planner at the end of the day. Make it a rule that you'll never go to bed until your binders are organized and your planner updated, or until your laptop is organized and being recharged.
8. Place your books, binders, planner and other items for school together in the same place so you won't have to run around looking for things before leaving home the next day. If you use a laptop, put everything else in the backpack and put it near the laptop so you can disconnect it and pack it quickly.
