I have 4 classes this coming semester that total up to 15 credits: anatomy- bio 2- psych- music. It really wouldnt be so bad if it weren’t for the schedule. Also, all these classes are huge (90 students being the smallest class and 800 being the largest.) Take a look at my schedule. I’m terrified. Im also not a morning person as i have a rlly hard time getting up and my commute to school is around an hour. Sort of freaking out right now. Does anyone have any tips on how to survive?
Monday: 1-4
Tuesday: 8-9:30, 4-5:30, 6:30-10
Thursday: 8-12, 1-5:30
Friday: 8-9:30
(Thankfully i have wednsdays free) please help!
I had 8am’s every day during my spring semester freshman year (so like a year ago). This is what I did:
-Readjusted my sleep schedule so that I could try and get around 7 hours of sleep (11-6:30)
-Started eating larger breakfasts at the dining hall: so usually, I would get myself an omelette loaded with meats and vegetables. During that spring semester, I got more food like pancakes, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage, etc.
-I started running in the nearby area, and I truly believe that helped me feel better later in the day and at night
Since you’re a commuter student, try these:
-If you take a train or bus to school, take a look at their schedules to see what the best time is to get to the station and then to your school. Plan around if there are going to be delays on the route you would take.
-If you drive to campus, use Google Maps before/while you drive to see what your driving commute would be like. Plan to leave earlier if you know that you’ll be going through traffic, and I imagine that there will be traffic if you leave at a time like 6:30-7am. I don’t think there should be any rush hour traffic on a day like Tuesday, but be careful when leaving on days where your classes end in the afternoon because there will also be traffic going back home.
-If you have a friend who lives in an apartment or in a dorm, consider staying with them for a night or two if you don’t want to deal with commuting home.
-If coffee or tea wakes you up in the morning, then drink it before heading to your 8am!
I hoped this helped and best of luck! You got this!
The course load seems ok. Huge classes are a fact of life, but faculty no who is and is not present. Do not stand out by entering late. Do not stand out my stomping around, scrounging loudly in the backpack, muttering, slamming books and supplies on the desk top. You have classes that will include a break. Faculty do know who did not return aka the back row.
Find a place that works for you. As someone who is profoundly left handed, I sat in one seat and used the table top on the next one to take notes. There seems to be more options for seating at the front because you can see and hear and less crowded. Faculty are less concerned about those students because they are seemingly paying attention.
You have long breaks on Tuesday and Thursday. You can spend quality time reading and studying or gathering info for papers. That should free up your evenings. Snoop around campus because there are places with chairs that are private and quiet for napping. Eat a times that fit your class schedule better and avoids the mealtime rush.
Attending 8am classes is very ok, even when you must leave home at the crack o. It just means scheduling your time. Also watch traffic patterns. There are times when commutes get you to school at about the same time despite the time when you leave home. Riding the bus is good for day dreaming and resting or thinking. Commuting with someone puts you at the mercy of their schedule and often requires extended conversations with someone that doesnt have common interests with you.
Staying with a friend seems like a nuisance. Public transportation is better in bad weather. Attending school in Colorado, it was better to ride in a big vehicle with a professional while your car is safely stowed in the parking lot. Have even been dropped at my door by drivers that knew me as a student and employee when the snow was fierce.
Finally, be sure to have yak traks or its equivalent…available on Amazon…for walking on icey or snowy parking lots or sidewalks.
If classes have multiple sections, you could always switch sections during the add/drop period as spaces open up.
Remember, a semester is 15 weeks long, not a lifetime. If you go into it with a can do attitude you can survive it. People do all kinds of difficult things to achieve goals.
Thanks guys! Hopefully ill be able to survive this semestsr…
So not start skipping that Friday class.
Time to start adulting. You no longer get the luxury of being a night owl. Good luck.
Buy the book below and read it before school starts. I’ve vetted a lot of study efficiency books and it is by far the best I’ve found. The author is now a Georgetown CS professor and has had multiple NYT Best Sellers. Good luck.