I know it may have you feeling more and more like a freshman, but organizing yourself during syllabus week is only beneficial in the end. I don't mean to sound like a picky or overbearing professor but for many college students syllabus week 1 seems to breeze by them to only leave them stressed and confused in the end. I know my first year at college I was told to just take it easy the first week of classes because realistically it was not like I was going to be doing any real work, on the contrary, that is when you are handed everything for the entire semester and its due date. Not only piling on the stress of every assignment that is expected of you but also all the required texts and materials for the class you are taking, and the disgusting cost of it all. Although it seems like an introduction to the course and can easily be ignored and maybe even blown off, it should, in all honesty, be paid very close attention to.
The syllabus for any course you are taking can be a deterrent in and of itself if the class title isn't daunting enough, and that should play a huge role in choosing the courses you decide to keep during your add and drop period. I am not saying that if the syllabus is thicker than your schoolbooks that you should immediately retreat, what I am trying to emphasize is the importance of close reading and fine print because that can deeply affect your perception of the course. It is very possible that you could be handed a syllabus five pages long that has more requirements, and a more strict guideline policy than that of a 15-page syllabus that just has an extensive schedule printed out on it.
Not only do you have to figure out important due dates, office hours, and the exam schedule, you also have to add in the cost of course materials that practically all college students cant afford, but have to make work. All of this while figuring when you will have the money to actually purchase these overpriced text books, and that is for every single class a full time student is required to take. To make this process much more bearable you cannot slack so early on in the semester, instead take charge of your classes. Figuring out if the course you signed up for offers what you're looking for is probably the most important. Not only do you need to get the credit and requirements, but you also want to be learning something that you are going to keep with you for a long while. Additionally, you need to determine if the scheduled times work for you, physically and mentally. Many college students hold part time jobs to pay for their education and have to factor in getting to class and work, and if it will be enough time in the end, future tip: if you have an on campus job or classes far apart, ten minutes is never enough to get across campus.
After that getting an agenda would be the best step to organize your academic life, writing down all the due dates and exams provided by the syllabus in advance will leave you stress free afterwards and highly prepared for any upcoming class. Try getting a campus agenda because they have scheduled vacation times on it as well and we all love to know those. Labeling your books not just notebooks and folders help organize your mornings for those dreadful 8 a.m. classes so you don't forget, and bring the wrong material. I just suggest that arranging everything early can be a great tool to keeping yourself on schedule and never feeling too overwhelmed, because making yourself aware of all your assignments and expectations reduces any potential surprises in the future, ruining any plans of a social life you intend to have.
The weight of the work can only crush you if you take it in all at once.
