Why College Students Need an Academic Planner

Posted on 27. Jun, 2010 by Joan Azarva in Articles

I have always said that a college student, especially one with executive function disorder, without an academic planner is like a one-armed wallpaper-hanger.  How can you possibly get the job done? The academic planner is central to post secondary success.

Every semester, without fail, I have a handful of students who contend that assignment pads that worked just fine in high school will suffice in college. They fail to realize that the quantity and variety of assignments (i.e., papers, group projects, presentations, etc.) will require a planner that allows for a lot more organization than an assignment pad can provide.

Can your teen identify with the following scenario? He/she walks into class on Monday only to be “surprised” that a paper assigned several weeks ago is due. I think all of us have experienced this fiasco, accompanied by that sinking feeling that results from the realization that we really screwed up.

Organization is vital to college success and may very well be the most critical element upon which success hinges. As compared to high school, there are far fewer grades in college. Tests cover considerably more material and occur less often. As a result, each grade in a college semester carries more weight than any grade in high school. You simply can’t afford to get a “0” on a college assignment when there may be only three components to your final grade during the entire semester. It’s one thing to receive an “F” because you did an inadequate job—it’s that much worse to fail because you didn’t plan your time well or forgot a due date.

I could retire if I had a dollar for every bright, capable student I’ve taught over the years who failed or received a mediocre final grade as a result of forgetfulness/disorganization! It’s prudent to begin using an academic day planner while still in high school, so that by the time you cross the college threshold, it’s already second nature. College is filled with enough new challenges–having an organizational system in place gives you one less thing to be concerned about. When you begin college, your planner habits will be well-entrenched, and I guarantee you’ll have a leg up edge over those students who are still using their assignment pads.

Tips for Using a Planner

1. Choose the right planner.

Make sure the planner says ACADEMIC and M/W on the front. Academic planners run from August  to August, so they cover the entire school year, whereas “yearly” planners run January to January. The “M/W” refers to monthly and weekly. It is essential that you have two views. The monthly view is your “big picture”, and that’s where exams, long-term projects, and presentations should be recorded. Looking at the monthly view allows you to see what lies ahead and helps you to plan your time accordingly. The weekly view, or “small picture”, is where you record day- to-day assignments. Your planner needs to have enough space to record all the assignment details, so ideally it should be 8” x 11”, but definitely no smaller than 5” x 7”.

HINT: If you go to an office supply store, head toward the back where they keep the “generic” planners. The front of the store is stocked with name brand planners that run as high as $35. The planner described here can be found for about $14, but you need to shop early—perhaps in June or July. Academic planners sell out quickly because there are students taking summer classes.

double-book yourself. Make it a habit to check the planner several times a day.

2. Make the planner part of your daily routine.

Carry it with you at all times.  Put a “Post-It” arrow on the edge of each monthly page, and label it to quickly locate a particular month.  Be sure to record academic as well as personal responsibilities in your planner.  If you keep two separate calendars, you are likely to double-book yourself.  Make it a habit to check the planner several times a day.

3. On the first day of class, record the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of at least two students in each of your classes.

This is will be essential in case of absence or when you need clarification on an assignment.

4. Write down your assignment before you leave the classroom.

You won’t remember it accurately once you walk out. Also, don’t leave the class if you’re confused about any aspect of the assignment. Clarify with the instructor on your way out.

5. When you get your syllabi, immediately enter all long-term due dates on the monthly calendars.

Color-code your entries, using a different color for each class.

6. Plan backwards.

Break each long-term task (that includes tests, as well as projects) into smaller components, so you can see exactly how many steps are involved. Now, planning backwards from the due date, enter each component on dates on the weekly calendars. This is will determine when you have to start. Be sure to allot more time than you think you will need to take unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, computer breakdowns, etc, into account. Another helpful technique is to make your task deadline two days before the actual due date. Completing a task in advance eliminates frenetic last-minute rushing and gives you a sense of calm and accomplishment.

7. Enter absences/latenesses in the monthly section of your planner.

Some instructors have attendance policies, so it’s important to keep track of days you missed or were late to class. By the way, skipping class should be reserved only for emergencies or days that you are really sick—meaning confined to bed.

8. Don’t tear out old pages of the planner.

There will likely be occasions when you’ll need to refer back.

Things to Include in Your Planner

It is important to block off anything that consumes your time, in order to avoid conflict and crisis. Don’t forget:

• Regular blocks of homework time
• Assignment due dates
• Test dates
• Social commitments
• Vacations and holidays (mark “NO SCHOOL”)
• Medical appointments
• Academic appointments (i.e. tutoring, seeing your instructor, study groups, group projects, etc.)
• Registration dates –—choose classes as soon as registration opens to have the most choices
• Fees and tuition due dates
• Withdrawal/drop due dat

In short, the daily planner serves as the skeleton to which ALL your responsibilities are attached. It is imperative you have a logical system to ensure your work gets done in a timely fashion and that you appear in the right place at the right time.

After all, what do you think the working world requires???

Tags: academic planner, college success, executive function disorder, organization, post secondary success