Now that class registration is finally here and we’re at the peak of summer, I’m here to tell you how to cheat the system and start being a good student by taking care of things early. You’re probably laughing at me right now: “Studying early? What am I, a nerd?” Okay, rude, but preparing as soon as you can is the smartest thing you can do. Why is this?
The main reason is that you can practice your time management early. If you’re already balancing summer classes or a job during this time, incorporating small sessions of overviewing class content can help you shift your focus. This way, you’re not bombarded with information in your first week of classes.
You can find the course outlines archive online. While these outlines change from year to year, some of the assigned readings are provided on these outlines. This is especially helpful for English classes, where some required content can be found online. You can also look over any extra supplies for classes, and some of the schedules are included in the archive. Do keep in mind that teachers and information will possibly change for the coming year, so don’t trust the past too much.
While the wait for textbooks will still continue for some time, there are textbooks that are available on the interweb. This is rare, but with a bit of research you can sometimes find a free online copy for studying through the rest of the summer.
I’ve even taken to reading texts for classes I don’t plan on taking for the next semester just to keep my mind fresh.
Setting aside time in the summer for some studying definitely gives you a head start, but don’t think of it as a means of succeeding. Rather, look at it as a healthy way to smoothly transition from one lifestyle to the next.