By Zariyah Greene
After graduating from high school, many people head to college, filled with high hopes and expectations for the future. They look forward to sharing their first drink or going to their first party. When many people think about college, they think about their future social lives and all the fun they want to have. Many people forget about the most vital part of going to college, their education and degree. However, when they finally get there, they start the year, being motivated and determined to do well in all of their classes. However, they also want to attend various club meetings and hang out with friends whenever possible. All of this sounds good in theory, but many people don’t know how to balance all of it. In college, there are questions that many never seem to get answers to. One essential question happens to be one nearly all students ask themselves, how do you prioritize in college?
One way to start prioritizing can be by making a list of all of the things you plan to do.
This list could include people you want to hang out with, work you have to get done, or trips you plan. If you have many things in mind to put on this list, it may be a better option to invest in a planner to record everything in. However, this only works if it is incorporated into your daily schedule. By forcing yourself to look at it every day, you are more often able to remember it, and it is more likely to become a part of your daily routine.
Another way you can prioritize is by coming up with a system to remember the more important and time-sensitive matters. You can factor in how much something weighs on your grade, how lenient your teachers are, anything you believe makes an assignment important.
Color-coding is a great tool to use to help structure your schedule. One color could be used for things that are worth 30% or more out of your final grade; another could be used for assignments that are due within two weeks. You could also use another color for social events. You could decide to prioritize by which assignments or meetings have the most colors attached to them.
There are many ways to prioritize your school work and social life. It’s important to find a system that works for you, something you can stick to. However, it is also important to remember that sacrifices need to be made for success to be achieved. You’re not going to be able to go to out to every party you hear about, especially if you have a midterm the next day. You’re not going to be able to hang out with your friends if none of your work is done. College is all about the give and take. You have to remember that you’re paying to attend college, so it would be wise to use everything available to you to be as successful as possible