How do i manage the work Load?

Question

I'm a first year at uni and i was wondering how people manage the work load? there just seems's like there's so many projects going on at the same time! More than A-Levels and i worked really hard for them.
And before any of the drunk student comments role in i don't go out everynight and i am a very hardworking person.

Answer 1

Hi Sazi,

Well, it is all about time management. You need to prioritise your work.

When assignments are issued you will be given a certain amount of time to complete them. DO NOT LEAVE IT TO THE LAST MINUTE!!

Initially identify the the specific subject matter and do your research first. This is what takes the longest, getting the right information.

It is not always possible to do this because on some occasions the information you need is not taught until later in the unit. Unfortunately some lecturers do this. So do the things you can first.

Allow up to 5 hours per day to write up your work. You will not need this much time but if you use it as a guide then you will find you have more time on your hands than you thought.

If you can get started straight away on an assignment then do it. Use the principle of work first, play later.

If you get stuck, e-mail your lecturer. This means you get a good chance of getting a quick response.

If you do seminars then ensure you prepare in good time, it doesn't take long.

If you can afford to pay for your text books then buy them, there are often not enough copies in the uni library. Go to Amazon, I bought my books on there really cheap.

If you do buy them DON'T LOAN THEM TO ANYONE. Not even your best friend. They will disappear. You can always sell them to next year's first years.

If you have a group presentation and one of the group isn't doing their share, let the lecturer know. It will probably be a group mark so everyone should do their share of the work.

Remember, you only need 40% to pass. Your first year does not count towards your degree classification. Use it as preparation for next year, that's when it's for real.

Best of luck with you studies and enjoy your first year.

Answer 2

Don't try and think too much about this, you are just worrying yourself. Take a deep breath, ahhhh, that's better. I like everyone else found the transition from A-level to Level One (First Year) a little bit difficult, but you adapt soon enough and A-levels seem like a distant dream, oh those easy days. Seriously though just priorotise everything. First of all look at how you are assesed e.g. any tutorial work, questions to do before next weeks seminar. All of these short-term but assessed tasks i.e. count towards your module grade come FIRST. With regard to the endless reading for your degree, fit this around all other academic commitments. For instance I always have a few hours to spare between lectures in a day, so I first do assesment stuff, like finish those lab report questions, then I do a little bit of reading. Retyping up endless lecture notes, does not work for me, I condense them at the weekend, doesn't take that long. In short, you'll be fine just do a little here and a little there.

Answer 3

Have a routine which suits you. Are you better at studying in the morning or at night? Are you setting aside enough time for private study but also getting breaks and enjoying non-study activities, like sport, music, or drama?

Make sure with each project that you break it down into pieces of work; and that for each piece of work, you know what the deadline is, and roughly how many hours it will take. You can then build a work programme.

A successful work programme does not leave everything to the last minute. So your work will be a mixture of things for tomorrow, things for next week and things for next month. That way you should keep on top of things. And if you find one piece of work is too much, switching to another can keep your mind fresh.

If you still find it's too much for you, talk to your personal tutor and/or to friends on the same course in case there are ways they can help you organise your work better or lift some of the load.

Answer 4

it really depends on how many classes you're taking. if you're taking too many, next sem, you might to consider taking less classes. also, consider your priorities. if you have a lot of reading consider what really matters most. english classes have a lot of reading. some professors require you to read the chapters before coming to class, but he/she lectures in class. in this situation, i'd read the materials in english, and wait until lecture for the other classes.
also, organize yourself, if you haven't already. get an organizer and write all the chapters, homeworks, projects, papers and tests that you have due for the month. try to go to all your classes everyday. if you miss too many, you're going to lose out on a lot of info. but most importantly, take care of yourself. you won't be able to focus or study or go to class if you don't have any energy or the health to go to school. so just relax and enjoy your first year. remember, having straight a's is not as important as your health. good luck

Answer 5

its best to divide the work up into priorities, doing the urgent stuff first.
sit down for 45minute sessions, then have a rest. doing too much at once makes it harder.

plenty of non alcoholic drink and a mate who is doing the same work too helps keep each other at it

Answer 6

Time management is the key.

First thing is to sit down and figure out what are must do's, what are get around to its, and what are pleasurable but don't get you anywhere.

Then allocate the bulk of your time to must do's, some time to get around to its, and the rest to pleasurables.

Answer 7

Get the scoop on managing the workload at college from this great website :
http://www.csuohio.edu/writingcenter/WAC/readload.htm
And, don't worry ~ you'll figure it all out soon enough...
Good luck!

Answer 8

i would say prioritise, not much help but good luck.