How does a full time college student budget there time well?

Question

I want to be come a full time student some time in the future. I've asked this question alot to many full time students, and they say they have no idea how they do it.

Answer 1

Crimson, although it takes some thought and some planning it is not difficult. Pondering on these few simple steps and following through will help you achieve many milestones in life.

1. Determine what your goals and priorities are. What is most important to you? It doesn't mean you can't do anything not on the list, it just means to do/plan the important things prior to the others.

2. Number them. You can alter the numbering, but this helps in the decision making process.

3. Make a spreadsheet of your entire week broken down into 15 minute segments. You can use Excel or just paper and a ruler. Be sure to include the weekends. I like days of the week across the top, and the time periods from 6 a.m to midnight.

4. Look at the priorities. What is #1? Block that out on your schedule. If it is school, block out the non-negotibles like when class meets. If there are study groups you must attend, block those out too. If you are a morning person, go ahead and block out study time in the morning (believe me, on a campus, there isn't much to distract you early in the day . . . great study time). If you don't really wake up until 5:00 pm, check out quiet times/places to study. Library? apartment?

5. Go down the list and block each in the time allowed. You may find out you have to give up video games and tv, if you want to go to parties on the weekends. You may have to give up parties on the weekdays, to get to class or studying during the week. You may have to work part-time if you carry a full load and want to do it well. Block the other priorities!

6. Be sure to allow "down" time and time for maintenance . . things like running to the store for munchies, and doing laundry.

7. Plan ways to guard those priorities. Perhaps if you are easily distracted, don't take a tv to campus? Don't have cable at the apartment? Get with other students who seem like minded and you'll find you're more successful.

This plan works if your goal are academic, partying, getting married, or whatever.

My #1 goal was academic, so I planned to either be in class or in the library from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. like an ordinary job. Most students don't spend that much time studying. I didn't have to cram at all. I had my evenings and weekends free. My papers and projects were done ahead of time. I could have fun without worrying about the things I still needed to do.

Good luck, Crimson!

Answer 2

Do you mean Full time college student - as in no "real job"

Totally excellent time of life. Priorities are simple, make yourself do the work when it is assigned then enjoy social time. (now if you have a job or family this becomes much more difficult)

You can have the most excellent conversation with people you meet in college. the lack of real life stress from a job and family allows you the time to enjoy thinking about weird things and going to film festivals and seminars that you will pro bally never do again until you are old.

Much of the work can even be done with study buddies (unfortunately some of my buddies slacked more akin to cheating and didn't Learn the subject well enough for testing- watch out for this - where you think you understand it but really your buddy is dragging you through)

Good luck - Choose subjects you love or are good at and all will be most excellent!

Answer 3

Time Management Skills. They are easy to learn hard to apply.

Well 1st of all you have to list your priorities. Just like a finacial budget. Determine what has to be done through the week and determine what can't be changed, like that 1 hour class at 1:00 PM.

Also learn to use "down time." To get quick tasks done. Like making an important phone call between classes. Or begin reading an assignmnet betweeen classes. Other down times may be waiting in lines, or at home between tasks.

Also learn at what hours you are most productive. Morning? Afternoon? Evening? And do your most importnat/challenging work during those times.

During your least productive hours do things that require little effort such as check email.

Don't waste time! Maybe like i am doing right now by answering this question. But learn not to waste time. This doesn't mean you will be working 24/7, you need rest and breaks. But just seek to use your time wisely.

I have also found that praying helps as well with time management.

Answer 4

I tought success strategies at a major university for 3 years, and had a section on just this topic. I've read all the little tricks a stupid things they recomen, and I've found most to be a load of crap. The best advice I can give you is to carry a planner. College is full of meetings, classes, labs, tests, study groups, social activities... the list goes on and on, and the only way to keep everything straight is to have it all written down. I prefer the planners that do a weekly view to the daily view. I also would many times set reminder alarms on my cell phone for things that were really important so that I wouldn't forget. I found after three years of teaching that there was a significant difference in the GPA's of my freshmen that used a planner and those that were just "too cool" to use one. This method allows you to set a weekly schedule, and it's ok to change it. But it gives you a place to start. Best of luck to you!

Answer 5

First off, your top priorities:

-Studying, Eating, Sleeping

Make sure you make time for those. And make sure you always attend class, too. It's a good formula for a healthy mind and a healthy GPA.

Once you take care of your top priorities, then:

-Socializing/Dating
-Working out/Leisure activities (video games, tv, etc.)
-Yahoo! Answers =)

This keeps you semi-sane.

Answer 6

I would definitely plan some party time, you need it, but just don't overdue it. Remember why you are really in school in the first place. Everything is better in moderation.

Answer 7

99% partying, 1% classes