Naughty” or “Nice”–Which Were You at the End of the Semester
With the last group project presented, and final assignment turned in for the night—not a student was near, or even in sight. ‘Twas the end of the semester, and time for a break. Woo Hoo!—no more of those projects we dearly hate!
Now that the semester is over, it’s time to decompress from the hectic schedule that is synonymous with finals. Looking back, do you think your grades are worth enough to get you on the “Nice” list, or does it look like coal on the “Naughty” list? Would you have approached your coursework differently—maybe chosen a different group, tried to be more prepared, less procrastination? Yeah yeah, we all know that you’ll plan better next semester—but we all know how this ends. You will enjoy your holiday season, and before you know it, it’s the New Year and new semester. Still suffering from your holiday hangover, you’ll scurry around to make sure you’ve signed up for the correct classes, maybe get the books and then just play it by ear.
However, we are here to help you get onto that “Nice” list and get those A’s you were hoping for. Answer our questions below to determine the areas you could improve.
1. Do you have your next semester’s schedule set? No / Yes
Tip: Well, you guessed it—if you selected “No” then you are still on the “naughty” list. Get your schedule set in stone NOW. The worst thing you can do is go into your first week “hoping” to get into that class. If it’s already full, email your advisor—they will be able to put you on a list and slip you on the roster at the first sight of a dropped seat.
2. Have you placed your next semester’s schedule in your calendar? No / Yes
Tip#2: For those on the “nice” list, you’ve already figured your schedule out; but remember, your calendar is your friend. You don’t want to go through all of that trouble to sign up for classes, and then get dropped because you forgot. Getting back into the scheduled semester groove can take some time after the holidays; so place your weekly courses in your calendar, so that it will have an additional reminder.
3. Are you books ordered? No / Yes
Tip#3: After the holiday season of purchasing gifts, I assume it’s safe to say that your bank account is looking a little glim. For those who do have money from grandma, the last thing you want is to spend it on books. Take the time to research your curriculum prior to the semester scramble for books. This will provide you plenty of time to look online for a cheaper version, and have it sent before the first day of class. I don’t know about you, but most people don’t like paying that extra overnight fee to expedite, or pay the school bookstore full price for your book in order to complete that paper assigned the first week of school.
4. Now that you are prepared for the beginning of the semester, do you plan on immediately placing deadlines into your personal calendar? No / Yes
Tip#4: No use in making the same mistake twice. If you found yourself on the “naughty” list, it was probably because you didn’t take time to stay on top of that syllabus. Along with those deadlines, set reminders that those deadlines are coming up a few days earlier. Procrastination happens, but at least this will help you get a head start, rather than showing up to class empty handed.
5. Have you looked to see what courses you have left to graduate? No / Yes
Tip#5: The biggest incentive in school is graduation. However, you don’t want to get stuck on the “naughty” list because you forgot about that elusive elective that you forgot to take. No one wants to get stuck in summer school for one class, while the rest of their friends are walking the stage, and having their name read on the “nice” list.
Hopefully, you found yourself with more “Yes’” than “No’s,”–but its not too late to turn your naughty into a nice looking semester ahead of you.
Happy Holidays!
