Back to School

Introduction

In America, most school years start any time between mid-August and mid-September. Although not for a bit of time, the start of school looms menacingly in the distance, but it doesn’t have to be this way. By following just a few tips, anyone can make this school year better than their last, or continue a streak of academic excellence. Pay close attention to these tips, for they are some of the most popular and successful ones.

Organize!

Please, please do not haphazardly stumble through the school year. Without any

plans, directions, or proper intentions, there’s a very low chance you will make it through the school year meeting your full potential. It is for this reason that you should invest in a planner, or if your school gives them, make good use of it. Use it to mark down tests, upcoming projects, homework assignments, and any extracurricular activities so that you approach a day knowing exactly what you need to do. Also, for things like projects, homework assignments, and studying for big tests, if possible, try to spread them out over the course of a couple days

or weeks, as that has been shown to increase retention and focus.

In addition to organizing your schedule, organize your work space. A substandard

working environment makes for substandard work. Make a study place where you

remove all distractions and keep it clean. It needs to be of proper size, comfortable, and personalized, so that it is a place that you will be fine staying in for long periods of time to do work and study. This will make it far easier to focus, and will help you start the new school year on a good note.

Lastly, organize your backpack. Because things move around constantly in there,

one may think that it is hard to organize. However, there are some things you can do to make it better. Make sure to buy a backpack that is the perfect size for all your supplies, textbooks, and folders/binders. Also, only put in your backpack exactly what is necessary for school, as carrying around any unnecessary extra things will only make it harder to walk around and find what is in there.

Nail the Academics!

One of the biggest parts of school is the academic part. This is obvious, as most

hours are spent in class, learning as much as you can. However, there are some things that top students do differently from the rest that you should consider doing to boost your academics. Here are a few tips:

First, consider implementing the Pomodoro Technique when studying or doing

homework. This is a time management system where you study for 25 minutes, which follows with a 5 minute break. This is repeated 4 times before taking one longer 20 minute break, and all of that constitutes one Pomodoro Cycle, which is repeated over and over again. This helps you get a lot of work done while still taking enough brakes to keep you productive. It is a system of productivity that many people use, and has been shown to work well.

Also, engage in class. Even now when physically in class, there are many possible

distractors and explanations for why someone would be unfocused in class. If you give the teacher your undivided attention, take effective notes, and ask questions, you will absorb the information far more than someone who passively listens and does no more. It’s all about active participation.

Lastly, do not take the standardized tests lightly. Although now optional in an

increasing number of colleges across the country, taking them can only serve to help boost your application. Whether it’s the SAT, ACT, or PSAT, there are many resources online. Take diagnostic tests, and prepare for the test(s) you feel best suit you. Try spreading out your studying in even chunks of time over a few weeks or months, taking regular full practice tests along the way to measure your progress. And if necessary and financially possible, consider retaking the tests if you feel your scores aren’t up to par.

Sources

https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/is-it-better-to-learn-something-in-small-frequent-chu

nks-of-information.html

https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/the-benefits-of-student-planners/#:~:text=Student%2

0planners%20allow%20students%20to,get%20inspired%20to%20work%20harder.

https://online.maryville.edu/blog/how-to-create-a-study-space/

https://kdcollegeprep.com/back-to-school-2020-student-tips/

https://www.themuse.com/advice/take-it-from-someone-who-hates-productivity-hacksthe-pomod

oro-technique-actually-works#:~:text=The%20Pomodoro%20Technique%20is%20a,are%20refe

rred%20to%20as%20pomodoros.

https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/free-sat-prep-resources/

https://www.enactyourfuture.com/free-act-resources.html