Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneYoung
There have been posts in CD usually during build about the lack of time, staying up all night, drinking energy drinks to aid in the crunch. When I read these posts, I often wonder about the students and mentors who aren't posting who are managing their time, their grades, their commitments relatively well or at least trying. It is admirable.
Does anyone have any tips/suggestions on how you prioritize and manage your responsibilities in school and other commitments?
Jane
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You probably won't like the answer, but this is my normal routine.
Luckily in college most of my engineering courses (besides labs) do not collect homework regularly. They assign it and if you do it or not, it will show on the test. Normally the first test in most of my courses is around the 5th week in build season. I normally am able to keep my schedule in tact week 1 and 2. Week 3 I normally start to feel the pinch.....by the weekend of week 4 if all is going well it is time for me to handover work to software/drivers. I still am involved, but for much less time a week. I normally then study very intensely up until the tests and catch up on all my work.
Sometimes things come up that I can't avoid, but mostly during the days (when the high school is having classes) I try to stay ahead of the curve in the beginning (reading ahead, doing homework well before it is due) because I know I am going to fall behind at some point. Minimizing that catch up work is my focus. I try to work more in fall and save up money so I can take some time off (as little as possible), but it always seems to work out.
If I were to give advice is.....understand and be prepared (mentally/physically) for what kind of stress you are going to put yourself through. Try to stay ahead with work/school whenever possible. If I were to really give advice to someone that wants to help in college is, join an existing team, there is a support structure there to help when you feel pressure. I started one and it is no walk in the park.
It is possible, but before I had college figured out (to a degree) it was no fun when I received grades. After this past year where I helped collaborate with 1902, went to four different events, I only got a C in a lab (1/14 credits) and finished with a 3.67 GPA that semester. It is tough, but my mom tells me what doesn't kill me makes me stronger.
Good luck out there!!