Scheduling for Fall (Already!)

You should have received a general advising email notifying you that now is the time to begin scheduling your academic advising appointment to discuss Fall Semester scheduling (and summer too if needed!).  So this is your friendly reminder that I would love to have you come in sometime within the next few months to:

• Review your major and discuss class options for the upcoming semester (Fall 2022!)
• Discuss your four-year plan and DegreeWorks degree audit
• Navigate your my.bsu.edu page including how to obtain your time ticket and DegreeWorks
• Touch base about your current classes and success strategies for establishing a high GPA
• Talk through any “extra” requirements for your degree that you may not be aware of
• Update your record with any AP/ACP/IB/dual credit classes that are still needing to be transferred

Fall course registration for all students begins in April (and the specific date/time is dependent on your time ticket).  You can begin scheduling advising appointments to discuss what classes you plan to register for anytime online through Navigate (my.bsu.edu), by calling (765) 285-1161, or stopping by the Freshman Advising Center in North Quad 339 during normal business hours (Monday -Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). 

The Ticking Clock of Time Management

Perhaps one of the more challenging aspects to adjusting to collegiate living involves something beyond shared showers and common eating facilities.  Many students are thrust into an academic life that, on the surface, appears to yield more free time... or at least time that you must define yourself.  But that "free time" can easily be consumed with coursework, studying, social distractions, work demands, club/organization meetings... not to mention eating and sleeping!

The following worksheet (also available online through: www.bsu.edu/advising) can serve as a resource for you to get a sense of how you spend most of your days and how to adjust for the needs of particular classes.

 

Making Your Week Work for You!

Sometimes college can throw students into a whole new realm of life that, in some ways, feels much more relaxed than high school. In fact, many first-year college students feel that they have more more free time than ever. And yet, as the weeks go by, you may begin to feel that balancing classes, studying, work demands, social distractions, clubs and organizations, is not as easy as you anticipated.

One simple way to get started on managing your days and weeks is to keep track of everything that you do for three days. It may seem crazy at first to write down how much time you spend on little things (like Facebook, gaming, emails, eating, sleeping (and napping!), and exercising), but they are all part of life that you will want to account for.

Once you have an idea of how you are spending your time, you can use a time management calendar or scheduler to figure out what you need to do and when. There are tons of options online, but the one available to you through our website (www.bsu.edu/advising) has been designed specifically with Ball State students in mind!

Here are some helpful tips as you try to create some time management strategies that work for you:

1. Use your syllabi to write in important dates/deadlines 
2. Don't over-schedule yourself. Remember you need to eat and sleep! 
3. Review your calendar for the term often to make sure that you are not missing important tests and project deadlines. 
4. Write in everything you "must do" (work, class, dinner, etc.) 
5. Feel free to write in what you "want" to do as well.