Time Scheduling
Where does the time go?
Resources

TIME SCHEDULING SUGGESTIONS (back to top)

Time scheduling will not make you a perfectly efficient person. Very few people can rigorously keep a detailed schedule day after day over a long period of time. In fact, many students who draw up a study schedule and find themselves unable to stick to it become impatient and often give up the scheduling idea completely.

Being successful at the university level will probably require a more careful and effective utilization of time than the student has ever achieved before. S/he is typically scheduled for fifteen or more hours of classroom work per week, in addition, s/he is expected to average about two hours of preparation for each hour in the classroom. This means that he has at least a forty-five hour workweek and is consequently involved in a full-time occupation! Many students find that other part-time jobs and/or family and social responsibilities, which add a great deal more time, must supplement this full-time job. A common student complaint, therefore, is that there is just not enough time to go around.

The job of being a university student, like most other jobs, can be carried out either efficiently or inefficiently. The way we use time (or waste it) is largely a matter of habit patterns. One of the best techniques for developing more efficient habits of time use is to prepare a time schedule. Research psychologist and efficiency experts can produce impressive statistics demonstrating the efficiency of a well-organized time schedule. The work habits of people who have achieved outstanding success invariably show a well-designed pattern or schedule. When a person has several duties confronting him simultaneously he often will fail to do any of them. The purpose of scheduling is not to make a slave of the student, but to free him from the scholastic inefficiency and anxiety that is, at least partially, a function of wasted time, inadequate planning, hasty, last minute study, etc.

The most successful system for most students is to combine long-range and short-range planning. Thus, a student can make a general schedule for an entire quarter and then prepare a more specific plan for two or three days a week at a time.

The following method of organizing time has been helpful to many students and does not take much time. It is more flexible than many methods and helps the student to establish long term, intermediate, and short-term time goals.

1. Long Term Schedule

Construct a schedule of your fixed commitments only. Use a written calendar or your GroupWise calendar. These include only obligations you are required to meet every week, e.g., job hours, classes, church, organization meetings, ACES Events etc.)

2. Intermediate Schedule - One per week

Now make a short list of MAJOR EVENTS and AMOUNT OF WORK to be accomplished in each subject this week. This may include non-study activities. For example:
ACES Program Wednesday
Quiz Wednesday
Paper Tuesday
Ball game Tuesday night
Finish 40 pages in English by Friday
Finish 150 pages in History by Friday

These events will change from week to week and it is important to make a NEW LIST FOR EACH WEEK. Sunday night may be the most convenient time to do this. If you are using GroupWise calendar, list these things under your task list. This list will pop up everyday on your daily calendar.

3. Short Term Schedule - One per day

On a small Post It Note or in the Group Wise Reminder section of the daily calendar, each evening before going to sleep or early in the morning, make out a specific daily schedule. Write down specifically WHAT is to be accomplished. Such a schedule might include: Wednesday

8:00 - 8:30 Review History
9:30 - 10:30 Preview Math and prepare for Quiz
4:45 Pick up work study check
7:00 - 10:15 Chpt. 5, 6 (History)
10:30 Phone calls

Take your calendar/computer with you or print out your schedule and CARRY IT WITH YOU and cross out each item as you accomplish it. Writing down things in this manner not only forces you to plan your time but, in effect, causes you to make a promise to yourself to do what you have written down.

Limit your time on e-mail and messenger. Check e-mail regularly but choose to respond to those that will help you accomplish you goals.

Where Does Time Go?(back to top)

This calculator can assist you in determining how you spend your time. Go to http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/TMInteractive.html

1. PLAN ENOUGH TIME FOR STUDY.

The University expects a student to average about two hours in studying (including library work, term papers, themes, etc.) for each hour spent in the classroom. This is an appropriate and realistic guideline. A genuinely high ability student may get by adequately with less. However, many students would do well to plan for somewhat more than the two-for-one ratio.

2. STUDY AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY.

In so far as possible, a student should schedule certain hours that are used for studying almost every day in a habitual, systematic way. Having regular hours at least five days a week will make it easier to habitually follow the schedule and to maintain an active approach to study.

3. MAKE USE OF THE FREE HOURS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

The hours between classes are perhaps a student's most valuable study time yet, ironically, the most frequently misused. A student may effectively utilize these hours reviewing the material and editing the notes of the preceding class and/or studying the material to be discussed in the following class.

4. PLAN STUDY PERIODS TO FOLLOW CLASS PERIODS.

This should be done whenever possible. The next best procedure is to schedule the period for study immediately preceding the class. A student should specify the particular course he will study rather than just marking "study" on his schedule.

5. SPACE STUDY PERIODS.

Fifty to ninety minutes of study at a time for each course works best. Relaxation periods of ten or fifteen minutes should be scheduled between study periods. It is more efficient to study hard for a definite period of time, and then stop for a few minutes, than attempt to study on indefinitely.

6. PLAN FOR WEEKLY REVIEWS.

At least one hour each week for each class (distinct from study time) should be scheduled. The weekend is a good time for review.

7. LEAVE SOME UNSCHEDULED TIME FOR FLEXIBILITY.

This is important! Lack of flexibility is the major reason why schedules fail. Students tend to over-schedule themselves.

8. ALLOT TIME FOR PLANNED RECREATION, CAMPUS AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES, etc.

Resources: (back to top)

BVU:
Kelly Mattis, Director of Counseling Services
Phone: 2123 or 1226
e-mail at mattisk@bvu.edu (please do not share any private information about your situation over email as it is not a confidential means of communication).

Center for Academic Excellence (ext. 1236)
http://www.bvu.edu/departments/academicaffairs/cae/