How to Start a New Semester or School Year the Right Way - College Info Geek

Hope you're ready for the 2016 spring semester!

Here are some tips on starting a new semester, school year, or term as smoothly as possible - calendar hacks, methods of maintaining motivation as the semester progresses, how to always know when your professor has office hours, and more.

My book "10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades" is now out and it's free! Get it here (and get a copy of my graduation planning spreadsheet as well):

How to never be lost or late on campus (a more in-depth look on the blog):

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Companion blog post with notes and resource links:

Thanks to my girlfriend Anna for camera help :)

~ created by Thomas Frank

[jacobbailey]

Another tip: If you know the material the class is going over, learn it over winter break. You have a lot of time to get ahead to make sure you are happily right on top of your work rather than behind all year. The difference between being a little bit ahead and a little bit behind is HUGE in terms of stress.

[aleksandarglisic]

#1 Know what materials you need up front.

#2 Put your professors office hours on your calendar.

#3 Establish a good study location right away.

#4 Introduce yourself to your professors.

[failedGraphics]

I've made a habit of watching this video before every semester.

[avanna]

"ay yo prof do i actually need the book, call of duty 75 is coming out so i want to save for that thankx"

[createdbyriks]

He's like the John Green of college tips.

[ExpertmurfPlayz]

I can relate to the whole 'Being pumped at the start and losing motivation as time goes on thing' so much 😂😂

[leonardodavinci]

I think this guy deserves a good will prize or something.

[alechubbard]

I made the Dean's list at my school and was damn happy about it.
This guy is writing books, running a YouTube channel with 618k subs, and kicking ass all while on a sleep schedule.
There's a fine line between motivation and simply understanding that some people are just better at life. You're one of those people, Thomas. Kudos to you.
Seriously though... videos are great. Keep up the good work, man.

[sparklewell]

Adding another tip here - learn how to study alone first, before using study groups. Understanding what “self techniques” that really works for you before being distracted by the habits from others will keep you motivated through the challenging streaks.

[GuyInArmor]

Incoming freshman, new to college moving in on the 19th! Just added my classes to my Google calendar and mapped out where my classes are and added the attachments to the calendar too! Just made my life a thousand times easier by taking the time to do this now! Thanks so much for these ideas

[Karidiane]

Thank You for putting subtitles! Because as a not native English speaker, sometimes I find difficult to understand what people are talking about, and subtitles are very useful in these cases.

[Bellaskye]

an app that i like to use for my scheduled classes is my study life.. im new to the app but i enjoy it so far and has helped me get familiar with my schedule before my semester starts in a few days

[cbeadlesheart]

What a perfect video! Every time I start out thinking "I will be different this time, doing my homework straight away, concentrating more, asking for help..." and it never happens!

[katiealexander]

The tip about an office hours Google calendar was extremely helpful; thank you so much!

[noname-rjdx]

1 requirement-engineering (books, office hours and contact data of profs, classes with location, due dates, brakes)
2. Designated study date and time
3. Introduce self to prof

[kara]

That moment when you're about to start your first semester and you're scared as hell. Help.

[Poptartbabydoll]

I'm a 48 years old, soon to get my A.S in business and continuing for my B.A. One of the best things I heard before I started was "real college students own their books".

[valeriehenneberger]

This channel is a lifesaver. I'm back at college and in my second semester of the first year and I have another 6 years to go after that. I'm sure that the content of this channel will be keeping me going for the next few years. Thanks so much for your time and the effort you put into helping other students out.

[TheBluePandorica]

This was exactly the kind of video I was hoping for soon. Thanks a lot Thomas! This was like an ultimate back 2 school video.

[ToxicNeon]

I had such a hard time with finding a study area. Cause if I tried to move my desk around, I'd just gravitate to my bed no matter what and flop in my studies. So I basically had to completely remove access to my bed. So now I just study at a particular table in one of my college libraries. I get sooo much work done now when I'm surrounded by books and other people studying. It really helps me.