1) Build a calendar to plan your winter session

Staying organized starts with a calendar! Maybe you are planning to take a class or study over winter session, or maybe you need to catch up on some fall course work. Check out the LSC’s tips for managing your time, then set up a calendar that will let you get your work done and set aside time to rest, relax, and enjoy a well-deserved break.

2) Explore ideas to take care of yourself and have fun 

Taking care of yourself means having some fun, which can also help you study and focus better. Be sure to plan in activities like exercise, hanging out with friends and family, watching TV, gaming, and doing things that bring you joy.  

Want some great ideas about taking care of yourself, and how to have effective study breaks? Check out Cornell Health’s resources: https://health.cornell.edu/about/news/study-breaks-stress-busters and https://mentalhealth.cornell.edu/self-care/self-care-practices 

3) Figure out your study space (where you will get work done)

Organize your space: If you are taking an online class, you will need to carve out a physical space to do your remote learning. It might be challenging to find a spot at home that’s private, quiet, and has internet access. What are some things to consider?

• Find a quiet space (and negotiate with your family or roommates to help keep it a quiet space!).
• Before class starts, see if you can create a study space that is effective for learning. Though it can be tempting to just work from your bed or the couch, having a dedicated workspace that’s different than your lounging space can make both work and relaxation more productive.
• Stay organized! Get a file organizer for paper files and take some time to clean up your desktop and electronic files.

4) Find others to study with

Peer pressure doesn’t have to be a bad thing! In order to harness positive peer pressure, study with a friend, get a study partner, or maybe even recruit a younger sibling or friend who’s still in high school.

5) If you are taking a Winter Session class

Check our the LSC resources on “Learning Online“

Welcome to Spring 2025! As you start the semester, what are some things you should think about to get started strong?

Think about what went well and what might change from last semester

Take some time to reflect on how your previous semester went.  Find some time to think about the following questions:

1. What went well?  Think about what you did that was helpful to your success.  This is important so you can continue to use and adapt those strategies moving forward.
2. What might you have done differently?  Is there anything you’d like to try differently this time around?  Tweak and adjust?  What is your plan to make the hard parts easier this time?
3. Final thoughts – take a big picture look at how things went.  Celebrate your successes and identify your areas for growth.  There will always be opportunities to work smarter, not harder.

If you haven’t done the LSC’s Canvas module on “Gearing Up for a New Semester“, it’s not too late to self-enroll and refine your plan for success this spring!

Develop a system to manage your time

Time management is one of the top skills current and former Cornell students say is key to success. So, how do you develop a plan to manage your time?

• Create and maintain a schedule: even though it can be a challenge, it is important to create a schedule – and stick to it. Consider using semester calendars to map out big due dates and important events and weekly planner to map out how you will spend your time in a week.
• Sleep: Sleep is necessary for processing and retaining new information-you need to sleep in order to learn. Scheduling enough time for sleep can be just as important as scheduling enough time to study.
• Break the cycle of procrastination: if you procrastinate, LSC can help you figure out why. This info will inform what you can do to break the cycle.
• Develop a plan for unplanned events: This may sound odd -how can you plan for something you don’t know about?- but things happen! Develop a plan for if you need to miss class before you need it.

Work smarter, not harder!

• Get the most out of the syllabus and see what you need to focus on with LSC’s syllabus checklist.
• Develop a study plan that spreads out your study time and preparation for exams.
• Find effective study strategies that are ACTIVE, not passive. An example of a passive strategy is to re-read your notes or look over old homework–you’re not really working your brain when you do this. Active techniques might have you retrieve knowledge from your memory; an example is self-testing (taking a practice exam under test-like conditions – no looking at answer keys!) and blank-page testing or working with your study partners to develop your own sample test questions.
• Amp-up your note-taking strategies by using Cornell Notes.

Get help when (not if) you need it!

Successful students ask for help when they need it! So, where do you get help? Check out our post on “Where to get help when you need it!” for some ideas.

Hear it from your peers! Check out successful students’ top 10 recommendations for starting strong!

To really learn effectively online, you need to make an effort to stay engaged with your coursework, with your peers, and with your instructors. As you know, being a successful online learner takes a a lot more than just watching some videos and taking some tests! You need to participate actively in your courses. LSC resources below have some great ideas about how to do that.

• Before you get started, check out the Remote Learning Preparedness Checklist
• Things to Keep in Mind as you Participate in Online Classes (including troubleshooting tips!)
• Learning from Online Lectures and Discussions
• Studying Together in study groups or with a study buddy
• Participating in Online Group Work

Watch: LSC’s Mike Chen Shares Tips for Successful Learning in Online Classes

Taking Online Exams

Online exams present a unique set of logistical challenges, whether you are home or on-campus. Be prepared! Gather as much intel as possible about the testing format before the exam. What will you do if your internet cuts out? If you can’t find a quiet space? If you are abducted by aliens during the test (you never know)? Planning for contingencies can make it less stressful when things don’t go according to plan.

Check out our Online exam checklist (word document) for some questions to ask yourself before your next online exam.

You can look at all our exam preparation and taking strategies here: https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/