Central Central Advising

Now that the semester is underway, are you managing your time to ensure you will have a successful semester?  With work, family and extracurricular activities, it's easy to overschedule yourself. 

One mistake college students make is underestimating the amount of time outside of the classroom that they should spend on each course in addition to time spent in class.  At first glance, a college schedule can look like a breeze.  A few classes a few days a week – who can't handle that?  But when you're filling out your planner, it's important to leave the right amount of time open for studying and required coursework. 

The general rule of thumb for managing your study time is to spend approximately two hours outside of class for every credit hour spent in class each week – even if that class is online.  So, for a three-credit class, you want to leave yourself six hours of study time each week.  That's a total of nine hours per week spent on one three-credit class.  If you're carrying a 12-credit course load, that's a total of 36 hours per week that should be dedicated to your classes.

This ratio is an average – some classes might require a little less time, some classes might require a lot more time.  A full-time credit load is approximately a full-time job.  Now, if you're already working a full-time job, where are you finding the time to study and prepare for your classes? 

College, as well as life, is about balance and committing to your priorities.  Are you creating enough space in your life to successfully commit to your education and future? 

Your faculty assumes you are a fully-committed college student, with the time and motivation to concentrate on your classes above other life responsibilities.  Life is not always that simple, but the 2-1 ratio of study time per course credit can help you determine how much time you need away from work, family and fun. 

Sometimes it takes a village to graduate a college student; and asking for assistance or cutting down on expenses will help you create a schedule that leaves ample time to fulfill your many academic expectations.

Whether you are taking three credits or 18 credits, don't forget to incorporate the "hidden time" that classes require so you can perform at your full potential this semester.  

Central Academic Advising—Your Future, Our Focus.

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