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Heading Back to School? Do These 5 Things

As summer break comes to an end, students everywhere are gearing up for the start of a new school year.

During this period of adjustment, it’s important to remember that adequate personal preparation can assist in easing the transition back to the classroom and setting out on a successful academic journey. Whether you're heading to junior high, high school, or even college, here are five essential things you can do to get ready for the new school year.

Adopt a positive mindset

Starting the new school year with a positive mindset can make a significant difference in your academic performance. Ask yourself: What will I have the opportunity to learn this year? rather than: What will I have to do? Embrace the opportunities that lie ahead and focus on cultivating a growth mindset, where you believe that your abilities can improve with effort and dedication.

Commit to sharpening your time management skills

Balancing classes, homework, extracurricular activities, and personal life can be overwhelming without proper time management. Creating a study schedule that allocates time for each subject and allows you to take brain breaks is key. Using tools like planners or digital calendars can help you keep track of assignments, tests, and project deadlines. Prioritizing tasks based on their importance and deadlines will ensure that you can stay on top of your academic responsibilities. Another benefit to effective time management is that it can help reduce your stress and protect you from feeling overwhelmed.

Review and refresh your knowledge

Take some time to review and refresh your knowledge from the previous semester. This will help you bridge the gap between the summer break and the start of the new academic term. If you have early access to your coursework or syllabi for the upcoming year, take a peek and catch up on any prerequisite reading that can help refresh your memory. Additionally, if you have access to Tutor.com through an institution or organization, connect with a tutor to get a head start on challenging subjects or standardized test prep.

Hone your notetaking techniques

Notetaking is a fundamental skill that can help you synthesize new information and identify key points readily. Actively engage with material while listening to lectures or reading textbooks, and jot down key points, concepts, and examples. You can use visual cues, like symbols, to create a memory map, as well as colored pens or highlighters to emphasize important information as well.

Set SMART goals

Setting clear and achievable goals is essential for achieving academic success. Take some time before the new school year to set SMART goals, which can provide a structured framework for outlining objectives, measuring progress, and maintaining focus.

Preparing for the start of the new school year goes beyond buying school supplies or getting a fresh haircut. It's about cultivating the right mindset, developing essential skills, and establishing measurable goals for yourself. By incorporating these elements into your back-to-school preparations, you'll be better equipped to approach the challenges of a new school year and set yourself up for success. At Tutor.com and The Princeton Review, we’re cheering you on every step of the way.