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Managing time

MCT ILLUSTRATION

Part of the allure of college lies in the scheduling possibilities — instead of sitting through class after class in one long block, students can organize their day however they like, with classes close together or far apart. But, the college system demands students manage their time wisely and effectively. “A lot of the kids coming from high school are going to classes straight through the day, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — their time is very structured,” said Gerry Stenerson, assistant dean for first year programs at Bentley College in Massachusetts. “When they arrive at college, it’s a different scene altogether. They have all this unstructured time they have to deal with.” Stenerson said studies show students who manage time efficiently tend to be the most successful students. Here are his suggestions: • The first step toward success is developing a daily schedule for classes, as well as the free time between them. “(Students) have to accept the fact that they have this free time,” Stenerson said. “They have to commit to taking advantage of that time and putting it to good use. Instead of going back to their dorm room between classes, maybe instead stay and go to the library and study for an hour.” • Academics shouldn’t be students’ only focus, Stenerson cautioned. “Part of college life is the social experience and learning who you are,” Stenerson said. “Clubs and organizations become a big part of a student’s life and they fill a need to have a certain time for socialization. And by joining clubs and organizations, it gives structure to the day as well.” • Stenerson said students also should plan for exercise at least three or four times a week, to stay healthy physically and to relieve stress. • The key to fitting everything in lies in adhering to the schedule, even when more appealing activities beckon. “I try to remind students this is their job; their first priority is education,” Stenerson said, “They’re paying tuition and the reason they go is to learn. It has to become the first priority; college is your job for the next four years.”