Undergraduate Advising: Current Students: Master Calendar

Directions for Your Master Calendar/ Weekly Schedule

Pring your Academic Schedule Planner (Microsoft Excel file)

A master study schedule will help you stay organized and on top of your schoolwork. Keep it in a prominent location. Update it weekly (for example every Sunday night) to reflect the details or adjustments of each particular week.

You can print a paper version of a master weekly schedule. You may also choose to use your student portal MyUCSC or other electronic planner. Please be sure to include the following information:

The Date
Class Time (Indicate specific in-class hours; include lab, discussion, section….)
Work Time (if any, hopefully not more than 10-12 hours per week)
Travel Time
Tutoring or Study Group Time
Individual Study Time (see details below)
Meal Time
Sleep Time (studies show that a consistent, daily wake-up time is most efficient)
Exercise Time
Fun/Social Time
Family/Personal Business Time (time spent with family, laundry, balance checkbook, errands…)
Student Organization/Community Service Activities
Spiritual/Religious Activities
Blank Spots (for catch up due to the unexpected)
Time Management Appointment
Other:

Individual Study Time Guidelines

Be sure to include 3 hours/week/unit of engineering class; 2 hours/week/unit of other classes. This is an average - some will require more and some less.
Schedule short 1-2 hour blocks of time, followed by a quick break (5-10 minutes). Include the weekends in your study plan.
Identify which class meets at which times and where. Create a systematic, habitual time, for example, "Physics Study Time takes place MWF, 11-1, T,TH, 7-9pm, Science and Engineering Library."
Put in math study time every day! Even small amounts on a daily basis are effective.
Use your peak times in your biorhythm cycle to study the most difficult material.
Review your notes within 24 hours after lecture. Use the time right after class or right before class.
Weekly review time of previous material (one hour per class each weekend) should be scheduled in addition to study time for new material.
Be aware of your most effective study environments. (Are you really able to concentrate in your dorm room?)
If the unexpected comes up, you can trade a block of time, but don’t steal one without replacing it. For example, if you use study time to go to a movie, you must replace it from your recreation time.