How to Start a New Semester or School Year the Right Way - College Info Geek

Hope you're ready for the 2016 spring semester!
Here are some tips on starting a new semester, school year, or term as smoothly as possible - calendar hacks, methods of maintaining motivation as the semester progresses, how to always know when your professor has office hours, and more.
My book "10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades" is now out and it's free! Get it here (and get a copy of my graduation planning spreadsheet as well):
collegeinfogeek.com/get-better...
How to never be lost or late on campus (a more in-depth look on the blog):
collegeinfogeek.com/never-lost...
If you want to get even more strategies and tips on becoming a more productive, successful student, subscribe to my channel right here:
buff.ly/1vQP5ar
Connect with me on Twitter!
/ tomfrankly
Companion blog post with notes and resource links:
collegeinfogeek.com/new-semest...
Thanks to my girlfriend Anna for camera help :)
annaellenberger.com/
~ created by Thomas Frank

[@avanna9500]

"ay yo prof do i actually need the book, call of duty 75 is coming out so i want to save for that thankx"

[@SharatS]

Don't forget his name.. Chad MgSwaggerson.

[@NR-vf2tk]

Alpha Kappa Beta Delta Gamma Imma Gonna Drinka Lotta Fraternity

[@LLLadySSS]

Avan Na 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@EcstaticPickles]

Cod mw out now

[@instrumentofbeing]

in Comic Sans on top of it

[@jacobbailey5498]

Another tip: If you know the material the class is going over, learn it over winter break. You have a lot of time to get ahead to make sure you are happily right on top of your work rather than behind all year. The difference between being a little bit ahead and a little bit behind is HUGE in terms of stress.

[@cumensu]

Great tip! I've always struggled with motivation. After my first semester of graduate school this past Aug.-Dec. I did reflecting and have concluded that being ahead an assignment, or 2, or more is what might be best for me if the option is available.

[@jacobbailey5498]

Yep and once you DO those tasks, ironically, you will need a LOT LESS motivation in the future because you won't be stressed.

[@jacobbailey5498]

i.e., if you get ahead by a little bit you will be continuously in a non-stressed state if continued. Which means you don't need the huge motivation required to do things while in a stressed state.

[@ThisIsCatSousachannel]

+Jacob Bailey I did this when I was taking English classes and it helped me so much! I knew all the vocabulary and I could explain my colleagues what it meant and improving my English by remembering the words

[@jacobbailey5498]

ThisIsCat Sousa Nice. :) I find that it works as a good buffer as well. Sick days or missed classes will not affect how well you do on tests as much.

[@createdbyriks]

He's like the John Green of college tips.

[@hashaamkhan819]

kimxyzeeee Well put

[@kilic_]

Haha 1 year later☺️☺️

[@antonywilliammariadason7021]

Now he actually is haha.

[@francescakyanda9182]

Yes he is

[@bebbaheef]

Flatulence The Unending um

[@failedGraphics]

I've made a habit of watching this video before every semester.

[@ExpertmurfPlayz]

I can relate to the whole 'Being pumped at the start and losing motivation as time goes on thing' so much 😂😂

[@aleksandarglisic9146]

#1 Know what materials you need up front. #2 Put your professors office hours on your calendar. #3 Establish a good study location right away. #4 Introduce yourself to your professors.

[@StEvUgnIn]

lol

[@CoMmAxFiCtioN]

M. Abdullah Aslam lol my social anxiety would never

[@mariamacruz107]

Almaha - Fr, I wouldn’t even dare

[@leonardodavinci4259]

I think this guy deserves a good will prize or something.

[@sparklewell]

Adding another tip here - learn how to study alone first, before using study groups. Understanding what “self techniques” that really works for you before being distracted by the habits from others will keep you motivated through the challenging streaks.

[@silkenosrs]

i wanna be such a geek

[@othgyal12]

mee tooo

[@MrVibriocholerae]

lets gooooo im going to become the biggest geek this semester xD

[@handsomesquidward8686]

Sinisteo Soxilano Same for most of my school year,I had really no motivation and did little homework and no study. But about a month before the summer tests I started doing a ton of study and now my friends think im a massive nerd😂😂

[@aleksiajankovic9886]

@@MrVibriocholerae well 3 years later..... sid u live up to ur expectations

[@pobierac2183]

@Dan Crockett @othgyal12 @handsome Squidward Come on dudes, tell us whether you become geeks xd

[@TheBluePandorica]

This was exactly the kind of video I was hoping for soon. Thanks a lot Thomas! This was like an ultimate back 2 school video.

[@katiealexander9909]

The tip about an office hours Google calendar was extremely helpful; thank you so much!

[@kara85100]

That moment when you're about to start your first semester and you're scared as hell. Help.

[@ArtsyAngelee]

Definitely following these tips can help. Feeling like you're prepared and ready for what comes next can calm you down a great deal. You can also reach out to someone. A friend, one of your parents or post on a school message board. Just say honestly "I'm quite nervous about starting my first semester". But it's OK and normal to be scared right now. Just know that once the first two weeks pass by and you start to settle in to the class and schedule, you'll realize that it's not that bad at all.

[@itspricila]

Karina Daniela Barrios Morales fall 2016 was first time in college ever ! I was scared like you at first but to be honest it was not that hard. In college students are more independent so you have to make sure you have time to study and complete assignments in time. Buy a planner or download a calendar app so you can keep track of due dates. Good luck !!

[@julesrenard9479]

Twas fine wasn't it ?

[@tanyaartiaga117]

I just finished my first semester 😭. That was tiring 😂.

[@EpochIsEpic]

@@tanyaartiaga117 Get ready for the next one

[@justinabenson7229]

5 years later. I'm back here

[@GuyInArmor]

Incoming freshman, new to college moving in on the 19th! Just added my classes to my Google calendar and mapped out where my classes are and added the attachments to the calendar too! Just made my life a thousand times easier by taking the time to do this now! Thanks so much for these ideas

[@valeriehenneberger25]

This channel is a lifesaver. I'm back at college and in my second semester of the first year and I have another 6 years to go after that. I'm sure that the content of this channel will be keeping me going for the next few years. Thanks so much for your time and the effort you put into helping other students out.

[@zeo1087]

"know when and where your classes are" Me during Covid with completely asynchronous classes and not even the bare minimum human contact that zoom classes give you: :)

[@danielaleal1252]

found this video on only days prior to starting my new college semester. thanks so much, I just subscribed, great advices

[@tundranone8366]

This is the second time if not more that I've immediately benefited from your advice. I think you got me through Fall 2018 semester. Now I'm using your older videos to prepare for Spring 2019 semester. You've been so helpful to me! Thank you!

[@Bellaskye779]

an app that i like to use for my scheduled classes is my study life.. im new to the app but i enjoy it so far and has helped me get familiar with my schedule before my semester starts in a few days

[@dariuswoods4597]

I love this, and I love your channel! I am a college student who stumbled across this channel, and it has helped me so much. I recently finished reading the power of habit, and I can attest to the quality of this book. It has been one of the most life changing books I have read thus far. Using the combined techniques from both this channel and that book, I have been able to maintain a 4.0 gpa up to this date.

[@jacquelynbennett6643]

THANKS MAN! You have been keeping me motivated and going this year of uni, super appreciate what you do!!!! :D this is the best channel!

[@kitdesigns5219]

I love this channel. Not only is it informative but it's also inspiring, to put effort into my habits and so on. I'm going to be starting college this year and I'm really nervous that I'll have trouble so I like watching these videos to make sure I'm as prepared as possible before I move in.

[@sethrah6384]

A new semester is coming to us. And I need these tips.

[@AymaneAbaich]

I really love seeing your videos in my subscription feed they really excite me. Love your work!

[@alechubbard9196]

I made the Dean's list at my school and was damn happy about it. This guy is writing books, running a KZbin channel with 618k subs, and kicking ass all while on a sleep schedule. There's a fine line between motivation and simply understanding that some people are just better at life. You're one of those people, Thomas. Kudos to you. Seriously though... videos are great. Keep up the good work, man.

[@umayusu]

My new favourite channel. You're so scientific in how you do things- I love it!

[@SomethingNick]

We started a new semester two weeks ago in Australia, but this was helpful thanks!

[@Pilotguy788]

Thank you so much Thomas!! Great vid. Wonderful tips. Now I'm ready for this next quarter :)

[@mikedineeeeen]

Charles Duhigg's book is a great read and has paired really nicely with the newly renamed "Habitica" (which I have now become addicted to thanks to you). Thanks for the tips, Thomas!

[@LittleMissTiff]

I've only watched a couple videos of yours now, and they're so great like wow thank you so much for making these! So clear and helpful while still entertaining to watch!

[@ellis1034]

I wish I could personally thank you for keeping me in mes school because I was so close to giving up last year but you made me find my motivation again, keep it up!

[@Karidiane97]

Thank You for putting subtitles! Because as a not native English speaker, sometimes I find difficult to understand what people are talking about, and subtitles are very useful in these cases.

[@djkxmdkxmxhxbj]

You made me feel better about school

[@TirzaHaasnoot]

Thank you so much for this video! It really came exactly on time, I got the weekly email from you with this video on the morning that I was sitting down to look into how my next semester would go. I wrote the big points down, and then went on to do every single one of them. It really helped stress less about my new semester, so thank you! As a result I also managed to get back on track to learning an hour a day, also as a preparation for the new semester. I'm doing a Coursera course on learning, and that, along with your video's and book is helping me a lot! You are absolutely amazing, thank you for getting me through my degree!

[@IdaAxoxo]

THANKS!! Needed this!! :) I can't wait for a new LMM podcast!

[@spirititi2303]

You are my hero, I love you and your videos! I regret I didn't came across your channel a year earlier, because I messed up my first year at uni, but you helped me sooooo much for my retakes!!! All your tips are very effective and usefull, I love you. thank you so much, coming from a French student, studying in Belgium ! (Yes your video's help people all over the world! You're awesome! )

[@Happilyhaleyafter]

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for.

[@hrperformance]

Thomas you are an absolute diamond! Many thanks from UK

[@xchurricane]

These tips really do help! I followed some of them last year when I had a super tough load of classes and I got my best gpa yet! I'm definitely going to try using google calendar this year as well.

[@Sachinaball]

Can I just say this dude is an amazing person for doing these types of videos! Great job bro!!!

[@LinzeyLiNO]

i'm so glad that i found your channel just 2 weeks away from my new semester you don't know how much you have inspired me and motivated me thank you sooo much have you done a video on how to organize notes in college because notes can kind of get all over the place...i'll keep sharing your videos they are really beneficial !!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks again

[@Mia-cj6uj]

been watching you're channel for a year now and you've helped me like crazy bro

[@lozicus]

Loved this video! I'm taking 6 classes this semester which is double what I had last semester, can't afford to be disorganised. This channel is so great :)

[@Jasminebaker965]

This was such a helpful video, THANKS!

[@adrianmerino8314]

Nice timing. My semester starts this Monday and you've just made this video in the best possible time in the best possible manner. Now i'm hyped up this sem. I Hope that you make videos regarding thesis Thomas Frank. It would be really helpful just like this video. Thank you!

[@cbeadlesheart]

What a perfect video! Every time I start out thinking "I will be different this time, doing my homework straight away, concentrating more, asking for help..." and it never happens!

[@reemsaif1736]

Your videos are life saving. Thanks

[@FayeGwenn]

I love your channel, this has been so helpful throughout my school year.

[@sarahockerman8031]

this is my third semester of college and it will be the most difficult. I'm taking more classes and I've definitely heard not many positive things about my teachers. Thank you for the organizational tips. I believe it will really help me.

[@andrijanasnuff5665]

I'm so glad I found this channel 3 weeks before my next semester. Thanks a lot :3

[@worthburroughs7726]

your organizational powers inspire me everyday sir

[@paivinyousif6145]

one of the youtubers that actually deserves watching. keep going you are amazing👌

[@sadiamumtahnarhidi9954]

Thank you so much for the tips! I'm starting a new semester next week and this really helped :)

[@creepycrawly101]

I’m doing my last two (optional) years of high school to do my A levels and here I am watching college videos at 4 am in the morning trying to prepare myself for university after I finish! Lol!

[@prabeshadhikari1083]

I have been watching you for a long time but today I am here because my college advisor posted this video on canvas. Love your content!

[@phinehastaylor6964]

Yes! Someone else understands the "focused work vibe"! Thanks so much for this video; subscribed!

[@readingisbelieving5248]

I'm a new subscriber and I'm so glad I found you! You're so informational :)

[@melissaayala9454]

I like to go to the library and take pictures of the books. I invested on an iPad with 32 gb, so I can have a lot more memory for all the pictures I need to take. Plus I see which professor I can get away without need it the book. Professors will never state you don't need the book and always require the latest edition.

[@AlexHardy316]

Good luck y'all this year !

[@esoterica830]

thanks man, freshmen here about to start mid year, this was really helpful

[@ChryslerPTCruiser]

your videos are so helpful! I'm going into my freshman year of university and I want to make it a smooth transition :)

[@jennyrodriguez7166]

Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom! I’m going to follow your recommendations!! Thanks soo much!!!

[@jatin_jangra]

my semester is gonna start this week and, you helped me a lot thank you for your tips

[@DesireeDrake]

I'm loving all the videos so far.

[@oAPXo]

Starting my first year of college soon, this is helping me out. I'll be watching more!!

[@Toffnm]

I AM READY! (you know, after a bit more planning)

[@fxxdin]

Thanks for the great pointers man.

[@b0ssvevo603]

I watched this video just before this semester it really helped thank you

[@yeremybrenes1234]

I´d like to put emphasis on your great work in this video. It has been son productive for me. The next year I´ll beging studying at college and I am really nervous. Nice video!!

[@MattyTheFatty]

I downloaded a bunch of your videos on my computer thanks! Your channel is great.

[@maurotorres1211]

I love all your videos. And I loved the Castlevannia poster there!

[@othgyal12]

aahhhh THANK YOU FOR THIS!! I'M gonna do the study area thing I hope it helps with the set timing!!

[@hannahbrickner6047]

One habit I have started this new semester is watching one of these videos every morning after breakfast while I finish my coffee. Really helps me feel confident going into the day. Also, I have a suggestion for a video if it doesn't already exist. Now that organizations are starting to meet, I'm having a tough time picking which ones to join while still leaving time for homework and other things. Between church groups, a couple research opportunities, geology club, environmental service club, and many more, I just want to do all of it. How can I choose which ones to commit to and how much can I do to still maintain balance in my schedule?

[@ChrisTheFields]

As someone who will be starting college next month, this advice really helps, even if I've heard it before. Please keep helping me along the year.

[@CrashTestDummyPro]

if your looking for help with scholarship check out college101u.com they have a whole section on there website called scholarship 101

[@xRruiiz]

You talk very good, I'm not good enough with oral comprehension but i understand all your videos and they are very helpful, In a month i start my first year in the university so thanks (I'm from spain)

[@Karidiane97]

Oh paisanos! Dónde empiezas?

[@xRruiiz]

RollLikeABuffalou ESI de Ciudad Real

[@orekihoutarou6107]

Impresionante, estudio español. Cómo fue mi español? (Awesome, I study spanish. How was my Spanish?)

[@xRruiiz]

Kirito Kazuto Bueno hahaha

[@lolasogm]

lol that e-mail though

[@Thomasfrank]

lolasogm Chad McSwaggerson isn't afraid to be honest

[@normcorecook3069]

Your videos are great, keep it up!

[@leticiasantana8402]

those are like the best tips ever. my new semester just started in high school and i did the library thing and got a 95 in a subject that I got 55 before

[@xXUniqueSunRaysXx]

you don't know how much I needed this..thanks buddy

[@blumkeet]

Yeah, totally ready for 2016 spring semester

[@ThisisAidan]

I love your videos! Am I the only one that starts out a new semester without any motivation? I literally choose the night before whether or not to drop my classes (we have until the day the class starts before it effects financial aid) and I always choose to keep them. I slowly gain motivation and determination as the semester goes on. It always feels like I have just got my footing when the semester ends. I get great grades, I just start off unmotivated.

[@ordinarypen8369]

I wish I found your channel when I was still a college student. But a lot of your content is still applicable in work life so I take advantage of that content.

[@lenchigrass]

Three years later, still good stuff! With school starting in a week, I don't feel bad for binge-watching your videos, haha!

[@anthonysmith553]

Thanks, you videos are helping me prep to get back into school. Your awesome

[@ToxicNeon]

I had such a hard time with finding a study area. Cause if I tried to move my desk around, I'd just gravitate to my bed no matter what and flop in my studies. So I basically had to completely remove access to my bed. So now I just study at a particular table in one of my college libraries. I get sooo much work done now when I'm surrounded by books and other people studying. It really helps me.

[@katysearson]

Thank you!I really appreciate your help!

[@jose.miguel95]

New Semester coming!! thank you !!

[@jamiejohnson1598]

Loving the recent videos!

[@laurenkil]

You are incredibly helpful!

[@BeeplesLife]

Great job! Very helpful!

[@magdastocka]

I love your videos! You are amazing in what you do! :)

[@user-uk9ro4gz5x]

great video topic!! college is approaching more college videos please 😋

[@LaurenBasamot]

Amazing video. So helpful !

[@fiffo416]

awesome article. Simple things, but can be sooo crucial!

[@lilit3552]

Thank you so much for helping us.

[@laurenfleming4044]

Your videos are very motivating and helped me get a 4.0 last semester so thank you! (I'm still in high school though.)

[@SocratesCrime]

I love the fact that you are always sourcing your information and in the process giving out really good reading recommendations. Would you perhaps consider doing a video with book recommendations for students? (Other than your online book of course ;))

[@Thomasfrank]

SocratesCrime definitely! I already have a video with 3 book recommendations, but I plan on doing more in the future. And here's my list of recommended books on my site: collegeinfogeek.com/essential-books-for-students/

[@ayeshatabby1900]

One thing I find really cool is reading through the notes or material of something that is GOING TO BE TAUGHT soon (maybe the next day or week) beforehand really helps while the class is taken. (I'm talking about a new topic or a new lesson). Even if you don't understand shit, just skim through them, and you'll understand better when it is taught. Maybe you can even get interactive in class and answer the professor's questions. 🙂

[@TheJennapink]

I really needed this videos. I'm on my last year of college and I have a big course load. I don't want to burnout either. I also want to take advantage of my status as a student (meaning professionals treat you differently when you're not yet in the field)

[@rubenmorenog7223]

You have good and interesting topics. Great Job!!