Study Toolkit

Start improving your time management, study strategies, and math skills today! Find resources that were designed by our staff to help you succeed.

 Time Management Resources

Time management and organization skills are the hallmarks of academic success. The use of proven strategies such as planners and calendars, weekly schedules, and to-do lists helps students to manage academic responsibilities, build persistence, curb procrastination and ease stress.

Weekly To Do List Template (PDF)
Weekly To Do List Template (Google Sheet)
 

Creating your Weekly To Do List

Create daily goals for tasks you need to accomplish. Use with your Semester Calendar to know what assignments you have coming up. Use with your Weekly Schedule to know what days you have the time to complete your goals.

  1. Write: For each course, write down the work you need to do this week. Include things like emailing professors or going to office hours.
  2. Assign: Go through each task in the left column and assign it the day during which you will complete it.
  3. Use: Use the list when you sit down to do your work each day.
  4. Update: Update it by crossing o items as you complete them and moving items you don’t complete on their assigned day to another day.

Questions to Consider:

  • What days do you want to go to the office hours? 
  • What days do you have the most time allocated for studying on your weekly schedule? 
  • How do you prioritize your tasks? Due date? Difficulty? 
  • Are there small but important tasks that you want to be sure you remember? 
  • Do you have the time you need to be able to accomplish what you want? Be realistic.

Weekly Schedule Template (PDF)
Combined Weekly Schedule & To-Do List (Google Sheet)

Building your Weekly Plan

Plan your time and accomplish weekly goals and tasks. Use it with your Weekly To Do List and the Semester Calendar.

  1. Consider
    What is the best time and place for you to get work done, and when are you most alert?
    Are there classes you need to use the professor's office hours and/or open lab hours? (put these on the schedule)
    Are there assignments that are due on a weekly basis that you could work on at the same time every week? (you can add these as specific tasks during your week)
    When do you usually socialize?
  2. Schedule
    Schedule classes and labs, work, club meetings and events, completing assignments, necessities such as sleeping, eating, and showering, socializing with friends, leisure activities, and downtime. 
  3. Set Goals
    Based on the goals you set for yourself using your To Do List, consider the time you have and set reasonable goals.
  4. Use It
    Keep your Weekly Schedule visible as a regular reminder and use it when creating your To Do List. 
  5. Pay Attention
    Pay attention to how much you are trying to accomplish in one day. Be realistic.
  6. Make Changes
    Consider how often you need to check in to make changes to your Weekly Schedule that reflect how you are actually spending your time.
  7. Reflect
    What "extra" time do you have? How do you want to use this time?
    Are you spending your time in a way that aligns with your goals and what is important to you?
    Do you prefer a paper copy with you at all times or an electronic version? Figure out what works best for you and stick to it. 

Fall 2025 Semester Calendar 8.5 x 11 (B&W)
Fall 2025 Semester Calendar 8.5 x 11 (Color)
Fall 2025 Semester Calendar 11 X 17 (B&W)
Fall 2025 Semester Calendar 11x17 (Color)
Timeless Semester Calendar (Google Sheet)

Follow these 5 easy steps to build your semester calendar
  1. Locate all syllabi and course outlines
    Look through syllabi and outlines from all classes.
  2. Record due dates
    Exams, quizzes, projects, presentations, reading, labs, homework, papers, etc.
  3. Note important semester dates
    Breaks, finals week, last day to add/drop classes, last day to withdraw, etc.
  4. Record the extras
    Academic advisor meetings, group or club meetings, campus events, etc.
  5. Bonus: Color Code Classes, assignments, and meetings
    Pair the color on the calendar with the weekly schedule, to-do list, and folders/ notebooks for each class.

Questions for reflection:

  • Look at your workflow. Are there any patterns or sequences to your workload?
  • Find challenges and plan ahead. Are there weeks that have an overload of major assignments or tests? Are there assignments that require a lot of planning, time, and attention?
  • Adjust your schedule to accommodate workflow. Are there adjustments you should make to your weekly schedule to work through your semester calendar?

 Course Management

Specific tools created to help you manage your classes.

 Study Skills Resources

The Study Process is a systematic method of study that helps you engage in an active, meaningful approach to learning. The process helps you to understand what studying truly involves by identifying what to study, how to study, and when to study.