By Dr. Erica Warren, Educational Therapist, Executive Functioning Coach and Author
Do you ever walk into a new semester without a clear plan, just hoping everything will work out? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by assignments, unsure how to manage your time, or scrambling to keep up. Many students feel this way because they lack the executive functioning skills that help with planning, time management, and organization. Without a structured approach, college can feel like a constant game of catch-up.
Imagine starting the semester with a solid plan—one that keeps you on top of your assignments and gives you a sense of control. Mastering executive functioning can help turn that dream into reality. In my 25 years as an educational therapist and executive functioning coach, I’ve seen students transition from feeling lost to succeeding with a clear strategy.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you define your approach for college success.
Step 1: Assess Your Executive Functioning Skills
Before building a plan, it’s important to evaluate your current executive functioning skills. Are you struggling with time management? Do you have trouble organizing tasks or remembering important deadlines? Perhaps you are not motivated to do your work until the very last minute.
My Executive Functioning Remediation Assessment (EFRA-2) is designed to assess key executive functions, including working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and higher-level skills like organization, time management, and planning. The detailed report helps identify areas where you may need support and offers strategies for improvement.
Step 2: Find the Best Teachers and Professors
Choosing the right professors can greatly impact your learning experience. Tools like Rate My Professors, Rate My Teachers, and Uloop offer student reviews and ratings for instructors. Use these resources to find professors who match your learning approach and teaching preferences, ensuring a better academic experience.
Step 3: Sign Up for One Extra Course Each Semester
One strategic way to set yourself up for success is by signing up for an extra course each semester. This gives you the flexibility to explore additional subjects and, if needed, drop the course that doesn’t resonate with you without falling behind. It provides some breathing room and opens up opportunities to discover new areas of interest.
Step 4: Find the Support You Need
College campuses often offer a wealth of resources, but it’s important to tap into the right ones. Seek out tutoring centers, writing labs, and academic advising to enhance your academic journey. If you need more personalized guidance, an executive functioning coach can help you develop stronger time management, organizational, and study skills. My Executive Functioning Coaching Directory connects students with professionals who specialize in these areas.
Step 5: Define Your Note-Taking Approach
Effective note-taking is essential for academic success. Think about how you want to capture and organize information during lectures. Here are some options:
- Digital Note-Taking: Tools like Goodnotes, Notability, and OneNote allow you to search your notes, access notes on multiple devices, pull in your teacher’s slides and make additions directly in the margins, record lectures, color code, and add images, to name a few.
- AI-Powered Notes: Tools like iVVi enable you to record lectures, find and define key terms, and create mind maps that help visualize the material for more efficient studying.
- Handwritten Notes: Writing by hand can boost memory retention and help with comprehension. If you prefer this method, use notebooks designed for efficient organization. If you want to find a tool that combines the handwriting feel with digital features, consider Remarkable2
Choose the note-taking method that fits your best ways of learning and makes reviewing and studying easier.
Step 6: Invest in the Best Study Planner
After you’ve settled on a note-taking method, managing your time efficiently is crucial. One of the best tools for this is Shovel, which helps break down assignments into manageable chunks, estimate how long each task will take, and create a realistic study schedule. Shovel allows you to stay organized, prevent last-minute cramming, and ensure that you’re fully prepared for exams and deadlines.
Step 7: Consider Other Great Technology Tools
The right technology can streamline your academic tasks and improve efficiency. Here are some excellent tools:
- Scrible: A research and writing platform that allows you to annotate, save, and organize online research materials.
- Speechify: A text-to-speech tool that helps you listen to your notes, articles, or textbooks, making it easy to review information on the go.
- Google Drive: A cloud-based platform for storing, sharing, and organizing all your academic files.
- Google Docs: This tool allows for seamless collaboration, and it includes a Voice Typing feature that enables you to dictate your assignments or notes. Additionally, Google Docs offers a variety of extensions that can assist with citations, grammar, and more.
By following these steps, you can maximize your executive functioning skills and set yourself up for success in college. With the right approach, you’ll be well-equipped to excel in your academic journey.
If you are looking for other free tips and strategies, consider listening to my Executive Functions Brain Trainer Podcast.
All the best, Dr. Erica Warren
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