What do you do to prep for a new semester?

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I'm just curious what everyones pre-semester rituals are...

I, for one, get very neurotic in the middle of August for fall semester. I pay way too much for supplies (index cards, new pens, highlighters, notebooks, etc) because I refuse to wait until they start to go on clearance at Walmart. I buy my books as soon as the list is released and I almost always buy the book new, and never sell them back at the end of the semester. I tab all the chapters in my textbooks so I know exactly where each one starts (which makes it WAY easier to look something up quick). I start reading the first few chapters and get flashcards made of the important/bold terms in the chapters. And I go on YouTube binges and watch anything and everything related to the course(s) I'm taking. Then I look online for any kind of study guide or practice material I can download or print out. I need every advantage I can get since I'm a non-traditional student and I have many other responsibilities in my life other than class.

This semester I'm only taking anatomy. The school that I go to has an insanely intensive anatomy class. It's 4 textbooks (roughly 800 pages a piece and almost $450.00 later) and the average amount of time spent on this class outside of lecture and lab is 40-50 hours a week between open lab, quizzes in the testing center, homework, and studying with or without groups. So it's pretty much a full & part time job all rolled into one 4 credit course. Wish me luck... I'm soooo going to need it.

What do you do to get ready?

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We are kindred spirits you and I. I do everything above, especially buying my books the second the list comes out. I've already gone through 3 packs of post it tabs to mark every chapter in every one of my textbooks, and you better believe I've got all my school supplies organized and ready to go already! My big thing is the second I get my syllabus I write everything down in my planner so I always know whats coming next!

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Hi there! I like to be super organized as well. I already have 10+ apps on my phone to help with studying (a&p, med term, dosage calc, flash card apps) and have printed off some study guides and I just started school yesterday! I think it helps me feel more in control when I am not sure what to expect out of the first few days of school!

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Well, I usually email my instructors and get the book. Then I evaulate whether I will keep the book or sell it back. If I use it for two classes, I keep it. Otherwise I rent it. It also depends on renting versus buying prices. I use bigword to keep cost down.

I also begin reviewing stuff like the first few chapters or NCLEX questions. Sometimes I buy supplies. I also make sure I have my uniform in order and my ID cards (some clinicals require their own IDs). This semester I've looked for goodies like my stethoscope watch or pediatric vital signs ID card.

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Specializes in SCRN.

I wasn't like that while taking pre-requisites, and even right before the first semester of nursing... The first week is always easy, ha-ha... not so much in nursing though... this semester starts on Monday 19 and we have a quiz that day... fast take-off.

So, now I'm totally just like you, neurotic is a good word to describe me among other things. Good studying, everyone!

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My big thing is the second I get my syllabus I write everything down in my planner so I always know whats coming next!

I tried to do that, but for some reason the two professors that teach anatomy at my school like to keep everything top secret. They post nothing online and all assignments are turned in, on paper, via a lock box outside of the lab. From what I hear from former students, if they find anything posted online related to the course (notes, lecture recordings, etc), they will sue you for copyright infringement. This class is no joke.

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Specializes in Maternal Child, Home Health, Med/Surg.

I buy everything the minute it goes on sale. For instance, I have 50 seventy paged notebooks. I buy my books, and review them. Also get the various necessities; flashcards, pens, pencils, lead, erasers, etc.

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I go through my ritual of making my binder (it's a very specific system), make study plans for each subject, buy my books, label everything haha, and plan healthy snacks!

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, Kendel.G:

Would you mind sharing how you make study plans in advance of the class for each subject?

Also, what do you do for your binder int terms of a ritual / system?

Thank you.

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For the pre-nursing classes, I would get the book ASAP, get my supplies (my most fav part), and start reading. With my pre-classes none posted anything online b/c they weren't online classes. It was the old school wait till the first day of class to get the syllabus etc.

For nursing classes, same rituals....book, supplies, read, but I added in marking my planner with the 'due dates' for things. I'd watch anything related to the course on youtube etc.

I graduated in May and sort of miss the whole getting ready. But I'll be taking classes for my BSN in mid-October so I guess I can start back at my ways :)

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I tried to do that, but for some reason the two professors that teach anatomy at my school like to keep everything top secret. They post nothing online and all assignments are turned in, on paper, via a lock box outside of the lab. From what I hear from former students, if they find anything posted online related to the course (notes, lecture recordings, etc), they will sue you for copyright infringement. This class is no joke.

Oh my goodness! That is rough. We have upwards of 17 a&p professors at my school so no information is held hostage. I wonder what their reasoning is behind that?

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I have no idea. A little over a week to go before classes and the suspense is KILLING me.

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