Do you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Do you every wonder why it’s nine o’clock at night and you still haven’t made time for your homework? Everyone is guilty of procrastinating, and everyone has the moments were you would rather do ANYTHING than the thing you’re actually supposed to be doing at that time. Here are a few tips to take control of your time and organize the things that life throws at you:

Thinking Ahead: What Are Colleges Looking for?

It may seem that college is a long time away, and what you are doing in high school now won’t count. This is not true at all. Everything that you do, and don’t do, now will play a part in the decisions that colleges and universities use to select you. Here are some basic things to keep in mind when making your daily decisions in high school:

Extracurricular Activities: Make sure to put in the extra effort to join clubs, sports, organizations or other activities outside the classroom.

Letter of Recommendation: Most four-year colleges require a least one recommendation written by a teacher or adult who knows you well, so make sure to be respectful and represent yourself well. These letters include academic performance, maturity, leadership skills or other qualities besides our grades and test scores.

Standardized Tests: Tests such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP are very important. Visit sites like FACTS.org, so that you can stay aware of practice books and sessions that can prepare you for these tests. College and universities have started setting minimum test requirements. Millions of students take these same tests each year, so “standardized” means that it gives colleges a standard way to evaluate applicants.

Evaluate some of these things:

Academic record

How high is your GPA?

How does your GPA rank among your classmates?

How successful were you on standardized tests?

Difficulty of coursework

Have you taken as many Honors, Advanced Placement, or International? HAve you taken Baccalaureate courses as you could successfully handle?

Have you taken four years of English, Science, Math, and other core classes, or have you only taken the minimum requirements for college?

How does your high school’s academic reputation compare with those of other applicants?

5 Tips to Begin the New Year Right: School Smarts

1. Be Proactive

Everyone has been guilty of procrastinating at some point. Whether you waited to read the last chapter in your textbook until the night before the following day’s test or you tried to finish an essay in the library 30 minutes before class. Use the opportunity of a new year to alter these habits. If your teacher assigns something two weeks before it’s due, work on the assignment a little at a time. If it’s an essay, you can write a paragraph a day and you will be done a week before the deadline. You can then use the extra week to have your parents edit the paper and check for any grammatical or spelling errors so that you can receive a better grade on the assignment.

2. Be Responsible

No one is perfect, so everyone is bound to make mistakes, but it is important to make the necessary effort in school to eliminate any big errors. For instance, if a teacher assigns a homework assignment, make sure to write it down in a planner or notebook. I know that you think you can remember it, but you might find yourself at home wondering what math problems you have to solve, or what chapters you are supposed to read. Make “to-do” lists and stay accountable by checking off assignments once you have completed them.

3. Be Attentive

If you are a daydreamer or you tend to fall asleep in class, use to new year to develop better habits to pay attention and be alert in the classroom. You may have a million things running through your head in class about friends or family, but it’s important to utilize class time to listen carefully and ask necessary questions. You do not want to return home and realize that you do not understand any of the material. Take notes in class and refer to those notes when you are doing your homework.

4. Be Positive

Attitude is so important when beginning a new year because it is your opportunity to set new goals and develop new game plans for success. Remember that “you are the company you keep”, so a key step in staying positive is surrounding yourself with people who have similar goals you do and people who are focused and willing to put in effort in school and other activities. Take some time to write down things that you can do every day to maintain a positive attitude.

5. Be Focused

Don’t ever forget that you’re in school to learn and acquire the good grades that you need to succeed later on in life. Friends are great and a healthy social life is important, but you cannot become so consumed in chatting between classes and talking on the phone all night that you get distracted from homework, classes, and extracurricular activities. Make sure to maintain balance by following step 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well as developing healthy relationships that support a positive school atmosphere.