How many hours are there in a week?

How much time does college require?

How can I fit college into my already busy life?

A week has 168 hours (7 days X 24 hours/day). 

That is not a lot of time, especially if a person’s life is already busy and the person is trying to fit college into that life.  This is a major barrier to student success: not having enough time for college.

College requires more than class time.

Colleges tell students that they should plan to spend two (2) hours outside of class for every hour that they spend in class. 

 

If a student is taking one class (3 credit hours), the student should figure on spending nine (9) hours on college.  If a student is attending full time (12 credit hours), that student should be studying at least 24 hours per week! (see below) 

Credit Hours (Hours in class per week)	Study time (Study hours per week)	Total time (Time needed for college)
3	6	9 hours per week!
6	12	18 hours per week!
9	18	27 hours per week!
12	24	36 hours per week!
15	30	45 hours per week!

A student CAN fit school into life!

If a student wants to complete college, the student can find a way, but it probably will not be easy.  Here are some things a student can do to manage time better: 

 

1. Prioritize your life

a.      Decide which priorities are absolutely essential and which ones are not.

b.      If college is a high priority, the you will need to look at some of the other things that you do and suspend doing the nonessential or lower priority activities until school breaks or until school is finished.  (Do you really have to thoroughly clean the house, or your car, every week?  Do you really have to play cards, watch American Idol, or run a marathon every week?)

 

2. Make a weekly schedule for yourself
   1. Include ALL life activities in the schedule

                                                              i.      Work hours, school time (class hours AND studying time), family time, laundry and other essential activities time, etc.

                                                            ii.      Sleeping time (DO NOT short-change yourself here!), hygiene time, personal time, etc.

2. Do not underestimate how much time each activity will take

                                                              i.      Laundry will probably take longer than 30 minutes a week, for example

                                                            ii.      If you are used to sleeping 6-8 hours per night, do not reduce this number and think that you will be able to get by on less sleep

3. Make sure you schedule some time for yourself

                                                              i.      A schedule that includes no personal time can work for a few weeks but not for an entire semester

 

3. Follow your schedule for a week, then make adjustments as needed

If during the first two weeks of college you find that you will not have enough time for school and life, TALK TO YOUR ADVISOR.  You and your advisor might be able to work out a college schedule that will work for you.  You might choose to drop one course or make some other adjustment. 

Remember: it is better to take and pass three classes than to enroll in four classes and then fail or withdraw from one or more classes!

You will also benefit from having a personal calendar in which you keep all of your appointments, classes, and activities.  This will help you stay organized and not miss important events.  It will also keep you from over-booking or double booking yourself!

 

You will have to say NO to requests.  Again, college takes time, and if you do all of the things others ask you to do, you will not have enough time for college.

 

The counselors in the Counseling Office can help with other time management strategies, so please take advantage of their services.

 

Last updated 06-14-10