Carrying the Weight of the Work

By MEAGHAN MACDONALD


Now that classes are in full swing, the students of the Advanced Studies Program are feeling the weight of the work load.

Essays, readings, projects, and other general work consume a lot of time at the ASP, and pose challenges for all of the students in the program. With expectations consistently increasing, students have had to adjust and learn how to rise to the occasion.

“They expect so much more from us here than they did at my high school, and we have so much more work. Procrastination is not an option here and I really have to manage my time,” said Haley Scavotto, a student in Changing The World.

Time management is the key to dealing with the heavy workload, according to a student survey. Planning the amount of time necessary to complete all of the required work and then ensuring that it gets done stands as the core idea of time management.

According to a survey sent out to all the students of the ASP conducted by the Mass Media class, 54% of students spend between one and two hours doing homework outside of study hours. Clearly, most students need to find other time in the day to get work done so that study hours are not as stressful and they can be ready for class the following day.

Even when students believe that study hours will be enough time get all of their work done, it remains important to use that time wisely and not get side-tracked.

“You have to remove yourself from distractions,” said Linden Rayton, intern for the Marine Biology class.

Distractions are the worst for a student trying to manage their time management. It is hard to focus on doing work when there are other options that are more entertaining. According to the survey, 80% of students are distracted by Facebook among other social networking sites while they are working.

Although many students enjoy being in the library and common rooms while they study with friends, this can also pose significant distractions that are not always helpful. The survey showed that 50.6% of students think that people distract them from their work the most. At the same time, 45.3% of students admitted to frequently studying in groups anyway.

The Mass Media survey said that 39.5% of students spend most of their study hours in the library. This could be seen as a breeding ground for distractions, but Mr. Barry says that the students of ASP are using it very wisely.

“[The students] have demonstrated courteous behavior, and I've been amazed by their ability to focus on the tasks at hand,” said Head Librarian Kevin Barry.

Heavy work loads can be very manageable if they are taken seriously. Although different people have their own unique study habits, there are some methods that work for most people.

“When I was in college, if I knew that I had a lot of work, I'd start it as soon as possible,” said Ms. Rayton. In doing likewise, students can avoid leaving work for the last minute and hopefully save themselves from unnecessary stress and mediocre work.