Here’s the thing about college: everything comes at you fast. You move in and all of a sudden you’re bombarded with 10 different syllabi, 80 different campus clubs or organizations to join, a million events to attend and everything else in between. The secret to keeping up with all of it and having the time of your life is organization.

Organizing your college life doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Our easy-to-follow tips and tricks will free up more time in your schedule and help you accomplish your main goal over the next few years: doing well in school and landing a job after graduation. Read on for a few of our favorite college organizational tips!

Class Tips

Before you go any further, you need a planner. I don’t care if it’s a paper one or the calendar app on your phone, but you need something to track all the due dates and friend appointments that the next semester will be full of.

Once you’ve got your planner, put it to work. Collect all the syllabi from classes and assign each class a color. Then, using the corresponding color, write in all the due dates for each class.

Feeling like you can’t take notes as fast as your biology professor can talk? Invest in a recorder and record your lectures. (Or use the voice memo app on your phone.) Record lectures, then go back and listen to prepare for exams or review a specific section of a class.

Your backpack is a vital resource in college. First things first, make sure you invest in one you really love–it’s going to get a lot of miles on it during the next four years! Second, make sure it stays organized. I like the ones that have a laptop sleeve built into it that keeps your laptop separate.  Bottle holders on the outside are also a nice addition so you can carry your coffee and water to class while staying hands-free. This SwissGear backpack meets all of those requirements, plus it includes a padded sleeve for a tablet and interior pockets for pens and your phone.

Money Tips

As much as it doesn’t sound like fun, you need a budget for college. Apps like EveryDollar or YNAB make that process easier than ever before. (And maybe even fun?) Set it up with your income and add in your expenses then track the purchases you make throughout the month.

Take advantage of stores and restaurants that offer student discounts. When I was in college, the Chick-fil-A at the closest mall gave college students with valid ID a free chicken sandwich on Tuesday nights. Amazon offers college students all the benefits of a prime membership at a discounted rate and will start you off with the first 6 months for free! Stores like J.Crew and Aeropostale offer percentage discounts and most Chipotle restaurants will give a free drink with your purchase and a valid student ID.

Dorm Tips

Here are a few of our favorite storage items to keep your dorm organized, functional and a comfortable place to study and hang out.

Maximize the space in your dorm room by investing in a few key storage items. Invest in slim wooden hangers to save space in a small closet. Hanging a t-shirt organizer frees up precious dresser drawer space. An under-the-bed shoe organizer transforms an otherwise unused space. Speaking of all that dresser space, add another dresser so you don’t have to divide space with your roommate. A rolling cart like this one can also double as a nightstand and is a great place to store not only clothes, but also textbooks, school supplies and extras of your favorite shampoo or makeup.

Schedule a day for laundry and hold yourself to it. Have a day during the week where your class gets out early in the afternoon? Make it a recurring date in your planner or digital calendar to hit the laundry room. Don’t wait until Sunday night to make the trek and end up in line with everyone else!

The best tip for organization is planning ahead! There will always be only 24 hours in a day, but you can prioritize and prepare for how you’ll spend that precious time.

Now is the time to start planning and preparing for all the new school year will bring. For more help and inspiration check out our college-ready posts like 13 College Dorm Room Essentials and Our Favorite Organization Solutions for a Small Dorm Room.

Here’s the thing about college: everything comes at you fast. You move in and all of a sudden you’re bombarded with 10 different syllabi, 80 different campus clubs or organizations to join, a million events to attend and everything else in between. The secret to keeping up with all of it and having the time of your life is organization.

Organizing your college life doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Our easy-to-follow tips and tricks will free up more time in your schedule and help you accomplish your main goal over the next few years: doing well in school and landing a job after graduation. Read on for a few of our favorite college organizational tips!

Class Tips

Before you go any further, you need a planner. I don’t care if it’s a paper one or the calendar app on your phone, but you need something to track all the due dates and friend appointments that the next semester will be full of.

Once you’ve got your planner, put it to work. Collect all the syllabi from classes and assign each class a color. Then, using the corresponding color, write in all the due dates for each class.

Feeling like you can’t take notes as fast as your biology professor can talk? Invest in a recorder and record your lectures. (Or use the voice memo app on your phone.) Record lectures, then go back and listen to prepare for exams or review a specific section of a class.

Your backpack is a vital resource in college. First things first, make sure you invest in one you really love–it’s going to get a lot of miles on it during the next four years! Second, make sure it stays organized. I like the ones that have a laptop sleeve built into it that keeps your laptop separate.  Bottle holders on the outside are also a nice addition so you can carry your coffee and water to class while staying hands-free. This SwissGear backpack meets all of those requirements, plus it includes a padded sleeve for a tablet and interior pockets for pens and your phone.

Money Tips

As much as it doesn’t sound like fun, you need a budget for college. Apps like EveryDollar or YNAB make that process easier than ever before. (And maybe even fun?) Set it up with your income and add in your expenses then track the purchases you make throughout the month.

Take advantage of stores and restaurants that offer student discounts. When I was in college, the Chick-fil-A at the closest mall gave college students with valid ID a free chicken sandwich on Tuesday nights. Amazon offers college students all the benefits of a prime membership at a discounted rate and will start you off with the first 6 months for free! Stores like J.Crew and Aeropostale offer percentage discounts and most Chipotle restaurants will give a free drink with your purchase and a valid student ID.

Dorm Tips

Here are a few of our favorite storage items to keep your dorm organized, functional and a comfortable place to study and hang out.

Maximize the space in your dorm room by investing in a few key storage items. Invest in slim wooden hangers to save space in a small closet. Hanging a t-shirt organizer frees up precious dresser drawer space. An under-the-bed shoe organizer transforms an otherwise unused space. Speaking of all that dresser space, add another dresser so you don’t have to divide space with your roommate. A rolling cart like this one can also double as a nightstand and is a great place to store not only clothes, but also textbooks, school supplies and extras of your favorite shampoo or makeup.

Schedule a day for laundry and hold yourself to it. Have a day during the week where your class gets out early in the afternoon? Make it a recurring date in your planner or digital calendar to hit the laundry room. Don’t wait until Sunday night to make the trek and end up in line with everyone else!

The best tip for organization is planning ahead! There will always be only 24 hours in a day, but you can prioritize and prepare for how you’ll spend that precious time.

Now is the time to start planning and preparing for all the new school year will bring. For more organization inspiration check out our college-ready posts. With helpful posts like 13 College Dorm Room Essentials and Our Favorite Organization Solutions for a Small Dorm Room, you’ll be sure to find everything you need for a successful first semester!