Every student probably knows that semesters don't always go as planned. Perhaps you simply enrolled in courses and realized too late that there were far too many, or you took care of your enrollment too late and were therefore unable to take all the courses you wanted. There can be many individual reasons why a semester doesn't go so well. That's why the first step to doing better next time is to become aware of your failures from the previous semester. Ask yourself:

• Were there specific factors that contributed to the chaos? Will these occur again next semester, and if so, how might you handle them better this time?
• What counterproductive behaviors do you exhibit, especially during stressful times? What could motivate you not to fall into them again (too often)?

Apart from your individual problems, there are still some things you should keep in mind in general.

Regardless of how the last semester went, the following applies to semester planning: The earlier you know which courses and exams you have to or want to take, the better! In some degree programs, the allocation of course places becomes a real battle. If you were able to get a place early, you are on the safe side. And if you find out later that you have enrolled in the wrong course, don't be afraid to ask the respective lecturer for an unscheduled course change.

When planning your semester, follow the official deadlines. This means both the registration deadlines for modules and the submission deadlines for exams. It is best to keep a written record of these deadlines, for example in an extra calendar just for study organization. Whether analog or digital is a matter of taste - the main thing is that it remains clear and you have all the important deadlines in one place.

In addition to the deadlines, always keep an eye on the corresponding exams that you have to take. Many deliverables need to be completed during the semester, and some are so time-consuming that it makes sense to start working on them early. Having several papers on the table at the same time cannot always be avoided. To file the work sensibly is then the only thing that helps to keep the load as low as possible. This way, you can enjoy the time off (from lectures) as much as possible. Because phases to switch off are important to be able to start again afterwards and should therefore, if possible, be planned directly.

In addition to all this, it is always useful to stay in contact with fellow students. When several brains work together, you reduce the risk of missing information, announcements, or deadlines, and you can also catch up if one of you is not quite on top of things for a short time. Networking, supporting each other and motivating each other in case of doubt is the most important thing to master the sometimes overwhelming daily study routine.

And if you still have problems for which your fellow students don't have a solution, there are numerous counseling services at the TU that can help you. Whether it's the Studentenwerk, the central student advisory service, the psychosocial counseling center, the Career Service or us at the Writing Center.

To find out quickly and purposefully which institution can support you, the advice compass on the TU Dresden website will help.

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Tobias Dittrich

Schreibberatung, Evaluation, Unterstützung Workshoporganisation

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Writing Center of TU Dresden

This post appeared on the occasion of the August 2023 Writing Center Newsletter. This and other newsletter issues are linked in the Writing Center Newsletter Archive.

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Writing Center of TU Dresden

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The Writing Center of the TU Dresden (SZD) supports students and lecturers with offers for planning and writing various texts in studies such as vouchers, protocols, seminar papers and theses and for teaching academic writing in teaching and supervision. All information about offers and possibilities of support can be found in the areas for students and teachers.