Stay organized and on top of courses.
Organization systems to crush school and life
Creating a connected to-do list and assignment tracker
Your brain is for thinking, not for memorizing deadlines
Making your notes creative, interactive, and engaging
Using Notion AI for research and reading lists
Never miss another assignment deadline
Join, manage, or even start a club.
6 traditions to help build a thriving campus community
Exploring the influence of volunteering & giving back
3 guiding principles for founding a new student org
Managing a campus club using Notion
Customizing your club’s workflows
Succeed at your job/internship search.
Class notes to venture votes: Breaking into tech and VC
The guide to job search success (with Notion AI!)
My side hustle: Freelancing PR as a uni student
How to succeed during job recruitment season
How to get the most out of your internship
Unlock your dream job with Notion
Navigate the personal aspects of school.
Developing healthy relationships with roommates
How to reflect when $h!t hits the fan in college
Stay thrifty: 5 strategies for budgeting in college
5 tips for a safe and successful study abroad
First-generation at college: Tips & tricks
Coping with uncertainty in college
<aside> 📓 Additional resources
If you found this guide useful, share with a friend + let us know @NotionHQ on social media!
</aside>
We asked Campus Leaders around the world to share their #1 piece of advice for you - here’s what they had to say
<aside> <img src="https://logos-download.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Carnegie_Mellon_University_Logo_full.png" alt="https://logos-download.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Carnegie_Mellon_University_Logo_full.png" width="40px" /> Chloe Y. | Carnegie Mellon University:
Approach your classes with a sense of curiosity! One heuristic I like for whether I’ve been actively listening is if I leave class with questions or new curiosities in mind. Asking questions keeps me engaged and highlights areas where I can explore further!
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/bdb69227-8ac6-4a80-8046-b21a9652cfb2/png-transparent-unam-hd-logo-thumbnail.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/bdb69227-8ac6-4a80-8046-b21a9652cfb2/png-transparent-unam-hd-logo-thumbnail.png" width="40px" /> Christian L. | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México:
Don't let your tasks go unnoticed in your database! Group them with a Formula and maintain past tasks in the Today section: Example:
(prop("due date") > now()) ? prop("due date") : now()
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/0c79e284-2020-43ed-afaf-d26798cdc527/Seal_of_University_of_California_Berkeley.svg.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/0c79e284-2020-43ed-afaf-d26798cdc527/Seal_of_University_of_California_Berkeley.svg.png" width="40px" /> Johnny Lin | UC Berkeley:
Go to office hours! The course staff and professors are there as a resource for YOU and if you’re stuck on something, it’s a better use of your time seeking for help versus staring at your computer screen stuck 😅
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/f61c6066-fc69-41c3-86cd-416daeb31b3c/Harvard_shield_wreath.svg.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/f61c6066-fc69-41c3-86cd-416daeb31b3c/Harvard_shield_wreath.svg.png" width="40px" /> Liya Jin | Harvard:
In college, prioritization is everything! Keep track of which tasks are most urgent with @remind [date], or with Select dropdowns on a Kanban board (/database).
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<aside> <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png/600px-UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png" alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png/600px-UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png" width="40px" /> Hanya Ansari | UC Santa Barbara:
Use the Pomodoro Method when studying! This is designed to spread out your studying to include 5 minute breaks that increase your overall productivity. There are a bunch of Pomodoro playlists available on Spotify to help keep you on track and provide you with the most productive study session!
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/e15e20c0-c9e3-455f-8644-a53aee6b17e1/Logotipo_de_la_Universidad_del_Norte_1.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/e15e20c0-c9e3-455f-8644-a53aee6b17e1/Logotipo_de_la_Universidad_del_Norte_1.png" width="40px" /> Carolina Arteta | Universidad del Norte, Colombia:
Aprovecha al máximo todas las oportunidades que se te presenten, ya sea asistiendo a clases, participando en actividades extracurriculares o haciendo preguntas a tus profesores. Si te enfocas en tus metas y mantienes una actitud positiva, podrás superar cualquier obstáculo que se presente en el camino. ¡Ánimo y éxito en tu carrera universitaria!
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<aside> <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png/600px-UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png" alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png/600px-UC_Santa_Barbara_Seal.png" width="40px" /> Kishi Kieng | UC Santa Barbara:
It is important to take breaks in between your job and school work. Breaks should be rewarding and help you destress. Find some activities to do during the break that you actually enjoy! For example, I like to set a timer for 20-30 minutes (depending on how much I studied) to just watch some videos.
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<aside> <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/UC_Riverside_seal.svg/1200px-UC_Riverside_seal.svg.png" alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/UC_Riverside_seal.svg/1200px-UC_Riverside_seal.svg.png" width="40px" /> Laya Gosn | UC Riverside:
Organization is one of the most useful traits to help you not miss out on anything important. One of the best ways I organize all my office hour/TA & professor information is by creating a Notion page for each term (ex: Fall 2023) and then having sub-pages for each course where I put down the professors email/office hours, exam dates, etc.
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/ce65db16-56d1-4c1f-bd0f-ff4211b1e497/Harvard_shield_wreath.svg.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/e12b42ac-4e54-476f-a4f5-7d6bdb1e61e2/ce65db16-56d1-4c1f-bd0f-ff4211b1e497/Harvard_shield_wreath.svg.png" width="40px" /> Liya Jin | Harvard:
Figuring out your organization or productivity system is one giant experiment. Don’t be discouraged if your current system isn’t working as well as it could! It’s way more important to always be willing to iterate.
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<aside> <img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACAAAAAgBAMAAACBVGfHAAAALVBMVEVHcEz/3gD/3AD/5AAAS5sAOqJ3lcFEc7AAN5P////M1+fl7fWbtdMVXaWqv9qtdUAeAAAAAnRSTlMArzD6c0EAAACOSURBVHgBY4AARiUYoKaAMRiABFzAwDUUDIzgAlBhKgqkpQOJsjS4gMfMaS0uLpkzWxACM1NcXGaiCCxxcUMV2O7ihSowzaUaRWD37JaTu5EFls28sXMVssCKmWdnVqEIrFwzswtFIHPmPFSB2zOnoQgs6Zu5F1XAfeYTJAGXjhYg8ugAskDhjQgN6gkAAGDFjIClYcHjAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" alt="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACAAAAAgBAMAAACBVGfHAAAALVBMVEVHcEz/3gD/3AD/5AAAS5sAOqJ3lcFEc7AAN5P////M1+fl7fWbtdMVXaWqv9qtdUAeAAAAAnRSTlMArzD6c0EAAACOSURBVHgBY4AARiUYoKaAMRiABFzAwDUUDIzgAlBhKgqkpQOJsjS4gMfMaS0uLpkzWxACM1NcXGaiCCxxcUMV2O7ihSowzaUaRWD37JaTu5EFls28sXMVssCKmWdnVqEIrFwzswtFIHPmPFSB2zOnoQgs6Zu5F1XAfeYTJAGXjhYg8ugAskDhjQgN6gkAAGDFjIClYcHjAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" width="40px" /> Ying Ge | Toronto Metropolitan University:
Don’t know where to start with Notion? Don’t blindly duplicate Notion workspaces – it’s not a one size fits all.
Understand what your current pain points are in your workflow
Try to come up with a solution yourself
Find a Notion resource or template that can compliments what you had in mind.
Always start by defining the problem.
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<aside> <img src="https://logos-download.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Carnegie_Mellon_University_Logo_full.png" alt="https://logos-download.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Carnegie_Mellon_University_Logo_full.png" width="40px" /> Fara Yan | Carnegie Mellon University:
Don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions during class/office-hours, even if they seem small or silly! Developing a strong conceptual understanding is far more valuable than staying silent and appearing smart. Also, others may have the same confusions as you, and they'll be grateful that you had the courage to ask :)
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<aside> <img src="data:image/png;base64,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" alt="data:image/png;base64,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" width="40px" /> Caitlin Le | University of Oklahoma:
Want to organize your school year with Notion, but don’t have time to create your own workspace from scratch? Check out this free university dashboard template and have all your courses, jobs, clubs, applications, and personal tasks in one place!
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