Thursday, 1 May 2014

Coursework deadlines

After perfecting the art of procrastination, it's amazing how quickly coursework deadlines appear.  

When you get your assignment due dates at the start of the trimester they seem light-years away.  Then, as the week number of the academic calender hits double figures you can hear the galloping sounds of deadlines fast approaching.

This May was no different for me.  Just when you decide to get the books out, energise the laptop and clear the cats of the desk - the snooker World Championships decide to start!  Now I'm no snooker fanatic but the hypnotic appeal of watching two grown men in bow ties is a surprisingly difficult urge to resist.  Particularly when faced with a 3,000,000 word report! (Slight exaggeration)





The key is to try and and ensure you stay ahead of the game.  Forward planning is the ultimate aim but can often be easier said than done.  I created a plan of dates and a list of actions against them.  I'm not sure it was entirely successful but having a clear picture of the key dates did help deal with the end of trimester stress.

One of main differences between University and College is how rigid the submission dates are.  There did appear to be some leeway at College whereby people knew that if they submitted late they more than likely still be fine whereas at University the dates are set in stone and penalties apply for late submissions.  I see this as a positive thing as it focuses the mind when you don't have that safety blanket.