How to Cope with Deadlines

Be aware: know all of your deadlines, dates and times. These will come in handy. Find out what to do if your essay is late, or you can’t be bothered to go to an exam. There are usually procedures to go through, filling in a form and having proof that you were ill (visit a doctor and tell him you feel really sick, he can’t tell if you’re lying). Some unis might just take your word for it that your went to your nan’s funeral, but most will want written proof, like a death certificate or a letter from the priest.

Make sure your tutor knows: let them know out of courtesy, but also because once they know they may be willing to back you up or to actually help. Staying on good terms with your tutor will be helpful in a variety of situations.

Plan ahead: it’s not going to be much good if you did it the night before with a cup of coffee sitting next to you to keep you awake, whether it’s studying for an exam or writing an essay. Do some reading and research your subject, write some notes a week before you plan to write it, write it a week before it’s due, and work on it until you have to hand it in, honing and perfecting your 2000 word masterpiece. Find out what the lecturer is looking for, check out how the uni’s marking system works. ‘Inventive and insightful, extremely well argued and presented. I couldn’t have done better myself’, is an A. ‘Boring, no secondary reading and it’s not even typed’, you’ll be lucky to pass. Find out who’s marking the exam, ask them what they are looking for from you and give it to them.

Prepare, plan and execute. It works for essays, exams and presentations. Unfortunately you will not be able to get out of doing any work at uni, unless of course you’re a lecturer.

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