Grad school can be a hectic transition, especially for those moving or returning after several years. As someone who was still unpacking during the first week of classes, I understand the stress of balancing my academic and personal life. Staying organized can make that transition much smoother, but there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. I often use different organizational tools depending on the class or task at hand. Here are my top three recommendations that I hope will help make your transition into grad school a little easier
1. Tasks for Canvas
Although MBKU uses Blackboard, the **Tasks for Canvas** Google Chrome extension is
compatible with it as well. It helps you keep track of upcoming assignments by displaying a
progress wheel directly on your dashboard, and you can even customize the colors to match your
preferences. Once you submit an assignment, Tasks for Canvas automatically marks it as
complete, making it easy to stay on top of your workload.
2. Google Calendar
With Google Calendar, you can create recurring class schedules instead of entering them
manually each week in a physical planner, and you can set them to end when the quarter is over.
You can also add tasks and check them off once they're completed. Tasks don’t have to be
strictly assignments like those on Blackboard; they can be recurring reminders to pay rent or
phone calls to set up appointments you’ve been putting off. Adding the Google Calendar app as a
widget on your phone makes it easy to glance at upcoming classes, exams, and deadlines
throughout the day!
3. Notion
Notion is another excellent digital planning tool that offers various free templates available to
help you organize your classes, assignments, notes, and personal goals in one place. If you're not
a fan of Google Calendar's built-in color options, you can even sync your Google Calendar with
Notion and customize the appearance to better fit your style.
While a traditional physical planner is always a great option, grad school sometimes calls for a
few extra organizational tools. It can feel overwhelming trying to keep track of everything at
once, but you don't have to figure it all out immediately. Experiment with different methods until
you find a system that works best for you. What works for someone else may not work for you—
and that's completely okay. The goal isn't to have the "perfect" planner; it's to find an
organizational system that helps you succeed.
Good Luck!