College Paper Deadlines
How to Get Your Work Done on Time & Ask for Paper Extensions
Deadlines are no big deal in college, right? Wrong. Here's what you should know about deadlines and how to meet them.
There's no doubt about it-- one of the most stressful part of a college or university education is learning how to meet deadlines. Because students have so many classes and so many conflicting responsibilities, the ability to crank out papers and other assignments on a regular schedule is maddening. Here's what you need to know about college deadlines.
The Importance of Deadlines
Why are deadlines important? Why is it so important to get things in by a given date?
Well, look at it this way. It may not seem so urgent to get that paper into your professor by next Thursday. But imagine what will happen in a few years if you fail to get that report into your boss by the deadline. if this is a regular habit, your boss will go ahead and find somebody else who can get that paper in by the deadline.
In other words, learning how to get work done by the deadline is one of the most crucial things you're going to learn in college. You'd better get into this habit now, because it is not going to get easier when you're in the working world-- and the consequences will become more severe.
In the meantime, of course, the consequence of failing to meet deadlines is a lowered grade. But even if few or even no points are deducted when you fail to meet a deadline, it's very important that you turn things in on time anyway. Why? Because nothing says, "I don't care about my work and I don't care about this class," more than failing to turn things in on time. This will make a terrible impression on your instructor, and your instructor's opinion of your professionalism as a student can have a very serious impact on your grade.
So why do instructors care so much about deadlines anyway? The thing is, college instructors and professors are as busy as you are, and quite possibly even more busy. They have many more things to do than simply grade papers. Your instructor sets a certain amount of time aside to work on class papers, and is only able to do this if all or most of the papers arrive on time.
How to Meet Deadlines
In order to meet deadlines, you have to learn to manage your time well. Here are some ideas on how to improve your time management skills.
One important thing you can do to keep on track of deadlines is to plan your paper as soon as the assignment comes in. You might not have time to write the paper immediately. However, you probably do have time to read over the assignment that night. By doing so, you'll be able to figure out how long it will take to complete the assignment, so you won't be stuck with a paper at the last minute that will take you way longer to complete than you thought. This will allow you plan out the necessary steps to take to complete the paper, such as research, reading, and asking the instructor any questions.
If you're having excessive trouble meeting deadlines, visit the college academic assistance center. A counselor can look over your schedule with you and help you figure out how to juggle things, and will be able to give you tips that are specific to your situation.
How to Ask for an Extension
As much as possible, don't. But if you do need an extension, here's how to ask for one.
- Ask for an extension as far ahead of time as possible. Asking for an extension after the deadline has passed is not likely to work. But if you come to the instructor two weeks ahead of time and explain that you have an overabundance of obligations in the near future, your request will be met sympathetically.
- Ask politely. This is a big deal and should be treated as such.
- Be a good student. If you come to class every day, participate, get decent grades, and hand everything else in on time, the instructor probably won't mind being a little lenient with you. If you're a slacker, it will be much harder to ask for an extension.
- Let your instructor know at the beginning of the semester, or as soon as possible, if there are special circumstances in your life that will make it hard to meet your deadlines-- like childcare issues, health problems, or a busy work schedule. Most instructors are more than willing to work with a student who needs help, but they need to know what your needs are up front.
Deadlines are stressful, and nobody likes them. However, they really are one of the most important things you need to learn how to handle as a college student.
