Balancing Academics with Co-Curricular Activities
8/24/2009
A college education extends beyond classes, books and research papers; some lessons are learned in the choir, on the basketball
court or in residence halls. Co-curricular activities offer students a chance to develop leadership, communication and time
management skills.
The secret to maximizing your college experience is finding the right balance between academics and activities, says Dr. Tami
Eggleston, associate dean and professor of psychology at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill.
A significant number of McKendree students are involved in athletics, music, theater, debate, student government, sororities
and fraternities, honor societies and a wide variety of clubs and organizations. Eggleston believes they are an integral part
of campus life.
“Students gain important experiences when they are involved in campus activities or community service,” she said.
She leads teamwork and performance enhancement sessions with several McKendree sports teams so she knows first-hand the challenges
that student-athletes face in balancing studies with activities. Eggleston believes the challenges are worth it, however,
as students who are involved in at least one co-curricular activity tend to perform better academically and enjoy their college
experience more than those who do not get involved.
She offers active students the following advice:
Manage your time. In high school, parents, teachers, coaches and band directors were more likely to remind you when assignments were due and
help you manage your time. In college, you must learn to do this yourself. Ideally, you should schedule regular daily study
times. If you are involved in an activity that takes up a lot of time, such as sports or music, it is essential to plan ahead.
Get a digital or paper planner and use it!
Don’t procrastinate. Most people procrastinate to some degree but a busy student has to work on avoiding this. Procrastination will lead you to
be more stressed than necessary, fall behind in your work, and turn in less than desirable projects. Take big projects and
break them into smaller pieces. Rather than cramming for an exam in one night, spread your studying in smaller time frames
over the week.
Get organized. “Work smarter, not harder” applies especially to busy students. Save time by using a separate notebook for each class and
keeping note cards, highlighters and other resources easily available. Don’t waste valuable minutes of study time trying to
locate a book, notebook or highlighter. Organize your book bag and desk to maximize your study time.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Some students come to a university primarily to study, go to graduate school or pursue their dream job. Others come primarily
to play soccer or the trumpet. The most successful ones take their classes seriously yet find time to discover and participate
in other activities, Eggleston said.
Taking part in a variety of activities and opportunities helps you not only learn and grow as an individual but also builds
your resume for the future. Consider what you want your resume to look like after you graduate.
“A basketball player who maintains a 3.5 grade point average looks very impressive and can talk about the valuable social
and personal skills gained by being on a team,” Eggleston said. “An even more impressive resume would show this same basketball
player served as past president of a club or organization, or did some research with a professor.”
Learn to say “no” and “help.” Be honest with what you can handle. You may not be able to go out with friends on Friday night if you need to do homework.
“A student who is an officer in three clubs may not be able to write for the school newspaper as well, even though they would
enjoy the opportunity,” said Eggleston.
“At McKendree we have many resources for students, such as a writing center, career services, tutoring, counseling, study
groups, spiritual activities and other support services. However, you have to be willing to ask for help. If you feel like
you are falling behind in your classes, you need to ask for help – and the earlier, the better.
“The skills students learn in college to balance academics with co-curricular activities will help them balance their lives
after they graduate.”
-McK-
McKendree University is ranked among the top 10 percent of "Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the nation and in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” category by U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges 2010." The Lebanon, Ill., campus is 25 miles from downtown St. Louis. McKendree also has campuses in Louisville and Radcliff, Ky., and offers programs at Scott Air Force Base and other sites throughout Illinois and Kentucky.
