Off campus living is great, but when you live off-campus there are definitely some life-style adjustments that need to be made; especially when it comes to studying. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when living in student apartments is obsessing over the newfound freedom from your parents, or RA’s, and end up forgetting your responsibilities as a student.  Now as a young adult, you’ll have even more responsibility and one of those in college is homework.

Here are five great ways to stay on top of it and secure your A’s (or C’s) at the end of the semester:

1. Get a Calendar:  Not only should you be putting your assignments in your phone, you should be writing it down on a physical calendar on the door to your bedroom or on your desk, in order to plant the idea of getting your homework done in your brain; like Inception! Most studies have found that ideas, thoughts and other subject matter are more likely to stick if you write it down on paper, plus if it’s up on a board in your apartment you’re going to see it.

2. Apartment Parties: First night in your new pad is going to be a fun one to remember, but it’s easy to get carried away in the partying mayhem. Don’t forget that you have classes tomorrow that you’ll probably have to be up early for them! Make sure you plan ahead and maybe complete some homework assignments before you start partying to insure they’ll be ready to turn in when they’re due.

3. Study Parties: Invite your friends over to party and maybe do a little homework too. When you throw a homework party it can be a very productive and enjoyable thing to do, as long as the only stipulation for the invitation is to get the homework done first. Go on ahead and serve some drinks, food and play music that doesn’t inhibit your studying capabilities. This will lead to a fun atmosphere, and an even better time!

4. Complete All Assignments: This sounds like a daunting task, but at the end of the semester it always comes down to a few points that decide your final grade. These few points may not seem like much at the beginning of the semester, but you’ll be pretty pissed towards the end of the semester when you end up one point shy of passing and have to explain to your parents why you’ll be taking this class again next semester.

5. Go To Class: After all, this is why we’re enrolled in college! Don’t get us wrong, it’s ok to miss a day here and there, but skipping class too often can lead to problems like when your professor changes the due date on assignments, but doesn’t email it out. Take it from us here at CSA; this tip will help you not only with your homework grade, but your overall grade as well.