Over the last few months I have traveled, done my best to experience the local culture, both in Madrid and the other cities I have visitied and shared many of my experiences with you. However, the reason I am in Spain is to study. Yes I know, it was a bummer for me too.

Let me start off by explaining the differences of a college education at North Dakota State versus here at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M).

NDSU

Attendance is mandatory, even when it isn’t you will not succeed if you skip class on a regular basis.

Finals are the most stressful time of the semester, even after doing 1-3 homework assignments per class per week (at least), going to class and taking some form of notes, you are still uneasy. You constantly have homework and deadlines, as mentioned, and tests every three weeks or so. Your social life usually comes with a trade off.

UC3M

For courses meeting twice per week, there are two different types of classes: lecture and magistral. Lecture is optional, though suggested, and usually combines two or more sections of the same class. (Classmates are also much more willing to share their notes with you.) Magistral is a smaller group designed to go more in depth, though usually ends up completely off topic, in my experience.

Finals are taken at the end of January, after a relaxing Christmas break and two weeks of in-class preparation, with the option to retake them at the end of spring semester. It is a nearly stress and pressure-free atmosphere. You may have one homework assignment per class every 2-3 weeks. There aren’t unit tests, maybe a few quizzes depending on the class, but the final is generally 50-80 percent of the overall grade.

Social events are organized, encouraged and advertised by the campus itself or various organizations. And, because classes are relatively low maintenance, there isn’t a trade off associated with participating, so events are attended in large numbers.

Granted, because there are fewer deadlines and everything is cumulative, it is even more crucial to stay organized. For those that don’t know, I’m a planner nerd. As in I researched my current planner for months before committing and I just spent another $25 on Amazon for stickers and inserts to further customize and maximize its productivity.

Having a planner and a system customized to what I need has been a priority since middle school, but I honestly don’t know how I could have survived this semester without one.

All assignments and due dates are included, as well as smaller tasks associated with those classes to stay on top of everything, and are color-coded based on the class. I also have sections for budgeting and planning trips.

For those studying abroad in the near future, or just wanting to improve their overall organization, I highly suggest getting a planner if you don’t have one, or a different one if yours isn’t working for you. I will always recommend a paper planner over a digital one because an app update or glitch could wipe everything you have spent weeks perfecting. Plus you can’t decorate a digital planner, and that isn’t as much fun.

As far as coursework though; stay up to date and go to class, required or not. Take notes in a format that works for you and review them often.

Now that I am closer to finals I am taking all my notes and compiling a condensed topic outline for each class. This helps reinforce the ideas as I go over the notes, or increase understanding by researching those topics I didn’t quite get the first time. It also makes it easier to study on the plane.