As you walk into your dorm room, a basket of rumpled laundry under your arm, you glance across the room and see your roommate, whom you’ve just met, playing Call of Duty (Modern Warfare 2, of course) on the newly redesigned Xbox 360.

Or, Ladies, maybe you walk into your dorm with your nicely folded clothes in a basket under your arm and begin conversing with your new roommate who’s just found out (after a whole four hours of being on campus) that Nick broke up with Lindsey and is already hanging out with Mallory.

Even if these two scenarios don’t sound exactly like ones that you’ve personally experienced, the plain fact is that distractions abound in these first weeks of school. Coming off of three months of freedom and fun, it can be difficult to find the focus necessary to begin the 2010-11 school year. If you’re a freshman, pay close heed to these tips. If you’re a sophomore, chances are you’ve already begun to learn their importance. Juniors hopefully have begun to master them, and it’s safe to say seniors could probably add a few to this list. Be that as it may, here are a few tips on how to prioritize your time in school (and by extension, your life).

Firstly, put “no” in your vocabulary and use it. Look, I understand you think that your speed reading technique is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I also know you think that 94 pages of Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology can be breezed through in a matter of minutes, but the fact is, doing good work takes time. So when your friends invite you on a late night run to Jax’s Donuts and you’re only on page 27, say “no” and finish that homework. Because as dull as it may seem, not only will that studying do you good in the long run, but you’re also paying a good sum of money to have the opportunity to do that homework.

Second, get a day planner and actually use it – whether your preference is a moleskin, a filofax, or just a generic one from Walmart, a day planner/organizer is a great way to keep your life sorted and organized. Not only can you schedule time for homework that needs to get done, but you can keep your lunch and coffee dates in line, take note of good local restaurants your friends recommend, and even jot down the last few lines of that song you’ve been composing for weeks. An organizer will not only organize your life, but will increase your collection of ideas– ideas which can be utilized in all types of situations.

Follow these tips and trust me, take it from a senior, they’ll serve you well.