Summer vacation has a bit of a habit of ending quickly, which ultimately means it’s time to (unfortunately) switch gears and start preparing for the upcoming school year. My fall semester starts in less than a month, and I already know how fast these last days can fly by. I also know just how quickly the semester itself will feel once it’s underway. Before I've even properly adjusted to my schedule, deadlines and assignments will start piling up.
So, I decided that I might as well use the last few weeks of summer to get a head start on organizing everything. That way, when the chaos of the semester hits, I’m already one step ahead. Google's AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, was an invaluable tool for me last semester. This time, I’m leaning on it even more. Here’s exactly how I’m using NotebookLM to prep for the upcoming school year.
To get a headstart on understanding concepts
Why wait until the semester when you can start now?
A new semester means brand-new courses, fresh materials, and a whole lot of content to learn. A bad habit I’ve always had is leaving studying until the last moment, which always leads to stress and pulling all-nighters.
Given how packed my schedule is now, I know my old ways won’t cut it anymore. I also know that during the semester, I’ll be relying on NotebookLM to help me learn new concepts and stay on top of everything. So my thinking is, why not start using it now and get a head start? The only difference between me using NotebookLM to understand my concepts right now and during the semester is that I'll have access to lecture slides and additional class materials once the semester starts.
But my point here is simply using NotebookLM to get familiar with the foundational ideas and the first few topics of each course, so when the topic is actually covered in class, I’m already a step ahead and can focus on deeper understanding instead of scrambling to catch up.
Using NotebookLM to do this is extremely simple. I went through my course outlines for each course and found resources online for the first few topics of each. I asked former students who’ve already studied the same courses for a few resources and also found some of my own online.
From there, I dropped them into NotebookLM notebooks as sources, and the studying began. I asked the AI to explain the concepts, generated Mind Maps and Audio Overviews to grasp the material better, and posed fresh questions that came to mind as I went along.
To map out exam and assignment deadlines early
Staying ahead by knowing what’s due and when
It doesn’t take long for the semester to get overwhelming once deadlines start piling up. Last semester, I found myself scrambling to keep track of assignments and exams across different courses, which just added unnecessary stress. I had to take several days off work and miss a lot of fun moments just trying to catch up.
Looking back, the biggest mistake I made was not planning ahead. I only started the planning process once the assignments and deadlines were already looming, even though I already knew when each assignment would be due and when each exam was scheduled. So this time, I decided to take out a few hours to plan ahead. Instead of manually going through each syllabus and jotting down deadlines, I uploaded all the material into NotebookLM.
Then, I asked it to summarize key dates and create a clear timeline for assignments, quizzes, and exams. This saved me tons of time and gave me a clear picture of what to expect throughout the semester.
To create a weekly studying schedule
Building a weekly routine I'll actually stick to
Though I sometimes find myself wishing that simply attending classes would get me a 4.0 GPA, I know that's far from reality and consistent study habits are what make all the difference. Before a new school year begins, I always take some time to sit down and map out a weekly study schedule.
Doing so helps me balance my classes, work and personal commitments, study time, and downtime. It also ensures I stay consistent and on top of everything without burning out in the first few days of the semester. Just a couple of weeks ago, I used NotebookLM to analyze my Google Calendar and create a daily log. Since I still have the sources I used for that experiment and now have my upcoming semester’s timetable, I decided I’d use the two along with NotebookLM’s AI to create a personalized, realistic weekly study plan that fits my workload and commitments.
The source I used for the Google Calendar experiment was all my Google Calendar data, and though that isn’t a perfect reflection of what my schedule will look like this semester, it gave me a solid baseline to work from. To create a weekly study schedule using NotebookLM, I simply created a new notebook and dropped in my previous Google Calendar data that I had exported, along with my semester timetable. I then sent the following prompt, where I mentioned how my upcoming schedule differs from my previous Google Calendar data.
Using the calendar data and semester timetable I’ve uploaded, help me create a balanced weekly study schedule that fits around my classes, work commitments, and personal time. Please suggest dedicated study blocks for each course and include breaks to prevent burnout. Keep in mind that this semester I’ll be working a lot more than last semester. My commute time will also now be shorter — about 30 minutes each way. I prefer to work either early mornings (from 4 AM onwards) or after I get back home from university. I want to study whenever I have time, with more focus on weekends.
Within seconds, NotebookLM used insights from my previous calendar data to generate a detailed, realistic weekly study schedule. It balanced my classes, work hours, and personal time perfectly, while carving out focused study blocks and regular breaks to keep me refreshed.
Use NotebookLM to your advantage this school year
AI’s here to stay, and instead of using it to cheat your way through school, why not use it to actually boost your learning and stay ahead? With the strategies above, NotebookLM can help you study smarter, stay organized, and take control of your semester before it even begins.