organization tools

[brain hugger]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering how you managed all your paperwork/readings for graduate school?

Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[paramour]

Er, as in how we organized them, how we actually managed to read them, or what specifically? Even organization itself can mean a lot of different things...

 

[brain hugger]

Sorry about that! I just meant what tools/techniques do you use to organize your paperwork? How do you categorize them? How do you store them for later use?

 

[Ollie123]

My advice is not to have paperwork.

Seriously. Scan it all in - if your lab has one that can scan stacks of pages at a time, great. If not, it might even be worth investing in a low-end one that is capable of this.

I could probably fill an entire room with all the paper I've read over the last few years, yet it all easily fits on my laptops hard drive. Plus I can use that lovely feature called "Ctrl-F" that papers and filing cabinets don't have. Just make sure you have multiple backups! I have a file syncing program that keeps things stored on both my laptop and desktop in case either should die, plus I back up pretty regularly to both an external HD, and off-site web-based backup in case of something truly awful (e.g. fire).

 

[Psychology 76]

Before I head to grad school in the fall, I am investing in an ipad, kindle, or some other e-reader to keep track of all my papers and stuff.

I normally rely on memory for journal article information but I know that won't fly in grad school. Especially when I lose all the papers I print out

 

[brain hugger]

Thanks, Ollie123 and Psychology 76!! You're right, paperless might be the best bet.