You’ve got big plans for this school year. It is going to be your best year yet, and you will need to stay organized. Have you considered which calendar will work for you and not against you this year? You have options, you know.

Before assessing your choices, answer these three questions:

1) How do you remember appointments best? Needing to physically write them down with a pen (or pencil for those whose plans tend to change) may automatically rule out calendars that require typing that may be less memorable to you.

2) Who can see your calendar? You may not want your roommate to know that you’re applying for the same scholarship, or you may not want the pressure of your significant other asking about your upcoming internship interview. On the other hand, you may want a way to easily share your availability with specific people at certain times (more on this later). It is best to keep school, work and personal items in one place in order to maintain balance. Having separate calendars for each can lead to overscheduling or worse– missing an important deadline.

3) What will work best for you? A calendar that lives online, on your computer, on your phone, on your desk, on your wall, in your pocket or in your bookbag is not carved in stone (literally nor figuratively). This school year, accept the challenge to change your calendar system if it’s not working for you. Why waste time logging events in something you don’t use? A calendar is meant to work for you, remember.

All calendars come in hourly, daily, weekly and the year-at-a-glance version. Decide which you prefer before comparing calendars to make your choice simpler.

The traditional paper calendar is quite useful in today’s high-tech world. Having a desk calendar, wall calendar or pocket planner helps keep events top of mind. If you see it every day, the chances remembering commitments you’ve made are much greater. Pocket planners are a convenient, portable and private. Paper calendars are available in both the customary January-December option and the academic school year option of August-July.

Dry erase board calendars come in various sizes and styles with decorative options if you desire. Some dry erase boards are magnetic, include corkboard or have other useful features. Dry erase board calendars are an easy way to maintain a wall calendar if your schedule is ever changing.

Computer software calendars offer many advantages. They are customizable by typeface choice, decoration, icons and even personal photos. You can even change the settings whenever you decide whether it’s next week, next summer or years from now. This software can convert time zones around the world. Having an alarm go off on your computer screen is also a nice perk. The contacts that exist on your computer can be linked to your calendar; so when you need to request a letter of recommendation, the email address of your high school coach is right there. Computer software calendars are also printable if you like the computer-paper hybrid option.

Many online calendars exist for free and are similar to the computer software calendars. Like the computer software calendars, you input the information and it is stored. Also, they are printable. Online calendars can also sync with your smart phone.

Online calendars can send e-mail alerts about upcoming events. These are by far the most easily shared calendars (via e-mail) if you need a school group or your family to know your schedule. Settings exist to have other people add to your online calendar which is helpful when orchestrating group projects, study groups, student organization board meetings, family vacations, and so on. Also in the settings, you can choose how much (or how little) detail other people are able to view when you share your calendar.

Calendars typically come standard on your phone for free. The smarter your phone, the more advanced your calendar. Smart phones give you the option to set alarms from minutes to days ahead of any given event. Naturally, this type of calendar syncs with your phone’s contacts. Most smart phone calendars can be easily linked to your computer for a seamless school-to-work-to-personal life transition. The smart phone calendar has become the new pocket planner.

Remember to choose a calendar that helps you rather than adds another “to-do” to your ever-growing list. It doesn’t have to be high-tech nor flashy to be effective. After using your chosen calendar system for one month, assess if you need to change some aspect of your calendar system or if you need an entirely new one. Make it work for you. Oh, and students – schedule a check-in with your Career Center before your calendar fills up!