College Assignment Tracker – Google Spreadsheet & Excel

Stepping into the vast, exciting world of higher education, every student quickly realizes that with the plethora of knowledge and experiences comes many assignments, projects, and deadlines. 

From essays to presentations, research projects to group tasks – staying on top of everything becomes as critical as attending lectures or participating in discussions. It is not just about completing assignments; it is about ensuring they are timely, high-quality, and reflective of one’s best efforts.

This is where the organization plays an indispensable role. An organized student isn’t merely more productive; they are better poised to absorb, reflect, and express their learning in meaningful ways.

Digital Tools: A Game-Changer for the Modern Student

In an era dominated by digital transformation, leveraging the right tools and college assignment planners can make the difference between a chaotic, last-minute hustle and a systematic, calm approach to academic challenges. Enter Google Spreadsheets and Microsoft Excel.

These are not just tools for financial analysts or data scientists; they have become the backbone of many students’ academic lives. With their tabular format, customizable features, and real-time tracking capabilities, these platforms serve as perfect assignment trackers. Imagine having a visual dashboard of pending tasks, colour-coded deadlines, and a space to jot down important notes or resources, all at your fingertips. That’s what these digital wonders offer.

For the tech-savvy student, these tools are not just about tracking. They embody a proactive approach to academic life, where challenges are anticipated, plans are laid out, and goals are methodically pursued. And for those who might feel these tools sound complex? Well, their intuitive design and plethora of online resources make the learning curve smoother than one might expect.

Whether you are a freshman looking to get a head start or a final-year student aiming to maintain that GPA, this guide will provide valuable insights and step-by-step methods to make these tools work for you.

Why Use a College Assignment Tracker?

College is a transformative experience, brimming with new subjects, new perspectives, and, most notably, an overwhelming influx of assignments. For many, it is a departure from the more structured high school environment. From learning how to write first-year college assignments, there is a palpable increase in coursework volume, diversity, and complexity. Essays dovetail with group projects, presentations overlap with research papers, and before you know it, there’s a mountain of tasks, each with its unique requirements and expectations. Keeping track mentally becomes not only strenuous but also impractical.

Deadlines

Amidst the hustle and bustle of college life—with its classes, extracurriculars, and social engagements—it’s surprisingly easy to lose track of time. Days blend into nights, weeks merge, and suddenly, that assignment you thought was due next week is actually due tomorrow. The consequence? Late submissions, missed opportunities for feedback, or worse, grade penalties. Without a structured system in place, it’s all too easy for deadlines to slip through the cracks, regardless of how diligent or well-intentioned a student may be.

Also read: Using AI for college assignments

The Power of Centralization: Everything at your Fingertips

Now, imagine a world where every task, every deadline, and every requirement is meticulously laid out in one place. A dashboard of sorts that provides a bird’s eye view of your academic landscape. This is the magic of a College Assignment Tracker. It’s not just a tool—it is a strategy.

By centralizing all tasks, students are better equipped to:

• Prioritize: Determine which assignments demand immediate attention and which can be scheduled for later.
• Plan: Allocate time effectively, ensuring that longer, more demanding tasks don’t get left to the last minute.
• Pace: Spread out work to avoid burnout and ensure consistent, high-quality outputs.
• Prevent Overwhelming: Visual clarity reduces anxiety and gives a tangible sense of control over academic responsibilities.

Google Spreadsheet Vs. Excel

Excel

Microsoft Excel, launched in 1985, stands as one of the oldest and most robust spreadsheet applications in history. Initially introduced for the Apple Macintosh, it soon expanded its dominion, becoming a staple for Windows users and gaining a reputation as the go-to tool for data management, analysis, and visual representation.

• Advanced Formulas and Functions: Excel boasts a rich set of functions, ranging from simple arithmetic to complex data analysis.
• PivotTables: A powerful tool for summarizing and analyzing large data sets.
• Macros and VBA: Allow for automation of repetitive tasks and customization.
• Charts and Graphs: A diverse set of visualization tools to represent data.

Pros

• Robust Functionality: Advanced functions can help in more intricate academic projects, like statistical analysis.
• Offline Access: This doesn’t require an internet connection once downloaded, allowing for work in any environment.
• Comprehensive Customization: Tailor-made templates with Macros can make the tracker extremely personalized.

Cons

• Limited Collaboration: Real-time multi-user collaboration isn’t as smooth as Google Sheets.
• Learning Curve: For newcomers, Excel’s vast features can be intimidating.
• File Management: Users need to ensure files are saved and backed up regularly.

Google Spreadsheet (Sheets)

Emerging much later, Google Sheets made its debut in 2006 as a part of Google’s suite of office tools. With cloud computing on the rise, Google Sheets stood out by providing real-time, collaborative features, allowing multiple users to work on a single sheet simultaneously. It heralded a new era of online, shareable spreadsheet solutions.

• Real-time Collaboration: Multiple users can edit a sheet simultaneously with live updates.
• Integrated with Google Workspace: Seamless compatibility with Google Docs, Slides, and other Google services.
• Built-in Chat and Comments: Streamlines communication within the document itself.
• Add-ons: A growing marketplace of extensions to enhance Sheets’ functionality.

Pros

• Seamless Collaboration: Effortless real-time multi-user editing, making group projects a breeze.
• Automatic Saves: Changes are saved instantly to Google Drive, reducing the risk of data loss.
• Accessible Anywhere: As long as there’s internet, you can access your tracker from any device.

Cons

• Internet Dependence: Requires an active internet connection for the best experience.
• Slightly Less Advanced: For very intricate tasks, Excel might offer more depth.

Privacy Concerns: Some may be wary of storing sensitive information on cloud platforms.

Also read: Types of college assignments

Setting Up your College Assignment Tracker: Step-By-Step

Check out this step-by-step guide that will help you set up your college assignment tracjer in Google Spreadsheet and Excel. 

A. Google Spreadsheet

Step 1. Creating a New Spreadsheet

• Open Google Drive and click on the ‘+ New’ button on the left pane.
• Hover over ‘Google Sheets’ and select ‘Blank spreadsheet’.

Step 2. Designing Headers

• Rename your spreadsheet (e.g., “College Assignment Tracker”).
• In the first row, input the following headers:
  • A1: Assignment
  • B1: Subject/Course
  • C1: Description
  • D1: Due Date
  • E1: Days Left
  • F1: Status (e.g., Not Started, In Progress, Completed)
  • G1: Notes
• Adjust column widths as necessary for clarity.

Step 3. Implementing Conditional Formatting for Deadlines

This will allow your “Days Left” column to change colours as deadlines approach, making it visually easier to prioritize tasks.

• Click on the ‘E’ column to select it.
• From the menu, choose Format > Conditional formatting.
• Set the format rules. For instance:
  • If “Days Left” is <= 3, set the cell background to red (indicating urgency).
  • If “Days Left” is between 4 and 7, set it to yellow (indicating it’s due soon).
  • If “Days Left” is > 7, set it to green (indicating you have more time).
• Click ‘Done’.

Step 4. Sharing and Collaborating with Classmates

• Click on the ‘Share’ button on the top right.
• Enter the email addresses of your classmates or group members.
• Choose their permissions (Edit, Comment, or View).
• Add a note, if desired, and click ‘Send.’

B. Excel

Step 1. Starting a New Workbook

• Open Excel and choose a ‘Blank Workbook.’

Step 2. Inputting and Designing your Table

• Similar to Google Spreadsheet, in the first row, input your headers (Assignment, Subject, Due Date, and so on).
• Highlight your headers and choose a design from the ‘Table Styles’ group under the ‘Design’ tab for a polished look.

Step 3. Using Formulas to Calculate Days Left or Prioritize Tasks

• In the “Days Left” column (assuming it’s column E), input a formula to calculate the difference between the due date and the current date.
  • In cell E2, input: =D2-TODAY()
  • Drag this formula down to apply it to all entries.
• For prioritization, you can set up another column and use a formula based on “Days Left”. For instance, if “Days Left” is less than 3, it can be labelled ‘High Priority’.

Step 4. Integrating with Other MS Office Tools

• MS OneNote: You can copy your assignment table and paste it into OneNote for study session planning.
• MS Planner: Useful for project-based assignments. You can create tasks, set deadlines, and assign responsibilities directly linked to your Excel tracker.
• MS Teams: If collaborating on a group project, you can upload your Excel tracker to Teams, making it accessible to all members.

Templates and Resources

Navigating college assignments can be streamlined with the right templates and resources. Thankfully, both Google Spreadsheet and Excel come with a plethora of pre-made templates and extensions to enhance your assignment-tracking experience. Here’s a compilation to get you started:

Google Spreadsheet Templates

Built-in Templates: Google Sheets offers a variety of built-in templates.

• Open Google Sheets.
• Click on ‘Template Gallery’ on the top right.
• Browse through categories. While there might not be a direct “Assignment Tracker,” the “To-do List” or “Project Timeline” templates can be easily adapted for this purpose.

Third-party Templates: Many websites and educators offer custom-made Google Sheets templates for students. Websites like Template.net, Smartsheet, and Tiller often have student-oriented templates that can be downloaded and imported into Google Sheets.

Excel Templates

Built-in Templates: Excel also boasts a myriad of ready-to-use templates.

• Open Excel and click on ‘New.’
• Use the search bar to look for terms like “Assignment,” “Project Management,” or “Student Planner.”
• Browse and select the one that fits your needs.

Third-party Templates: Vertex42, Template.net, and OfficeTemplates.org are among the many sites that offer specialized Excel templates tailored to student needs.

Plugins and Extensions for Enhanced Functionality

Here is some additional help.

Google Sheets Add-Ons

• Supermetrics: Ideal for research projects, this add-on pulls data from various platforms directly into your Google Sheet.
• Pivot Table Merge: If you are handling data from multiple sources, this tool can merge various pivot tables for better insights.
• GradeMyWork: Especially useful for group projects, this allows peers to provide feedback directly within the sheet.

Excel Add-Ins

• Excel Campus: They offer several tools, like the List Search add-in, which lets you search through lists quickly – useful when juggling multiple assignments.
• Kutools for Excel: This enhances Excel’s functionality with more than 300 advanced features, from merging cells without losing data to advanced sorting and counting.
• MZ-Tools: This add-in allows for customization of the Excel VBA environment, which can be especially handy if you are looking to automate certain tasks within your tracker.

Tips to Stay Consistent with your Tracker

Maintaining a tracker is similar to nurturing a plant; consistency in care ensures it thrives and supports you in return. Let’s discuss strategies to ensure you remain steadfast with your College Assignment Tracker, ensuring it serves its purpose diligently.

Tip 1. Setting Aside Weekly Review Times

• Dedicate a specific time each week, perhaps Sunday evenings or Monday mornings, to review and update your tracker. This ritual not only helps you prepare for the week ahead but also allows you to catch any overlooked tasks.
• Just as you would not miss a class or an important meeting, treat this review time with the same level of importance. Set a reminder or an alarm to ensure you do not forget.
• Use this time not just to update tasks, but to reflect on your productivity. Did you allocate enough time for certain assignments? Were there unforeseen hurdles? Adjusting your tracker based on these reflections can enhance its efficacy.

Tip 2. The Importance of Updating in Real-Time

• Whenever you receive a new assignment or deadline, input it into your tracker immediately. This ensures nothing slips through the cracks and reduces reliance on memory.
• After significant milestones in bigger assignments or projects, update your tracker. This gives you a clear picture of what’s left and can be a motivational boost as you see tasks moving towards completion.
• Use voice commands or digital assistants on your devices to add tasks to your tracker without even opening it. For instance, “Hey Google, add research paper to my assignment tracker for next Friday.”

Tip 3. Syncing with Mobile for on-the-go Updates

• Both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel have mobile counterparts available on Android and iOS. These apps allow you to access and update your tracker anytime, anywhere.
• Enable notifications on your mobile apps. This way, you’ll be alerted about upcoming tasks or deadlines even if you aren’t actively checking your tracker.
• Ensure your tracker is available offline on your mobile device. This way, even if you are without internet access, you can still make essential updates, which will sync once you are back online.
• Use apps that can integrate with Google Sheets or Excel. For instance, tools like Zapier can connect your tracker with apps like Todoist or Trello, automating certain updates.