Even with solid study habits, it’s easy for a semester to get crowded. That’s where AI can make things a lot smoother. With a few details about classes, commitments, and goals, AI tools like ChatGPT Edu can map out a schedule that keeps you on track without stress.
We’ve already learned how to ask AI better questions, and that testing yourself is the best way to learn, so now we can take it to the next level with advanced AI scheduling from classes and academic work to your summer plans.
The best way to do this is using ChatGPT Edu (which does not train on your data like regular ChatGPT). All Duke undergraduates can place an order for it, at no cost. Be sure to do this ASAP as the pilot period ends in May.
For your eyes only
Experiment with having the tool plan out your week. Give it your schedule and to-do list. Don’t worry; only you will be able to see this information. It can break things down into days and tell you what to group together, so switching between tasks doesn’t require as much mental effort.
A sample prompt could look like:
“I need to create a two-week study schedule for my biology midterm on March 12. I have a part-time job working 10 hours a week and realistically have 1-2 hours on weekdays and 3-4 hours on weekends. Please create a study plan taking this into account which balances retrieval processes, practice problems, and starting each study session with easier-level activities to help with task-initiation.”
For weekly planning, a prompt might look like:
“Here is my class schedule and to-do list for this week: <paste info>. Please help me group together similar tasks into time blocks, estimate how long each block might take, and create a balanced weekly plan that fits everything without overloading a single day.”
Not just for classes
Some other things you can have ChatGPT Edu help you plan include:
- Meal planning
- Generate weekly menus based on dietary needs, dining hall hours, or budget
- Create grocery lists and prep steps to save time
- Vacation planning
- Create packing lists and budgeting breakdowns to keep trips stress‑free
- Build personalized itineraries based on your interests, budget, and time constraints
- Exercise
- Create quick workouts that fit between classes, including training plans that adjust to your schedule
- Suggest recovery routines, stretching plans, and warm‑ups to reduce stress and prevent burnout
Help is available
For more tips on how to have AI plan your life, you can also explore the Academic Resource Center’s AI Toolkit. It provides prompt templates for building knowledge, applying that knowledge, sections dedicated to planning, reviewing, and testing yourself with AI, and countless tips to help you along the way.
If you want guided learning on how else to leverage AI for academic success, the Innovation Co-Lab offers a variety of in-person and online courses. This includes the “Generative AI Pathway” with classes ranging from introducing you to the AI suite to how to create a custom AI chatbot tailored to specific tasks.
Feel free to explore the Co-Lab's AI-focused blog, In the Loop, or the AI at Duke website for tools and resources surrounding AI usage.
With the right tools and strategies, AI can make your semester not just more manageable, but a lot more productive.
By Katarina Dragasevic '29
OIT Marketing and Communications Intern