[PhoenixAzul]

The quarter I pledged, I finished with a 4.0, and I was taking maximum courseload and was on the editorial staff of the paper.

It is do-able....but it is stressful for sure. I really benefited from our deferred recruitment, because I already had a quarter of school under my belt and had sort of cemented my study habits by then. My suggestion is to get a planner, a PAPER planner, because it can help you with the visual layout of your time. When you get your syllabus, immediately enter in all of your due dates, all of your project deadlines and all of your classes. Don't worry if they change, but enter the changes ASAP. Enter all of your pledge activities. Enter all your other duties (church, work, exercise, whatever).

Then look at the gaps. You may have an hour, or a half hour, between activities. Use that time wisely. That hour may give you a chance to get your reading done, or to at least get started on writing a paper, or to meet with a professor.

Also: this is going to be incredibly unpopular....but consider getting up earlier. Mornings are quiet, and they are great for quiet reading, or you can take that time to get exercise in, or do whatever work you couldn't get done the night before, or just get a start on the day (shower, etc) so that you're ready to do whatever comes at you. It is essentially "making" time.

And if you're having trouble during pledgeship...speak to your pledge educator and your big, and your professors. Ask for help before you desperately need it. If you feel yourself slipping, that's the time to ask for help, not when you're flat on your face. They want you to succeed, they want you to be a contributing member of their organization, and they (should) be able to work something out to help you be a successful student and member.