Many projects don't get underway until halfway through the term when everyone's schedules are more hectic. This may be due to student procrastination, but is sometimes the fault of schedules imposed by the teacher. Time shortages plague most projects, so start as early as possible.
Many projects have a high-energy, promising beginning but wither away by the end of the semester.
It's easy to let exams, papers, and a lively social life eat up your time. Plus, projects take steady, diligent work. It is one thing to write up a great project plan but quite another to carry it out. Set a brisk but manageable pace early, and keep checking your progress against the list of tasks that lie ahead. Last night we just went ahead and implemented our project.