Welcome back and welcome to new students! Here a few quick tips to start the semester on the right foot:
- Take advantage of your professor’s office hours! Ask them any questions and see how the class is going to be set up before it’s too late to drop the class. Also if you’re having trouble comprehending the information or it’s near test time, this would be an important time to go.
- Organize! Have a notebook and a folder for each class and label them with the class name or section. (Ex: COM 302 or Introduction to Photography).
- Put important dates into your planner! The first day, professors give you the syllabus for the semester which includes due dates for important papers, the midterm/final and when the exams are. Go ahead and put those into your planner, so you’re already prepared when it comes around.
- Make friends in your classes! When you’re absent for a class, you’ll be thankful you did. Most professors will tell you on the first day, to get all missed notes from another student in the class.
- Take notes! Ask the professor beforehand if they post their Power points on Blackboard. If so, listen to the professor during the lecture, and then copy down the Power Point slides later.
- Read the assigned readings! A lot of times, information from the readings show up on exams.
- Highlight and/or write in the book! If you brought your textbook, you can write and/or highlight in it. This will save time from not having to write down every single note as you read.
- If you’re struggling in a class, make an appointment at the Learning Hub! If you are unable to do this, ask around and possibly one of your friends can or knows somebody that can help you with what you’re struggling on.
- Have some fun! Go to campus activities and bring your friends. You only get to experience your college years once.
- Take advantage of things on campus (Ex: OASIS, Career Center, Admissions)! Everyone is here to help make this your best college experience.