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The first day of college classes can be an overwhelming time for students. Between, moving in and meeting the roommate, things seem to be moving at a much more harried pace than ever. It is important for students to get their bearings that first week of school. We have listed the 10 Most Important Things for freshmen to remember for a successful college year. 1. Registration First thing to know about registration, get there early. If you are assigned a registration time be it a log on time, or an actual place you have to be to complete the process, don't be late. Your being in place on time for registration, could mean the difference in your taking a class this semester or having to wait a semester or year until that section is offered again. Don't register for 8:00 a.m. classes if you are not a morning person. Your Mom will not be there to wake you up. And now that it is college you will be apt to stay up late(socializing, playing cards, and studying), making 8:00 a.m. classes very difficult to attend regularly. Your brain will probably be ready to do Calculus at about 10:00 a.m. 2. Two Must Haves; A copy of the Undergraduate Catalog and Academic Calendar. While you are in college the Undergraduate Catalog and Academic Calendar are second only to the Bible for you. They are the most important documents on campus outside your degree. The Undergraduate Catalog lists the course requirements for your degree, including prerequisite courses and approved electives. It also states university policy on Class Attendance and Academic Regulations (withdrawal from classes, Grade changes, etc.). The Academic Calendar lists university activities, along with Exam schedules. 3. Get to the Bookstore Early There are usually a finite number of books ordered for courses, regardless of the size of the freshman class. Arriving early helps you to get a copy. Back orders often arrive in the middle of the semester, i.e. just before drop day. 4. Network, Network, Network Talk to people. Find out who is in your program, which professors' they recommend, and if they still have the textbook. Hint: A lot of networking goes on in the bookstore. Textbooks are usually grouped by college majors, you'll get to meet a lot of people in your program in the bookstore.
Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore. If you want to know anything at college you will have to ask. Part of the academic experience is preparing you for real world scenarios. In other words, the person you need to request something of, may not look receptive, doesn’t matter. Ask anyway.
Know what is available on campus. Be it the Nurse, Free Tutoring, Counseling Services, etc. Be sure to know where you can get the help you need.
With the semester being 16 weeks, it looks like you have a lot of time; plenty of time to party and make friends. Just remember the college rule, 2 hours of studying for every hour you are in class.
You may have been the Big Man/Big Woman on campus at your high school, but everyone at college was the Big Man/Big Woman at their high school, also.
College is ultimately about getting the degree. Be sure to surround yourself with people who have the same goals that you do… TO GRADUATE! Create study groups; if there isn’t one, suggest one. I promise you that someone in the class was waiting on you to say something. It is true; two heads are better than one.
Cast your cares on Him for He care for you (I Peter 5:7), is what the scripture says right? If it is important to you it is important to God (Acts 17:26-29). God wants to hear about strange roommates, difficult professors and yes, Differential Equations. Tell Him. He is waiting to HEAR from YOU! |