1. Show up for the first class session.<\/h3>\n
To some, this may seem like a no-brainer, but you\u2019d be surprised at how many college students skip the first class. Students assume that since they will mostly be making introductions and going over the syllabus, there\u2019s no need to show up. However, this is a bad idea for a number of reasons.<\/p>\n
First, your professor will have a poor first impression of you if you can\u2019t be bothered to show up. Students who email the professor later or just show up for the next class make themselves look lazy or unwilling to make an effort in the class. It\u2019s also easy to fall behind in fast-paced college courses and you\u2019ll miss a lot of details about assignments, projects, and exams that the professor will go over on the first day. You may find yourself confused, and spending the time you thought you saved having to go to the professor\u2019s office hours to get the full explanation.<\/p>\n
Second, if you are waitlisted for a class you want to take, showing up can get you in.<\/p>\n
\u201cShow up for the first class even if you\u2019re not enrolled in the class yet because if anyone is not there, see number one, then you\u2019re likely to be able to enroll in the class and the professor will appreciate your enthusiasm for the class that you expressed just by showing up,\u201d said Clark.<\/p>\n
If all you have to do is show up to make a good impression and get things rolling, you have a pretty easy job. This won\u2019t always be the case, so take advantage of it while you can!<\/p>\n
2. Come with an open mind.<\/h3>\n
When you\u2019re getting a feel for the class, stay open to learning what the class will be about, even if it\u2019s not exactly what you expected or if the professor teaches in a less conventional fashion.<\/p>\n
\u201cStart to see what you might be able to get out of class and what you might be able to contribute to the learning environment,\u201d said Clark.<\/p>\n
Part of this focus also includes setting aside things like social media. While tempting to zone out the lecture, focus on how the professor is presenting the class so you can really synthesize what is being said.<\/p>\n
3. Do everyone a public service and ask questions.<\/h3>\n
You\u2019ve heard it before–if you\u2019re confused about something, someone else probably is too. Don\u2019t be afraid to speak up and ask those questions.<\/p>\n
Especially as a first year student, professors who teach multiple course levels often forget that freshmen are in a new environment on all fronts. New students may be unfamiliar with things like assignment types or academic lingo that upperclassmen have had a chance to get used to.<\/p>\n
Not everyone has the self-confidence to speak up in class, but finding your voice will be a relief for yourself and others.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s basically a public service if [students are] asking for more clarification,\u201d said Clark.<\/p>\n
4. Organize that planner!<\/h3>\n
Organizing–and keeping–a planner is your best way to stay mentally and visually organized. Whether you prefer Google calendar or a colorfully bound book from Target, find a planner that works for you. Then, start things off by writing in your due dates. A professor will usually give you a syllabus of some form on the first day. This may be digital or hard copy, but take some time to write in important dates like test days, assignments, and project due dates, review sessions, etc. Write in your class times as well so you can block out that time and organize study time and other activities around it.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind due dates do sometimes change. A professor will rarely move a due date forward, usually pushing it back. You can always change this in your planner, but having an idea of when you have things due will keep you on top of your work throughout the semester.<\/p>\n
5. Minimize distractions.<\/h3>\n
\u201cOne of the things that I think is the most challenging about staying organized is just getting past the distractions that are a part of everyday life,\u201d said Clark.<\/p>\n
Use either a lockdown policy on your laptop or a timer and self-discipline to zero in on tasks and maximize your productivity. To do this, determine an amount of time you want to devote your attention to a project or assignment. An hour is usually a good chunk. Set a timer–and a lockdown policy if you don\u2019t trust yourself–and get to work. During this time, you are completely focused on the task at hand. Your school might provide downloadable lockdown browser programs, or you can get one here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter you sit down for 15 minutes and get focused then you can kind of get into a flow. Figure out what works for you to discipline yourself to get into it and then you\u2019ll get things done much more quickly,\u201d said Clark, who uses this method herself.<\/p>\n She admitted the difficulty of focus at the beginning, but the effectiveness of getting over the hump and into a rhythm.<\/p>\n Students often go to the first class of a difficult course and become overwhelmed by the amount of work they see they will need to do over the duration of the semester. Some students blow off this steam in an unhealthy way, starting the year off on a bad note.<\/p>\n \u201cThe good students are able to take a step back and do something that is healthy for themselves. Whether that means spending a little time with their friends or going on a run, doing something that will be helpful for them as they\u2019re starting to focus into the new lifestyle that they have as a student,\u201d said Clark. She explained that activities like this that are both healthy and constrained will help people get back in the mode of being a student.<\/p>\n Clark explained that there are two main issues that tend to cause students trouble early on and can result in consequences if not taken care of.<\/p>\n The first common issue is mental health. Mental health issues tend to manifest in the college years. Sixty-four percent of young adults who are no longer in college are not attending college because of a mental health related reason.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the key things that students need to do is if they start feeling like they\u2019re overwhelmed and they can\u2019t finish things, or there\u2019s something else going on, it\u2019s really important for them to make that first step and contact the professor and see the professor in person if possible,\u201d said Clark.<\/p>\n As colleges and universities across the country strive to better address mental health, professors receive training on how to handle these types of situations and are aware of available student resources. Discussing concerns with the professor early on is the best way to make a plan that will help you mentally and academically.<\/p>\n \u201cAcknowledge that we are all human and if you\u2019re having difficulties completing the classwork contact the person as soon as possible,\u201d said Clark.<\/p>\n The second issue Clark says she notices is first-year students and teachers having differing expectations. This is typically students who did very well in high school, but their college courses have higher expectations and their grades and feedback are not what the student thinks they deserve. College courses demand quality work on a level that may be higher than many high school classes, and this is an adjustment that will have to be made.<\/p>\n \u201cLook on your campus to see what resources are available to help you. Those are often resources that are external to this particular class,\u201d said Clark, who suggests resources like your school\u2019s writing center.<\/p>\n6. Find healthy ways to get back in the swing of things.<\/h3>\n
7. Be proactive when issues start to come up.<\/h3>\n
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