Tips for the New College Student

Now that the new semester has begun, there are new challenges to face. If this is you first semester, there are some habits you can start now that could either make or break your college career. The best plan is to start good habits now that will serve you well n the upcoming years.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you make it to class. Yes this may see like a no brainer, but making to class is something many people have issues with. Get to class on time. Showing up late disrupts your teach and the learning for your classmates. It also means that you are missing out on class content. Do not think you are "above" the course materials. Show up, listen, pay attention, and you will undoubtedly learn something.

Another very important key is make sure that you keep and follow your syllabus. Yes, that piece of paper is basically your Holy Grail for your class. It has everything you need to know listed on it. It has your instructor's name, his or her contact information, the classroom rules, and usually the schedule is usually included on this paper. These are things are very important! If it is clearly stated on your syllabus, you never have the excuse that "no one ever told you..." Keep this information with you through out the semester!

Speaking of the "no one ever told you" excuse, it was no one else's job to keep track of when your assignments are due. It is part of your responsibility as a student to keep on top of these things. The class schedule is usually included in the syllabus, or it is give to you by the instructor early in the term. If you are not given a schedule, please make sure you ask for one early on. This schedule will tell you when assignments are due, when tests will be taken, and other important dates through out the semester. You need to be aware of these dates and plan your time accordingly. If you know you have to have a typed draft of a paper done in two week, you need to manage your time so that you have time to complete this task. No one is going to tell you how to do this. No one is going to force you to do this. Really, no one may even remind you of this. Some instructors are nice and they give schedule reminders. However, most will not. It is your job to keep up with these things.

If something does happen (you, you child, your spouse is sick, car accident, death in the family...etc.) and you will need to miss more than a class or two, please let your instructor know. As long as you are up front with them, many instructors are willing to make accommodations so that you can complete the class. Sometimes they will totally empathize, but based on the limitations created by the class (it is a lab class and you have to be in the lab to do the work), they may not be able to help. Yes, you will run into the occasional battle axe that will not budge, but for the most part instructors understand life happens. If they can help they will. However, if you disappear for month and magically reappear, even if you have totally legitimate story, it may be too late.

Do your homework. Okay once again, this sounds like a no brainer. Sometimes homework is actually due for a grade. Other times instructors just tell you need to bring certain things to class with on certain days. Please make sure you have these things done. You will often times need to have completed these tasks to fully understand the concepts covered in class that day. Just because no one is grading it should not be a determining factor.

Starting college can be a wonderful thing. If you properly prepare and start creating good habits, your college career should go smoothly.