Welcome to college! College isn’t high school, and things are going to be different.
Did you breeze through high school with little work and an excellent memory? Did you work diligently to achieve results? However you got here, it’s now a new playing field and you’ll need some new skills to be a success. Those people who reminded you when to do your homework or to take a break aren’t so close any more. Now you get to take responsibility for your studying and your fun.
First of all, consider balance. Making choices between fun and studying to meet academic goals and still enjoy yourself is a challenge. Studying Econ will help because Econ’s all about making choices. It’s going to teach you some practical skills, and balance is one of them.
How do you get off to a good start academically? Make friends with your course outline. Even if you want to sleep in, go to the first day of classes. Your prof will discuss the course outline. A copy will be online. Print it out. Yes, be old fashioned and print it out. Buy a binder. Put the course outline in the binder. Buy a highlighter. I like pink.
Why do you need a hard copy to highlight in pink? Trust me on this. When you get to the middle of the semester, it will feel like EVERY ASSIGNMENT is due on the same day, and EVERY midterm is happening in the same week. So, get organized NOW. The easier course-related dates jump out at you, the better.
Most course outlines have the professor’s name at the top. Learn your professors’ names and use names when you talk to them or send an email. (More about email etiquette in another post.) Highlight your prof’s name, email address, phone number, and office location.
Do you have a TA? Find out his/her contact information. Make the TA your friend. TAs have taken the course before. They are close in age to you. They know stuff.
Are there assignments? Highlight the due dates. Are there midterm exams? Highlight the dates, the times, and the locations. Next time you’re at the bookstore, buy a calendar. Hang it above your desk. Use that calendar to record times and dates of assignments and midterms! Don’t be the student who shows up at the wrong time for an exam. It won’t go well for you. At college, consequences abound. If you don’t show up for an exam or fail to turn in an assignment on time, you will earn a zero.
Next check out the name of the textbook and its edition number. Your older cousin might have used the same textbook from 3 editions ago. Information changes from edition to edition. If you want to use your cousin’s copy, it’s up to you but you could be missing some important information.
Are there online materials? Find out how to access them. Don’t wait until immediately before the final exam. Do it now!
Make friends with other students in the lecture hall. You might be sick one day and need some notes. Or more importantly, you might like a study partner. College is all about meeting new and interesting people. Be friendly! You won’t learn in a vacuum. Share your knowledge and you’ll be amazed how people will share their knowledge with you.
So welcome to the next chapter of your life. It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be a challenge. You can do it and our blog is going to help you be a success!