How freshmen can have a successful first year

I have my own ideas about what would help incoming students have a successful first year of school, but I also talked to a few friends in academia to get their perspective.

Here are some of my best tips for freshmen in their first semester.

Don’t skip the course

It’s amazing how many students skip classes. It is not enough to take notes from someone else.

You miss out on important discussions and the chance to ask questions when you drop out of class. You lose the opportunity to interact with your teacher and peers.

I know that a student can miss a class for many reasons, including illness. But if you’re too tired of late-night jam sessions or video production clubs, you might want to rethink extracurriculars. I struggled with this in school. I was overscheduled and juggling too many activities. It’s tempting, but you can’t do everything at once. Keep up the pace.

Read the class syllabus

Taking a moment to read the syllabus will help you progress as a student.

It’s always a good idea to keep track of tasks in a paper planner with due dates labeled. Many professors do not accept late papers. If you do not understand an assignment, ask for clarification in class. Don’t wait until the night before the assignment is due.

Learn how to communicate with your teacher, especially via email

Think twice before emailing your teacher. We’re human too. Our inboxes are full. So when you email us, please use the subject line.

Even a simple “Subject: Looking for clarification on classroom reading” would help.

Once you have mastered the subject, I would ask you to look closely at your teacher’s name and title. Did you spell it correctly? I can’t tell you how many times students butchered my name—first and last—on a graded assignment.

When you create your email, please keep in mind that it may not be read right away. Don’t expect replies to come as quickly as a friend to a message. Give us time to respond.

He spends time in the library

Despite the fact that they have a lot of reading to do in class, I encourage students to read for fun as well. Reading is good for the soul. It’s soothing, fun and free. Go to your campus library and check out a book that interests you to further your education.

Additionally, you should always ask a librarian for help. Librarians can save students time, help them get unstuck, and generally make their lives easier. Librarians are also great when it comes to research.

Don’t forget to say “Thank you”

Thank the people who keep your school running. This could be a food service worker, bus driver or cleaning staff. It could be the gardener who waters the flowers near your dorm or the cashier at the campus bookstore. Or maybe you finally turned a corner in your advanced Spanish class and want to thank your TA for spending extra time with you.

Tell them you’re grateful for their time. One of my writing teachers says he kept all the thank you letters he received from students. I do that too. I know how it feels when a student takes the time to create a thank you note, especially a handwritten one.

Be comfortable with being uncomfortable

It is a privilege to go to college; you don’t they have to be here. Many people would trade places with you. So take advantage of the amazing opportunities that come your way – even if they make you uncomfortable (within reason).

For example, sign up for classes and clubs that might challenge you. Also, if you’re used to sitting in the back row, find a seat in the front and learn to raise your hand. We don’t bite.

College is a time to experiment in all aspects of life; don’t waste it staying in your comfort zone.