The start of the school year
brings the promise of a fresh start and students with a bit more pep in their
step. Even if you’re a seasoned college student, there’s something exciting
about the start of it all.
Starting things off on the right
foot will keep you thriving throughout the semester. We talked to Lynn
Schofield Clark, the Media, Film, and Journalism Studies Director and an MFJS
professor at the University of Denver about how to accomplish this. Use these
simple tips to help you get in the swing of things as you settle into the
school year.
1.
Show up for the first class session.
To some, this may seem like a
no-brainer, but you’d 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’s no need to show up. However, this is a bad
idea for a number of reasons.
First, your professor will have
a poor first impression of you if you can’t 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’s also
easy to fall behind in fast-paced college courses and you’ll 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’s office hours to get the full
explanation.
Second, if you are waitlisted
for a class you want to take, showing up can get you in.
“Show up for the first class
even if you’re not enrolled in the class yet because if anyone is not there,
see number one, then you’re 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,” said Clark.
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’t always be the case, so take advantage of it while you can!
2.
Come with an open mind.
When you’re getting a feel for
the class, stay open to learning what the class will be about, even if it’s not
exactly what you expected or if the professor teaches in a less conventional
fashion.
“Start to see what you might be
able to get out of class and what you might be able to contribute to the
learning environment,” said Clark.
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.
3. Do everyone a public service and ask
questions.
You’ve heard it before–if you’re
confused about something, someone else probably is too. Don’t be afraid to
speak up and ask those questions.
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.
Not everyone has the
self-confidence to speak up in class, but finding your voice will be a relief
for yourself and others.
“It’s basically a public service
if [students are] asking for more clarification,” said Clark.
4.
Organize that planner!
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.
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.
5.
Minimize distractions.
“One 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,” said Clark.
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’t 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
“After 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’ll get things
done much more quickly,” said Clark, who uses this method herself.
She admitted the difficulty of
focus at the beginning, but the effectiveness of getting over the hump and into
a rhythm.
6.
Find healthy ways to get back in the swing of things.
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.
“The 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’re starting to focus into the
new lifestyle that they have as a student,” 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.
7.
Be proactive when issues start to come up.
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.
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.
“One of the key things that
students need to do is if they start feeling like they’re overwhelmed and they
can’t finish things, or there’s something else going on, it’s really important
for them to make that first step and contact the professor and see the
professor in person if possible,” said Clark.
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.
“Acknowledge that we are all
human and if you’re having difficulties completing the classwork contact the
person as soon as possible,” said Clark.
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.
“Look on your campus to see what
resources are available to help you. Those are often resources that are
external to this particular class,” said Clark, who suggests resources like
your school’s writing center.
source : www.petersons.com
Back to School: 8 Tips to Start Classes off on the Right Foot
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