Things to Consider Before Your First College Class
Congratulations! You are officially starting college, and it’s time to pick your classes. You’re ready to get going! You may have a few nerves, but don’t worry — that’s totally normal. Here is some advice to help you prepare for college classes in advance:
1. Do some research before picking your professor. Professors can either make or break your class experience. Luckily, I have really enjoyed the professors I’ve had, but I also did my research. Reach out to other students who have taken classes with a professor you are considering; the web and social media can be great resources if you don’t know someone personally. You could discover that a professor is more particular when it comes to grading, or that they sometimes give extra credit opportunities. Of course, no two students will have had the exact same experience with someone, but taking the time to learn what others have to say about a professor could reveal whether that person’s class will be a good fit for you.
2. Build your schedule to fit your lifestyle. You are in college, and you now have the opportunity to choose when you want to take classes. This is actually a huge blessing! When choosing your classes, don’t only look at the professor; look at the time each class is offered too. If you are a morning person, you may want to pick an 8 AM class, or maybe even a 9:25 AM class. (Believe me when I say that 8 AM comes very quickly, even for a morning person. I may have slept through a class once or twice!) Decide how early you are willing to get to the school, and think about how long you want to stay there. Personally, I would rather have 10 minutes between classes and get them all done back-to-back, but others may want an hour in between to study or get some food. Be sure to really look at your schedule and give yourself the time you think you’ll need between classes to not feel stressed by it. Check out our handy online Class Schedule Search to start exploring some of your options at Eastern Florida!
3. Familiarize yourself with where your classes will be held on campus. Since you are given your schedule ahead of time, it’s really important to take time in advance to get the lay of the land. If you can go to campus, walk around and locate the buildings and rooms where your classes will take place. That way, when the time comes, and you only have 10 minutes to get to your next class, you’ll already know where you’re going. If you can’t make it to campus, consider taking a free online virtual tour to get a feel for how the buildings are laid out. Believe me, this will save you from a lot of stress on the first day of classes!
4. Check your online classroom ahead of time. More often than not, your classes will be linked through an online portal, such as Canvas. Set aside a few minutes to look at your class and to see if your professor has uploaded a syllabus or other information. Some professors might expect you to print the syllabus before coming to class, so it is always best to check.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be miles ahead of your peers when you start college! So what comes next? Keep calm, and try to enjoy your first day of class. You’ve got this!
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