For many of us, the end of August marks a new year and a fresh start. With that in mind, I’d like to make some recommendations for getting off to a good beginning:
1. Attend your first class session. Like a first date or a first interview, this first meeting sets the tone for all others. Missing this session means that you are missing many of the critical communication elements that make a good relationship among your colleagues.
2. Read your syllabus, textbook, and Blackboard site. Sure, you might be able to fake it, but why do you want to? You’re in college to get a good education and getting one means you’re not faking it.
3. Declare a major and meet with your faculty advisor. You can change these if needed but you need to started in a direction. Make a plan and then work that plan. Your faculty advisor is a professor in the discipline that you want to study who will mentor you.
4. Think of your education as your profession. Develop professional habits including arriving to class on time, submitting work that you’re proud of, dressing well, and asking questions when you aren’t clear about expectations. Treat yourself as the professional that you are.
5. Get involved on the campus. Even if you work full-time, carve out some time to go to student events, join an honors society, work out, and/or get involved in athletics.
Have a great academic year!