The first semester of your first year at the University of Arkansas can be challenging. Navigating campus, being away from family members, and adjusting to the rigor of college courses can make this time period stressful. Below are tips for success in making sure that you meet these challenges with SUCCESS!
- READ THE SYLLABI. Every class has a syllabus that the instructor should have reviewed on the first day of class. Everything, such as the attendance policy, grading procedures, test schedule, and expectations, are in that document and you are expected to know it. I once had a professor who never announced tests in class, and there were several students who came to class on test day and had no idea we had an exam. Unlike high school, professors are not going to hold your hand. It’s your education and your responsibility. Own it!
- Skipping class. Just because you can skip a class, doesn’t mean you should. A grad student I know said it best when he said, “College is about freedom. You can take that freedom and become the best version of you…or you can let that freedom control you.” If you need some actual numbers, check out this infographic. It shows just how much money you actually waste when you skip one class ($19.42 for public 4 years, $47.39 for private 4 years). Think about how much gas money that is!! Trust me, it’s just not worth it.
- General Ed classes. You’re going to be required to take some General Education (Gen Ed) classes. Don’t underestimate the importance of a class that you think is just a requirement to graduate. I hated writing when I came to college and I dreaded having to take that required first-year writing class, but I ended up loving it and learned things I still use today. So pay attention and don’t brush off your gen ed classes.
- Don’t give up. Whether you’re an incoming freshman, a non-traditional student returning to school, an international student, or even a returning student, college is difficult! You are going to take some tough classes and you might even feel like you don’t deserve to be there. But you can do it! Go to tutoring BEFORE you’re failing the class…not after. The university offers many resources like the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS+) that can help you master the skills needed to be successful in each of your courses.
- Professors are there to help. Don’t be the student who always blames the professor: “He/She didn’t explain the material,” “I didn’t know what to study,” etc. I would ask students if they had emailed the professor with their questions or gone to their office hours…the answer was always no. Email the professor! Go to their office hours! Because in the end, it won’t matter how much you blame the teacher for not doing well in the class… it’s 100% on you to succeed.
- Don’t stress about the little things. Chances are, you’re going to receive a grade at some point that isn’t exactly what you wanted. It’s OKAY. Stressing over small things instead of looking at the big picture leads to a lot of student anxiety. Although grades are important, having fun and making memories are important as well. Find a balance.