How to start the semester off correctly:

Read through the syllabus after the first class. This helps you get familiar with your classes and your workload. It is important to do this as early as possible. You might find out your work load is going to be too much. If you find this out early, you can still change your schedule. Be prepared for a lot of information. Yes, you will forget most of it, but it’s still important to familiarize yourself.

Introduce yourself to the people next to you in class. This can be quite challenging and out of your comfort zone. However, making that first awkward attempt can save you down the road. It’s nice to know the people you share a table with, and they can help you if you missed class or don’t understand something. Also, you will probably be sitting next to the same people all semester because people are territorial about “their” seat.

Mark down your professors’ office hours in your planner notes section. I cannot tell you the number of times I needed to see a professor, but was to lazy to dig through the syllabus to find their office hours. Preventing this extra step will help ensure you go see your professors when you need to. Compile a list of all of your professors, their office location, and their office hours. Place this list in your planner, somewhere in your computer, or send yourself an easily searchable email.

Introduce yourself to your professor. However, DO NOT DO THIS ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. Instead, go into office hours a few days later. The first day of school is hectic for everyone. Instead of overwhelming your professor when he’s not going to remember you, go in later to allow the first interaction to be positively memorable. When you go to office hours you are showing that 1) you know where their office is, 2) you aren’t afraid to go, and 3) you aren’t one of the many people who introduce themselves on the first day and never say hello again. While you are in your professor’s office ask any questions you didn’t during the first class, and express you are excited for their class.

Ask a question on the first day of class. Now, I hate asking questions. Mostly, I feel like I don’t have any important or urgent questions. However, every professor I had this semester was “disappointed” with my class for not asking any questions on the first day. Make a good impression by asking something–anything! Some ideas include:

How do you suggest we study for your class? What does it take to be successful in this class? How many hours do you expect we dedicate to this class everyday?

What’s tricky is sometimes the professor will answer all of these in their first day lecture. If they do, and you can’t think of anything to ask, don’t panic! You can always think of something to ask when you visit their office hours.



Rip the band-aid off. Chances are, you haven’t been doing a lot of school work during the break and you don’t really want to start back up again. You have that feeling where you hand forgot how to hold your pencil the comfortable way, and all the new January movies just arrived on Netflix. Be careful because it is way too easy to get behind at the beginning of the semester. Find the balance to enjoy college, but also pass. Remember, C’s may get degrees, but not internships.

After a couple days, when your schedule is set in stone, write down deadlines in your planner. You don’t want to do this right away because you might still drop/add a class from your schedule. Also, WRITE IN PENCIL. I love colorful pens and color-coding my planner. However, I also hate when the schedule gets changed and my entire planner is off by a day, and I can’t change it because I wrote in pen. The schedule could be adjusted by a single day because of the professor’s sick toddler, or because of a weather-related day off. Either way, be prepared for changes.

Search for your study spot. I like to have different study spots based on the weather, and how busy the library is. Look for a few, and see where you will focus the most. It’s important to have an area that you associate with studying, and only studying. This will help you focus when you are in that spot. If you had a nice spot last semester but you constantly procrastinated there, pick a new spot! New semester, new spot, new study habits!

Hope this helps! ~Em