First Year Students

College Fundamentals

What to Expect from College

Freedom
There's lots of freedom. Managing it may be the greatest challenge and the most valuable lesson of your college career. In college, your courses and activities are basically unstructured. It's up to you to manage your freedom wisely.

Choices
Choices go with the freedom. Will you go to class or sleep in? Study or catch a movie? In actuality, a host of little decisions determine the direction your college experience will take you.

Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural reaction to the many new things you'll be facing. New people. New ideas. New experiences. If it makes you feel any better, most of your classmates are sorting out some of the same confusing feelings.

Homesickness
Homesickness is nothing to be ashamed of; it's natural. Even if you're really happy to be on your own, you probably miss some things about your friends, your family, your home turf!

Excitement
You're on your own, you're learning a lot of good stuff and meeting lots of interesting people, and a whole new world of ideas is opening up to you. If you're not excited, you're not paying attention. If you are prepared to meet the new life situations that college presents, chances are you will find them great fun.

Selecting Classes in College

Study the Catalog Carefully
Know what courses are offered by carefully reading the Class Schedule Bulletin. Make sure to read the undergraduate student catalog and know what classes you will be required to take. Also look at what electives are available and which ones interest you the most.

Ask Other Students About Courses and Instructors
Get recommendations from students about good professors. Look up these professors in the catalog and see if you can enroll in their course.

Take a Light Load the first Semester
You should take no more than 15 credits during your first year of college. This will give you time to adjust to college-level work. You can take more credits when you get situated with college.

Evaluate Your Academic Strengths and Weakness
Do not register for more than one course that you know will be especially difficult for you. What this means is that do not take calculus, biology, and chemistry all in one shot.

Select Courses In a Variety of Subjects
This will expose you to a variety of areas which can help you later on to decide on a major. By taking courses in many areas you will be a more rounded individual.

Choose Classes that take place during your best hours
Some students are morning people, others are more alert in the afternoon. If you find it hard to get going before nine, do not sign up for an 8 a.m. class.

Do not Schedule Classes Back-to-Back
If you have one right after another there will be no time for review, preparation, or a break in between.

Be Prepared to Register
Make sure you familiarize yourself with the Blugold System. After you select your courses, make sure to be ready to register. Some classes have limited enrollments. Be ready with second choices in case a class is full.