What to Expect in the Classroom

College academics are very different from high school. You spend only 12 to 16 hours in the classroom each week; you arrange your own schedule; you are responsible for following a class syllabus to understand the expectations of your professor; and you may have to read 100's of pages to prepare for just one class lecture.

Classes

Attendance: It is important that you attend class regularly whether it is a lecture or lab; class attendance is the single easiest thing you can do to guarantee success in college. It has been proven that the best students hardly ever miss class. Although some college classes have over 100 students many have only fifteen or twenty, and the professor will know you are missing; many professors count class attendance and participation in final grades.

Scheduling: You will have hundreds of classes to choose from when you register and it is important to create a schedule that sets you up for success. The following tips and strategies are important to consider when you schedule your first year:

• Review the Course Catalog: The catalog will allow you to see what the core requirements are for each major and the courses that are offered within each department. Within each category of classes, the lists begin with introductory-level courses and end with more challenging, higher-level classes. You should mark classes in the catalog that interest you and if you know what you want to major in you should select some of the general requirements for your major.
• Utilize Your Advisor: You should consult with your advisor when scheduling classes and whenever you have academic concerns or questions. You are assigned an advisor who knows the curriculum needs of your program and it is required for registration and always important to take advantage of their expertise. If your advisor does not fully meet your advising needs, seek the advice of the department head, another professor, or professional staff with whom you are comfortable.
• Get Requirements Out of the Way: Each school and program has core requirements that each student must complete prior to graduation. The number and type of required courses vary from school to school. It is in your best interest to fulfill all core requirements as soon as possible so you can spend your final semesters concentrating on courses in your major.
• Balance: If you are not a morning person, avoid early classes and if you have practice every afternoon avoid late classes. You should take classes that require different kinds of work to strike a balance between work-or reading-intensive classes and lighter, less time-consuming ones. For example, history and English classes tend to require a lot of reading; journalism and political science classes require a lot of writing; and math and science classes will have you solving problem sets and writing lab reports. If you choose a variety of subjects you will be less likely to get stuck with having to read five books or writing five papers in one week.
• Try Something New and Be Flexible: Some classes fill very quickly with upperclassmen and you may not be able to register for all the classes you had hoped. It is important, especially your first semester, to not get discouraged. You have many semesters ahead and it is okay to take electives along the way and try something new to widen your knowledge in other areas.

Classroom Structure: The structure of college classes is dependent on the professor. Some classes are lecture while others are class discussion. During the first class the professor will review the syllabus and you should be able to gauge what the class structure will be. Material is presented at a fast pace and notes are not distributed; you must decide on your own from the lecture what is important to take notes on. You will need to review your class notes and text material regularly so that you can actively participate in class discussions. In college, professors expect you to participate and to voice your thoughts in class and disagreeing with the professor's opinion is okay and often appreciated.

Professors

Each professor has their own style of teaching. Some professors will appear to be very approachable and others will be much more serious. Professors are experts in their area of research and should be utilized whenever you are having trouble in class. Professors hold office hours each week outside of class, take advantage of this if you are struggling and seek out help early; your professor may take this into consideration in your final grade.

Grades

The class syllabus will clearly outline how you will be graded. In some classes your final grade may be dependent on only one or two papers or tests; it is common that small assignments are not graded. It is very important that you pay close attention to your syllabus and know when all assignments are due and what are required of those assignments. Most professors give a grade for class participation, thus not being in class can be detrimental to your final grade.

Studying

College is a full time job, for every hour you spend in class you should spend 2-3 hours reading and studying to prepare outside of class. You are responsible for knowing all assigned readings, even if they are not covered in lecture, the material will be tested on exams and you will need to reference it in written assignments.

• Develop a routine of where and when you study and decide in advance what you will study in each session with set, reasonable goals that you can accomplish.
• Study in an area with good light, a comfortable temperature and ample desk space.
• Utilize spare time between classes to avoid studying late in the evening when you tend to be tired and work inefficiently.
• Turn off cell phones, TV, the Internet and other distractions.
• Take breaks so that you stay alert and don't waste time looking at material but not absorbing it.
• Determine your learning style. Highlight your notes and text book and rewrite or type notes if that is your style of learning.
• Find classmates who are interested in forming study groups and whom you can call if you have questions about class.
• Always seek help from your professor or a tutor if you are not grasping a subject, it is easier to do it early than when it is too late to recover from several bad grades.