How to Get the Best Possible Start at University or College

1
How to Get the Best Possible Start at University
or College
2

• College can be a rite of passage.
  Unfortunately, it can also be a rite of passage
  thats often rife with obstacles, confusion and
  stress. For most students, stress and confusion
  begins as soon as the first semester or classes
  begin. However, there are some ways you can
  alleviate this stress and confusion. Doing this,
  will give you a head start and help make you a
  successful student in the future. To start your
  first school year successfully
• Find a Nice, Quiet Place to Study
• Research Your Classes and Professors
• Track Your Assignments and Exams

3
Find a Nice, Quiet Place to Study

• It doesnt matter if you live in a residence
  hall or in University of Alberta off campus
  housing, you should explore your new environment
  to find potential places to study. The most
  obvious and common study areas include the
  library and study lounges. Additionally, reading
  rooms or learning commons can also be quiet, less
  crowded places to study. However, you should be
  on the look out for unlikely and interesting
  study areas.

4
Research Your Classes and Professors

• Before starting your courses, you should
  research them and your professors. This will help
  you get acquainted with the course material
  before the semester begins. It will also help you
  learn what to expect as a student and from each
  of your classes and instructors. You might need
  this basic preparation later, such as when you
  move off campus and search for apartments for
  rent near University of Alberta.

5

• To prepare for your classes and academic
  life
• Learn your professors names, email
  addresses, phone numbers, offices hours and
  locations, student expectations and professional
  and academic expertise and backgrounds
• Obtain all textbooks and other course
  materials
• Find a study buddy, study group or
  someone to share notes and other course material
  with
• Read the syllabi for all your courses

6

• Consult with your advisor on potential
  complicated courses
• Research and record drop dates, as well as
  the drop procedures
• Memorise your student identification number
• Skim your student handbook and read the
  most important or relevant sections, such as
  penalties for rule violations, procedures for
  dropping classes or taking a hiatus, etc.

7
Track Your Assignments and Exams

• The most prepared and successful students
  usually create and maintain course calendars that
  feature pertinent information about their
  classes, assignments and exams. This calendar is
  an effective way to map out your assignments,
  track project milestones or deadlines and record
  exam dates. Its also a great place to record
  grades, track progress on assignments or papers
  and set academic goals.

8

• For the best results, record all due dates on
  your calendar at the beginning of the first
  semester, chart the steps and milestones that
  will help you complete major papers or
  assignments, create realistic daily, weekly and
  monthly goals and sync your calendar milestones
  with Smartphone alerts (unless the calendar is
  stored on the phone). Creating a calendar can
  make you a more successful student, but it should
  be paired with proper time management. Try not to
  procrastinate, cram or begin assignments or
  papers at the last minute. This will help ensure
  your work is organised and well throughout.