It’s that time again. Every semester brings a new promise of spending a lot of money, reading a lot of books, writing a lot of articles, and pulling a lot of all-nighters. If this isn’t your first year in college, then you know exactly how things go when it comes to the questions you have about your classes. If this is your first year, then be prepared to ask a friend or your professor these 10 questions...
1. Is there an attendance policy?
College classes can be hard to attend, especially if you have an 8 AM three days out of the week. Who knows how we did 7am-2pm every day during high school!? Find out whether your professor requires you to be there every day. Some will make it necessary and even drop your grade after you miss so many classes. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW!!!
2. Do I need to buy scantrons and if so, what kind?
Scantrons can be one of the biggest pains. You’ll find yourself feeling even more broke than you ever have when you’re scrambling to find 25 cents in the very bottom of your book bag at 9 AM. Not only do you have to make sure you have a quarter, you have to know the exact kind that you need and trust me… there are so many different ones.
3. Do I have to buy the book?
COLLEGE BOOKS COST SO MUCH! It can be really annoying to pay $600 out of pocket for 4 books that you will never actually use. Make sure during syllabus week that you find out if you actually have to purchase the book. Some professors put all the information that you need to know online so you don’t have to spend the money.
4. Do I know somebody in each of my classes and if not, who will I befriend?
It is super important to make friends in your classes. If you miss a day and the teacher isn’t responding to your email about the homework, then you will have to rely on someone in there to help you out.
5. Is there extra credit available?
When we first start the semester, we expect that we will make an A in every class and pass with flying colors. This is not always the case and sometimes you may be barely holding on to a C. It is important to go ahead and take advantage of every extra credit opportunity that your professor gives you.
6. Does the teacher randomly call on people to ask questions?
If you’re anything like me, you hate being called out in class. Especially when you’ve been day dreaming for the last 10 minutes. Go ahead and get a feel for the professor and see how he asks questions to save yourself the embarrassment.
7. How hard is the workload?
No class is going to be super easy and just give you a good grade, but some classes can be CRAZY expensive. If you know that you work a full-time job or have a lot of important commitments, then make sure you’re not taking on more than you can handle. There is no shame in trying out another teacher during the drop/add week if you know that you’re going to be miserable.
8. What grade do I need to pass?
College isn’t about just sliding by, but let's face it, some classes are NOT easy and some subjects are NOT our best subjects. Don’t plan to get a low grade, but you do need to know what grade is required to pass. It will help you in the long run if you find yourself struggling to keep up.
9. When is the first exam or paper?
Some teachers are ready to start you out right away and will plan an exam or paper due just a few days into the semester. Make sure you’re keeping up with the due dates of everything. There is nothing worse than walking into class completely unprepared.
10. Are the PowerPoints available online?
Some professors won’t post what they show in class online so it’s up to you to get everything down right away. If a professor has their PowerPoints online, then you can print them off and bring them to class. Instead of worrying about making sure you wrote everything down, you can pay more attention to what the professor is saying and highlight the most important points.
