Here are some useful tips I gathered from college seniors to freshman at The University of Scranton:
1. Get Enough Sleep
a. When you're sleeping ping schedule is off, school work and early classes will be difficult to handle.
b. If you end up falling asleep in class your professor might see it as a lack of respect on your part.
c. It's very difficult to concentrate on work when running on a few hours of sleep which will lead to bad quality work.
d. Nap before you start working on assignments so you wake up refreshed.
2. Take Advantage of Your Resources
a. Professors set aside time to sit and chat in their offices and also answer any questions you may have.
b. The Weinberg Memorial Library that s chock-full of tools to help you succeed. If you are lost or need help looking for something in specific, the librarians are there to guide you.
c. The CTLE (Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence) offers student tutors that can answer your questions and help you better understand concepts you are struggling with in class. If you're knowledgeable of what you're doing in class, sign up as a tutor. Research shows, those who can teach what they learn will remember it better and that'll out put on a good track to doing well.
d. The Writing Center is a useful tool when it comes to writing. You can have your paper edited, critiqued or even kick started if you don't know where to begin.
3. There Are Many Opportunities, Know Which Ones to Take
a. You'll have a lot of opportunities to study and get your work done. Especially with all the resources you have at your disposal.
b. On the other hand, you'll also have many opportunities to have fun. There are many events on campus that you can attend and hanging out with friends is always great.
c. Know how to balance the two wisely and manage your time so you're not slacking in class so you can have fun nor straining yourself with so much work where you don't have a social life.
d. There will be opportunities for both fun and study time, balance them.
4. Map Out Your Academic Life
a. Write down all of your assignments in your agenda. It's extremely helpful in keeping on top of your assignments.
b. Plan ahead of your exams by marking them down on your agenda and using your time wisely to study.
c. Read what is given and plan out how much reading you need to do daily. You don't want to cram.
d. The book and lectures go together like peanut butter and jelly. You need both!
e. Outline your materials when studying. Outlines are an elaborate way of encoding information into your brain and will help you better understand it.
5. Get Involved
a. There are always events going on around campus, look around and get involved.
b. Join clubs, great way to meet new people and expand your social skills. Also looks good on your resume.
c. There are also events going on around the city of Scranton and not just the University, so do some searching and attend the events.
d. Have fun! College is a great experience so take advantage of it!
