Starting anything new can be overwhelming, especially college. College admissions season in full swing: Florida State University (FSU) admission decisions were recently released. here is what to expect during your first week of classes at FSU and how to best prepare for this transitional life period.
The biggest difference between classes in high school and in college is the amount of individual responsibility required for academic success. In high school, classes begin early in the morning and end in the mid-afternoon. Bells and administrative staff move students from class to class. Teachers explain the homework in class. However, in college, students usually only have one to four classes per day and the classes differ depending on the day of the week, meaning some classes meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while others meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The professor usually lectures during the class meeting time and then students are responsible for completing their assignments, studying for exams and allocating their time outside of class to comprehend the course material in the best way for them.
Preparing for your first day can seem stressful, as there is no set checklist on what to bring and buy. It’s always a good idea to come to your first class with a notebook, pencil and a laptop or a device you can type and access the internet on. You never know what to expect and sometimes professors may begin introducing the course material during the first class meeting. Additionally, many professors tend to publish the course syllabus on Canvas (the course management platform used at FSU) several days before the first day of class. This will include the grading scale breakdown, required course materials and other information about the course. It is always a good idea to hold off from buying the textbook before the first day of class because it may not always be required and the professor may even let students know in class that it is optional to buy.
The first week of classes will bombard you with information and it may become difficult to keep everything straight for all your classes. I highly recommend either purchasing a weekly planner or utilizing a free organizational site, such as Google Calendar, so you know your schedule and the work you need to complete. Sites like Google Calendar are a great tool to use because they give you notifications 30 minutes (or whichever increment of time you choose) prior to your scheduled event.
Another thing to keep in mind is punctuality. Especially during the first week of classes at FSU, it is important to arrive at your classes on time. Florida State University has a drop/add policy where if you are not present on the first day of the course, a professor will mark you as absent and you will be dropped from the course. Therefore, it is crucial to plan out your day to allow for ample travel time so that this doesn’t happen. FSU is notorious for having hectic campus parking garages, so you don’t want to be late to class because you can’t find a spot.
Although it may seem stressful, staying organized and planning ahead is an easy way to ensure your first week of classes at FSU go smoothly.
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