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Manage your time: Procrastination is not something that can happen anymore. Assignments may be due in a week but little do you know; more assignments will come up and soon you will be buried. Build blocks of time into your schedule just to do work. Any free moments you have start, some work. Set deadlines for yourself to stay ahead.
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Stay Organized: Buy a planner, post it notes, and a to-do list. Color code your schedule, keep documents and papers organized into a file for different classes. Make deadlines in your syllabi clear and always put things where they belong.
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Use your professor’s email and office hours: You may be scared to email your professors because it seems intimidating but building a rapport with professors is the best thing you can do. Not only are they there for questions, but reaching out gives you the advantage. If you email or visit office hours with a professor for paper ideas, critiques, or just general advice it will not only improve your grades but maybe get connections your professor will most definitely have.
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Do not overwhelm yourself with too many credits: I did it so this is a personal warning to not. Taking 18 credits your first semester is overwhelming. Although you may feel you can conquer the world, adjusting to living at school and managing yourself becomes very challenging. Give yourself time for self-care and adjustment.
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Look at your syllabi: This is not highschool anymore your syllabus for a class is the key to success. In some classes, deadlines and assignments will never be mentioned, you have to rely on the syllabus to provide those examples. Not only for assignments, the syllabus also explains absentee policies, grading systems, office hours, and resources!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pace chapter.