The first week of classes can be really daunting. You meet a different teacher for almost every class, meet different students in all your classes, some of your lectures are so huge you feel so small and some of them have like 20 students and you feel really exposed.
But have no fear! Her Campus USC is here! We’ve put together 12 things you can expect during your first week.
1. Lectures
During your first week you only have lectures – you will not have tutorial classes, computer lab classes, science lab classes, etc. just lectures! That’s good right? This eases every student into university life and the first lecture for each classes will almost always be just an overview of the course for the whole semester and some may introduce your first assignment.
2. Textbooks
Don’t buy any textbooks until you have gone to all of your lectures! Even though your course outline tells me you which books to buy, wait til you go to your lectures first. You know why? Your teacher will tell you if it’s defiantly needed because if it’s not you can borrow those textbooks from the Reserve area at the USC library. So you may save wheals of money! This goes for all international/exchange students too!
3. Making Friends
Don’t expect to make friends in your classes during your first week. You will definitely make friends with who you stay with in your dorm – no doubt! But… Most people will be feeling overwhelmed and will most likely want to get it over and done with. But don’t stress! Some teachers like to do an ‘introduce yourself’ exercise where you meet and talk to the person next to you for a couple minutes. Sometimes this takes the pressure off! Just be you and enjoy it!
4. Take Notes!
At USC your teachers will put the lecture slides they show you in class up on the Blackboard portal, which is where you keep in touch with teachers and students, see all of your classes, assignments and updates. The reason why we say take notes is because some of the stuff they might tell you may not be on the lecture slides. Another tip? As soon as they go up on Blackboard, print them out! You never know when they will be deleted and you might need them for you mid-semester exams!
5. Course Outlines
Have all your course outlines either printed, saved in your iPad/iPhone etc. You will need them!! These are more important then your textbooks! They will tell you what books you need to read each week, what you’ll be learning each week, what chapters of books to read and it outlines all your assignments and will tell you if you will be having exams! They even outline what to do for each assignment before your teacher tells you! They also give you all your deadlines! They are very important, so don’t lose them!
6. Blackboard
Make Blackboard your new best friend. There is even an app you can download now! Just search: Blackboard on your iPad, iPhone or tablet device. You can also access it on the USC website home page on just click here.
7. Checking Emails
Check your emails at least once a week! This is the way your teacher will communicate with you and you with them! You can also access your USC email account the USC website home page or just click here.
8. USC ID and Logging In
After you’ve received your USC ID card and username and password, you will use the same username and password for your email, Blackboard, for USC Central via the home page on the USC website and when you log in to any computer on campus. Your ID card is used for printing purposes and can be used to access class rooms!
9. The Library
Make the library your second best friend! You will basically live here for the next three or so years so make the most of it! Also join in on a library tour so you know about each floor of the library, how to use the computers and navigate books.
10. Studying
If you can’t study by yourself, over the next few weeks make some friends who like to study together. You won’t regret it and you’ll make friends for life! It could be some of your roommates, class mates, people you’ve met around the campus or people you’ve met after joining a campus club.
11. Asking Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions in your tutorials/lab classes, etc. You’ll regret it and you will also be graded on your participation in class.
12. Have Fun!
Just have fun! If you don’t, you will look back on all the missed opportunities. Sure you have to get good scores and study but you can have fun too! Hit up Fridays or O’Malleys on Sunday! Or check out our complete college guide for USC here!