Written by Jenna Ajello
The first day of class can be so exciting but nevertheless absolutely nerve-wracking. If your schedule still isn’t the one you were hoping for, you are nervous for what the semester will bring for you, or don’t know how to set yourself up for success you’ve come to the right place!
Building a good schedule is one of the most important parts of ensuring you have a successful semester managing a good workload balance, filling those requirements, and opening yourself up to more opportunities. Syllabus week is a good time to learn more about your classes and see if they are the right fit for you. Here are some suggestions.
1 – Read your syllabus thoroughly.
Pay attention to things like workload, exam dates, and attendance policies. For example, you may not want to take four very heavy reading classes all in the same semester if you do not have to. Keep an eye out for when exams are scheduled and look for any conflicts with your other classes. Professors are more likely to give leniency when you ask for help very early in the semester. Many students use programs such as Google Calendar or phone reminders to not miss important deadlines. Also keep a close eye for attendance policies. Sometimes missing a day or two of class can drop you an entire letter grade.
2 – Meet your professor.
Showing up to office hours is a good look. This helps them know who you are and that you care. Here you can ask questions early and get a feel for what they want to see. You may find here that the course workload may be a bit heavier than you thought or that the course isn’t what you expected.
3 – You have time.
If you are a freshman and can’t find a COLL 100/ COLL 150 that fits in your schedule properly or a degree requirement that seems super daunting right now, that’s ok. You have plenty of time to do it later. You can always fill other requirements now, get used to college life then take it when you are ready. Just be sure to talk to an advisor before making changes.
4 – Ask for help.
There are so many resources available at William and Mary who can steer you in the right direction including:
- Your pre-major advisor
- Your major advisor (if you have declared already)
- The Advising Center
- Your peer advisor
- Pre-track advisors, ex. (Pre-med, Pre-dental, Pre-veterinary, Pre-PA etc.)
- A student success coach – (free to book through Penji)
- A tutor – also available on Penji (https://web.penjiapp.com/communities/tbSI2HZdxO/learn)
All of these resources are here to help you. It can often be beneficial to seek more than one!
Best of luck 🙂
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