TIPS FOR FIRST AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS

In addition to becoming familiar with campus resources, it's important to know how to utilize them:

1. Familiarize yourself with the campus resources available to you prior to using them
2. If you make an appointment - show up on time and go prepared
3. Try to conduct as much business as possible in person
4. Don't wait until it's too late to seek assistance
5. Advocate for yourself
6. Be patient
   

Things to consider :

1. Attend class - academic success starts by attending your classes! Remember attendance may also count toward your overall grade for certain courses. Consult your syllabus for key information
2. Be prepared - allow 2 hours of study time for each credit hour for which you are registered
3. Manage your time - plan time for class, study, work, sleep, eating, exercising, campus activities, out side of class projects and meetings
4. Ask for help! Take advantage of academic success services on campus (tutors, tutoring labs, learning centers, and reading and writing centers)
5. Know who your advisor is and how to connect with him/her in-person and via phone/email
6. Get to know your instructors - how they instruct, what their office hours are, and what they expect from you. Your relationship may turn itself into opportunities to participate in research, internship development and, later, references for graduate school or professional employment
7. Check your University e-mail (@hartford.edu) on a regular basis. It’s important to maintain on-going communication with your Advisor and professors – become familiar with their preferred method of communication as well
8. Get involved on campus as a way of forming connections to the campus community, building transferable skills, and forging new friendships
9. If undecided, consider selecting a field of study with subject matter and activities that interest you – if you’re interested in the courses, you are more likely to enjoy them and earn higher grades
10. Think about what skills you want to improve and choose courses that will help you reach these goals, as well as participation in on-campus opportunities
11. Take responsibility for your education and work hard
12. Try new things instead of staying within your comfort zone
13. Consider a minor as another avenue to explore your interests and develop a diverse set of skills

Reflect: What am I currently doing that is contributing to my academic success? What will I do within the next week? Two weeks? that will enhance my potential for academic success?

Handout: Tips for 1st and 2nd year students (pdf)

Helpful Links:
Student Interaction
Social Development
Tips for Freshman

QUESTION?

How do you realistically choose your classes, balance your semester load and structure your day to match your personal patterns? - Try on this advice:

Before you sign up: do you learn better in the morning or afternoon? How long can you pay attention? Are you able to resist late-night parties in favor of studying? What subjects come to you most easily? - Honestly answering questions like these will lead you toward forming a schedule that will work for you.

Don't forget to work out your schedule before the registration date arrives!

Scheduling your first class of the day: try scheduling your first class in a favorite subject - this might help jumpstart you into "class mode" by a course you won't want to miss.

No time to study: how about structuring your day with some time in the library - and go there!

Semester strategies: How long can you sit and listen? Do you prefer a 3 hour class one time per week or three 1 hour classes in a week instead? It's important too to pick and schedule classes that make you work in a variety of ways - short papers, long papers, group work. Read descriptions in the undergraduate bulletin or talk to professors for clues about what a course entails. Also, make sure you plan something in your schedule that you already know you do well and that you love doing - aerobics class, editing the school newspaper.

Balancing work load with activity: Like to finish your afternoon with physical activity? How about taking kick boxing, spinning, racquetball or another fun course for credit? A no-homework physical education class balances your study load and gives you a chance to unwind.

The flexibility of college schedules gives you a chance to create structure that suits your personal style.

*adapted from Next Step Magazine and The New York Times

Choosing courses can be a confusing task. There are many different requirements and so many courses from which to choose! Intentionally select courses with one or more of the following purposes in mind:

to choose a major or confirm your choice is a good "fit"

to acquire a minor or build a concentration that will complement your major

to broaden your perspectives on the world around you

to become a more balanced or complete individual

to handle practical life tasks that face you now and in the future

to strengthen your career development and employment prospects after graduation

(Cuseo, 2005)

Handout: Investigate UHA Academic Programs (pdf)

$EXPENSES TIP$: keep a summary of your total spending every two weeks or so. After a month or two of this, you should have a pretty good idea of your average monthly costs. For financial management tips, visit the Finman - Financial Management Tips for Students

Helpful Links:
Coursework Strategies - University of Hartford's Center for Reading and Writing
Assignment Strategies - University of Hartford's Department of Rhetoric, Language, and Culture
Guide on How to Study - University of Central Florida
Academic Tips.org
Study Skills - North Central State College