Tips to Be Successful in Your First Year

First-year students participating in the Honor Code Ceremony (pictured above). 

Meredith College kicked off the fall semester this week! In today’s blog, we share some advice to help our first-year students have a successful and strong academic year.

Manage Your Time Wisely

As a first-year college student, you’re likely juggling several responsibilities at once while adjusting to a new chapter in your life. Your schedule in college may also be more flexible than you’re used to, which means you will be responsible for holding yourself accountable. Managing your time wisely will be essential to being successful in your first year.

• Schedule blocks of time to get things done. Create a plan that works for you and take time each week(end) to block out your schedule – class, study/homework time, meals, meetings, and free time.
• Make a to-do list. Prioritize timely and larger tasks, like a group project or studying for an exam.
• Plan ahead. You will receive your syllabi for all of your classes in the first week of the semester. When you are doing your weekly scheduling, you can block time to prepare for any major tests, projects, or exams. There is nothing worse than waiting until the last minute to cram or write a long paper the night before it is due. Procrastination is not your friend!
• Take care of yourself. Be sure to give yourself time each week to go to the fitness center, relax, or do something for yourself. If you get too overwhelmed and need some help, visit the Learning Center or Counseling Center. They’re here to help you!

Get Involved and Build Relationships

Getting involved on campus is the best way to connect with your campus community, make friends, and develop great leadership skills that will be essential post-college. Meredith has over 100 student organizations that represent a broad range of interests.

Clubs and Organizations

Whether it be an intramural sport, an interest group, student government, or your campus activities board – all have so many benefits! Here are a few:

• Feeling connected to your school. Colleges and universities have so many resources for their students. However, it is your responsibility as a student to seek them out. Being involved on campus is an important investment in your undergraduate experience.
• Being part of a community. You will want to create a community for yourself in your new home. Getting involved means discovering new friends and peers with similar interests.
• Discovering your passion and strengths. With campus involvement comes learning new things about yourself, what you are good at, and what you care about. These things will follow you throughout your life.
• Developing leadership skills. Being involved on campus can have an impact on the out-of-the-classroom skills that are helpful in college and beyond – like teamwork, delegation, conflict resolution, and communication.

Know Your Resources

Colleges and universities all come equipped with helpful resources for students to succeed. At Meredith, those include the Learning Center, Disability Services, Counseling Center, Financial Assistance, Career Center, Student Health and Wellness Center, Carlyle Campbell Library, academic advising, your Success Coach, your Resident Advisor, and countless more. These offices come fully staffed with professionals who have a passion for supporting students and helping them to make the most out of their undergraduate experience.

How a College Can Provide Support During Your College Journey

Know this: never again in your life will you find so many different resources in one place. Take advantage of these campus resources that are provided for your benefit.