First Year To Do List

Before Classes Start

1. Attend Pre-Orientation and New Student Days - Orientation has been designed to provide you with important information about life in the classroom and life on campus that will help you succeed in your new surroundings. Orientation is also the opportunity to meet your new classmates for the first time.

2. Be aware of transitional issues that first-year students face - The transition from high school to college can be difficult even for the most prepared.  Discuss with your parents the common transitional issues and steps you can take to be proactive.

3. Ask yourself the question, “Why am I going to college?” – Identify your goals and what you want to accomplish while at Wittenberg.

First Week of Classes

1. Review your syllabi – Make sure you understand what you are expected to do.

2. Use your academic planner – Use your syllabi and write in weekly assignments, deadlines for projects, important dates and deadlines such as the last day to drop a class, etc.

3. Develop a study plan –Getting yourself organized is very important to your overall success!  This means that you need to plan your week out and make sure you set realistic goals to allow you to meet all your assignment deadlines. Make sure you have a dedicated study area that is comfortable and allows you to concentrate.  Professors expect 2 hours of serious preparation for every hour of class.  Use your time constructively!

During the Semester

1. Evaluate your progress in your courses - If you aren’t doing as well as you would have liked, then get some extra help from campus tutoring, your classmates, and your professors.

2. Study with others - One great way to enhance your learning is to study with others. Develop your own informal study group by asking others in your class to meet regularly to discuss your lectures and assignments. This can help you broaden your knowledge and your social network as well! 

3. Examine your study habits and make any necessary changes.   Are you studying in a place that has no distractions? Do you have the assigned readings done before class? Are you reviewing your lecture notes before and after class and adding notes of clarification?  How do you prepare for exams?