When it comes to my college experience, I wish I would have found someone to tell me all the secrets. Like how to get connected with future employers, how to talk to a professor about my final grade, or even just what housing would’ve been best for me. Well, that’s what I’m here to do for you. My goal is to give you some tricks, tips, and tweaks on how to make your college experience the best it can be.
This advice will not all come from me. My peers, professors, and mentors are going to help as well. And also, the advice I give may not always apply to you. It could help someone you know, but you may have a different opinion and that’s okay. These are just some of the things I’ve learned in my past three years at Boise State and I hope they can help in some way.
Registering for classes
When it comes to certain majors, required classes can fill up fast and if you don’t have priority registration it’s important to know what classes you need to take ahead of time. Setting up an appointment with your academic advisor can be a huge help. Not only are they helping with your class schedule and planning for future semesters, but they are a great resource for finding the right fit for you in your major. My academic advisor has suggested courses for me based on my interests and had guided me to pursue a career in sports journalism. Meeting with an academic advisor can help you plan for when the time comes to register for classes. If you’re not sure when that time is, you can view your appointment time in your myBoiseState account.
Don’t take a class before 9 a.m.
We all were there at some point. Waking up at 6 a.m. for high school and going to classes all day long. And we think that continuing that routine in college will be so easy, well I’m here to tell you that we all thought that too. In my first year (because I signed up for a late orientation group), I had to take a 7:30 a.m. math class. Yes, you read that right, 7:30 a.m. Did I sleep in and miss the class a lot? Yes, unfortunately, I did, and somehow managed to still get an A. But take it from me, biking to the quad at 7 a.m. when it’s freezing outside was not my best moment. So unless you’re one of those rare early birds, please don’t do that to yourself either if you can avoid it.
Introduce yourself to your professor
I cannot stress enough how much professors appreciate you shaking their hand and introducing yourself on the first day. Not only do they recognize your eagerness, but it’s a great way to build relationships and connections. Another tip would be to visit your professor during their office hours. They have hours available just to dedicate time to helping students. I’ve received a lot of feedback on papers or even just some answers to questions I had about the class. It’s a great opportunity to utilize that time and it shows your professors that you are dedicated to their class. Professors I’ve had in the past have also helped me to get jobs, put in a good word for internships, or have written me letters of recommendation. Just one simple “hello, my name is _______” has gone a long way for me, so I highly suggest you do the same.