Quick Start Checklist for the First Week of Classes Register for your classes before the term begins

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  Register for your classes before the term begins.
  

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  Obtain a printout of your classes.
  

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  Create a class schedule. Your class schedule shows the name of each course, the time of the course, the location and room number, and the instructor’s name. On the bottom of the form, label the blocks of time for each class. A form for a class schedule follows this checklist.
  

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  Become familiar with the campus and the locations of key departments, services, and facilities. If campus tours are not available, use a campus map to locate and then visit the following areas:
  
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    Your classrooms
    
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    Restrooms close to your classrooms
    
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    Convenient parking areas or bus stops
    
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    Library
    
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    Computer labs
    
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    Bookstore
    
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    Tutoring centers
    
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    Financial Aid office
    
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    Career Counseling, Counseling, and Advising offices
    
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    Student Records or Registrar’s office
    
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    Student Health
    
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    Student Activities/Student Government offices
    
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    Cafeteria
    
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    Student lounges
    

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  Inquire how to access computer labs, an e-mail account, and the Internet. You may need to obtain a student account to use the computers and/or pay fees for access to the computer labs. Making these arrangements as soon as possible will provide you with computer lab access without unnecessary delays.
  

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  Obtain a student photo ID or any other form of student identification required on your campus.
  

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  Visit the library. Learn the procedures for locating and checking out materials, the hours of operation, and the availability of library orientations or workshops. Familiarize yourself with the library system used to locate materials, the data bases available, and other library resources.
  

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  Organize your notebooks. Use dividers to set up a three-ring notebook with sections for each of your classes. If you need more than one notebook, consider using one notebook for MWF classes and another for the Tues/Thurs. classes. In each section of your notebook, organize the following materials:
  
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    Your weekly schedule
    
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    The course syllabus you will receive the first day of class
    
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    Course assignment sheets, if provided
    
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    A list of tutors or tutoring centers available
    
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    A list of names and phone numbers of other students in the class whom you may want to call to discuss homework or meet for a study group
    
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    All of your class notes, handouts, completed assignments, and tests arranged in chronological order
    

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  Create a term-long calendar. Locate a month-by-month planner or use a regular calendar to record all of the following:
  

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  Scheduled tests and midterm exams as shown on your
  

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  Due dates for special projects
  
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  Tutoring or study-group meetings
  
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  Conferences or special events on campus
  
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  Holidays
  
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  Important deadlines on campus for adding or dropping classes, changing grade options, or paying fees
  
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  Final exams as shown on campus term calendars.
  

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  Select a system to use to record all of your homework assignments. While
  

front of your notebook section for each class. Train yourself to write

assignments on the form every time an assignment is given in class. Following are examples of two possible formats you can use for assignment sheets.
MATH 60

Date	Assignment	Due	Done
10/3	Read pages 110-125	10/5	
	Do odd-numbered problems p. 112, 113, 118, 125	10/5	
10/5	Study for Chapter 3 quiz	10/7

Week of:___________________________

Classes	Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
Math	Read p. 11-125 Do odd-numbered problems, p. 112, 115	Do odd-numbered problems, p. 121, 123, 125	Read 126-130. Do even-numbered problems, p. 127, 130	Study for the quiz on Friday.
Composition	Read p. 85-98		Make writing plan; write 1st draft		Edit draft; Finalize.
Psychology		Read Ch. 3 Take notes		Answer questions on p. 46-47; Do online practice test
Computer	Do module 3	Do module 4	Do lab projects for module 3 and 4	Do module 5	Do lab project for module 5

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  Become familiar with your textbooks by surveying each book. Before you begin attending classes, get a head start by surveying your textbooks. Surveying is the process of previewing or looking through specific sections to get an overview. When you survey a new textbook, do the following:
  
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    Read the introduction and the “To the Student” section of information.
    
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    Examine the material in the back of the textbook. This often involves looking at the appendix, the glossary, and the index. The appendix may contain answer keys, additional exercises, practice tests, additional reading materials, charts, formulas, maps, or other documents. The glossary is the course-specific dictionary with definitions of key terms. The index is an alphabetical list of subjects to help you quickly located information in the textbook.
    
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    Glance through the chapters. Pay special attention to chapter features that will help you study and learn the chapter content. This may include objectives, outlines, a list of terms to know, visual materials, notes in the margins, chapter summaries, and chapter review questions.
    

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  Show up the first day of class ready to learn. Many students know the term begins more smoothly when they are in class the first day and ready to work. This is the day that instructors discuss the syllabus and course expectations and often ask students to introduce themselves in class. Following are additional suggestions to begin using the first day of class:
  

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  Be punctual. Arrive before class begins.
  
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  Sit toward the front of the classroom. You will be able to see better, will concentrate more easily, and will show that you are interested in the course.
  
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  Arrive prepared with your notebook, paper, pencils, pens, and the textbook.
  
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  Be friendly! Show others that you are approachable and willing to be a part of the group. Your positive attitude helps set a positive tone in the classroom.
  
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  Be attentive and listen carefully as information about the course is explained.
  
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  Use a highlighter to highlight important information discussed in the syllabus.
  
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  Take notes. Later in the term you will learn several effective notetaking systems. For now, begin the habit of writing down information as it is presented.
  

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  Make a commitment to dedicate sufficient time each week for studying. One of the most common mistakes students make involves allocating too little time for studying. The amount of time spent studying has a high correlation to academic success. Students who spend too little time reading, studying, memorizing, and reviewing struggle with the process of learning. You will learn about time management in Chapter 4, but for now, plan to begin using the following strategies:
  

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  Use the 2:1 ratio for studying. For most or all of your classes that involve textbook reading assignments and written work, plan to study two hours for every one hour in class. For example, most three-credit classes meet three hours a week, so you would plan to study nine hours a week for that class.
  
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  Study for each class at specific times during the week. Strive to create a routine that becomes habitual. Plan to study a few hours every day of the week.
  

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  Ask questions. Becoming an active learner is important. Be willing to show your
  

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  Monitor your stress levels. Some stress at the beginning of the term and as the
  

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  Monitor your attitude. A positive, inquisitive, eager-to-learn attitude enhances the learning process. A negative, disagreeable, or complaining attitude hinders your performance and the learning process. Strive to display your positive side in class, with your instructor, and with your classmates from the very first day in class. Prepare yourself to enjoy the new class and the new opportunity to learn and expand your mind!
  

Scroll down to the form to use for a class schedule.