Carrie’s Guide to Preparing for PCC, Part 3
Missed parts one and two? Catch up using the provided links!
My last two posts have been about how to prepare for college life in general, but this time, I want to focus on preparing for your first day of class.
When I was a freshman, this was the single most terrifying thing about coming to college. Which is humorous as I look back on it now, because college is mostly about . . . well, classes. I had gone to the same school my entire life, so going into a new classroom with a teacher I had never met and classmates that I hadn’t grown up with was intimidating.
So here are some tips for your first day of class.
1.) Don’t be afraid.
If you’re a freshman, you’re probably going to be in classes with a bunch of other freshmen who are just as nervous as you are. Don’t be afraid to talk to the people you’re sitting beside before class. This is another way to meet and get to know new people that you might not have met otherwise.
Also, don’t be afraid of your teachers. Every semester, they teach new students, so they know what you’re feeling. If you get confused about anything they’re talking about, ask questions! They want to help you.
2.) Come prepared.
How are you supposed to do that? Well, I’m glad you asked! You never know exactly what you’re going to need for a class, but here are a few basics that you can count on:
- First of all, some paper. I use regular loose-leaf paper to take all of my notes on, and that hasn’t failed me yet. Also, make sure you have 3x5 cards. You’ll probably be using those at least once a day for the rest of your college career.
- Second, make sure you have your textbook for that class. For certain classes, you won’t need the textbook every day, but it never hurts to have it on the first day.
- Third, bring a pen and a pencil with you. That might seem like a no-brainer, but I have a tendency to forget pencils.
- Finally, I like to keep all of my papers in a three-ring binder. Everyone has their own method for keeping up with their papers, but I like to keep a binder with a pocketed divider for each class I’m in. Then, I can slip course outlines into the dividers and never have to worry about losing them. I pack all of my things in a messenger bag or book bag, but students use every and any kind of bag to carry their things.
3.) Print out your class schedule (and read it).
Fun fact: I skipped my very first class of my college career. I had my schedule, and I read my schedule, but I read the schedule for the wrong day. So I was midway through eating breakfast when one of my friends who was looking at my schedule asked me why I wasn’t in class. Maybe I wasn’t the brightest freshman.
Look forward to your classes! Although they can be intimidating, the classes I took my freshman year have been some of my favorites. If you have any questions about your first day of class, let us know!
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