14 tips to prepare for your first day at college
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How to prepare for your first day of college
You’re excited but a little anxious for your first day of college.
As a professor, I know that I can help you get prepared for college by giving you some unknown secrets to make your day go smoother.
These are likely things you’ve never considered and aren’t your typical tips!
My recommendations will help any college student get prepared for their first day of college. These tips can help freshman and even experienced seniors.
These 14 simple tips will help get you prepared for college and feel more confident.
Why you should be prepared for your first day at college?
Going to college is a big deal.
And even if you are a first-time college student, going back after a break, or about to graduate, it can be nerve-wracking.
By being prepared, you will lessen your nerves. And you’ll have more energy to focus on the things that are more important, like learning.
There are some things you can do that will help you get prepared and set realistic expectations.
I think these are crucial tips because as a professor, I have seen students forget to do some of these things I am going to share below, and I don’t want you to make those same mistakes.
Implement these 14 tips and you’ll be confident for your first day at college.
1.) Walk the campus and find your classrooms
College campuses can be overwhelming.
And if you wait until the day of your classes to find your room, you may be really stressed. You might get lost. And end up being late to your first day of class.
As a professor, countless students approach me in my office to help them find their classrooms. They are frantically searching for their classroom so they aren’t late.
And students get confused frequently in the hallways because it’s a huge campus and lots of students pack the halls the first week of class.
So it’s not unusual to be searching for your class. Instead of adding to your stress, prepare to locate all your classes before. The campus should be open.
PRO TIP : Make sure to check the college’s hours before heading to the campus because summer or winter break could change campus hours.
While you’re on campus, get to know some of the places you might want to visit on your first day.
Do they have a cafeteria where you can eat lunch? Any hangout spots? What about charging stations?
PRO TIP : Classrooms do change so make sure you re-check your schedule the day of classes. And if your college has more than one campus, confirm which campus your class will be at.
2.) Purchase textbooks (Email teacher to confirm its correct)
Here are some things your should consider first.
Can you purchase through the publisher for cheaper?
Can you rent the book?
Is it required or just recommended?
Would a previous edition suffice?
Even though you can go to your campus bookstore and get your textbooks, I have seen these be incorrect before.
Sometimes there might be a problem with the ordering platform, and the bookstore gets the wrong edition or wrong text, so you might reach out to your professor and confirm.
PRO TIP : Since your professor has so many students, instead of asking them what textbook is required, find the required book title and ISBN and send it to your professor to confirm that this is the book you need. You could say something like, Hi Professor Smith, Before I purchase our required textbook, can you please confirm that we will need the book below (include ISBN and textbook title, and even edition). The more information you provide, the better. This way your professor won’t be inundated with requests. And oftentimes, if you just ask which book you’ll need, they’ll refer you to the bookstore. So just go ahead and list the book information in your email to get a response confirming the book.
3.) Login online to your learning platform
Make sure you can get access to any online learning platform (Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas, etc).
If you don’t have access now, you’ll want to quickly get access.
Once, our college changed students login procedures, and it really derailed the first day of classes. Students were frantically trying to call the technical support to get help and the wait times were hours long.
So, make sure everything is a go before the first day of class.
Even if you are not doing an online class, login anyway. Most professors will use these platforms to give students their syllabus, post grades, and provide assignments, so login anyway.
PRO TIP : Most platforms won’t show you the course until the first official class day. So if you login, don’t expect your courses to appear.
4.) Confirm your schedule
Did you get dropped from the course for non-payment?
Was there a technical issue?
Did the college cancel the class?
Make sure to confirm you are registered and nothing significant changed on your schedule before you head out that morning. In fact, do this routinely before the semester starts.
It is possible that there was an issue with your financial aid and you were dropped from the course. Or a class was canceled and you never knew because you didn’t check your college email, so confirm your schedule as soon as possible.
5.) Check your college email
Did your professor send anything out of importance to your college email?
Maybe your professor is requiring you to bring something on your first class day, or they want you to already own your textbook and have it the first day of class for assignments.
Maybe you are meeting in a computer or science lab on the first day instead of a classroom.
These are things that may be communicated in an email from your professor, but they will likely send that to your college email instead of a personal email.
PRO TIP : Most colleges require professors to use students’ college email addresses instead of personal emails for confidentiality.
6.) Go early
Classrooms do change.
As classes get canceled or get moved around, the college will put notices on the doors.
If you find yourself in a class where the room is changed, you’ll be scrambling to get to that next location.
If your room changes, you’ll have plenty of time to locate it.
7.) Print a map.
Don’t rely on the online campus map.
With so many students accessing the college website or campus wifi, you might have connectivity issues.
So print a hard copy instead so you can have easy access to it.
PRO TIP : Mark all the buildings your classes are in on your map so you can easily find your way around faster
8.) Download apps
Does your college have an app?
Does the learning management system your college use for their classes have an app?
Most do now.
Download them.
You can have easy access to important information because you downloaded these apps.
See a few of the most popular ones below.
9.) Start a routine
If you’ve been going to bed late and sleeping in during the break, it can be hard to wake up and go to class.
The week or two before college classes start, I suggest you start getting up at a decent hour and getting into a routine.
Even as a professor, I find it hard to get back into the swing of things after such a long break. Even if I was teaching during the break, I still try to get myself back into a regular routine to get prepared for back to school.
10.) Learn the college’s wifi
If you plan on connecting to the college’s wifi, go ahead and make sure you understand how to login.
You should be able to access more information on the college’s wifi, like their password and instructions, on the college’s website.
Check your student handbook if you can’t find information online.
PRO TIP: When connecting to a college’s wifi, I recommend having a VPN to protect your information. Even though you may have logged in, there could be some threats lurking.
11.) Think about ice breakers
Okay, I know you will probably hate to do these on the first day of classes, but at least one of your professor will likely have some group activity prepared for an ice breaker.
Some examples of college ice breakers are two truths and a lie, or tell us a super power you wish you had. Maybe they ask you to say your name and share something unique about yourself.
If you are ready for this, you will not be as anxious because you’ll already know your response.
So come up with a few before the first class day to be prepared and settle your nerves.
You’d hate to be the first person and go blank. Now you’ll know exactly what to say and feel confident.
12.) Get your supplies
If your college has your supply list at the bookstore for your courses, make sure you purchase the necessary supplies, if needed.
You don’t want to come empty handed if your professor requires some in-class assignment or exercise that requires some supplies.
It is unlikely a professor would do this on the first class day, but you would rather be prepared.
PRO TIP : Keep receipts and check the refund policy for items purchased. If you go to class and find out that you don’t need some of the supplies, then you can return them.
13.) Prepare your transportation
If you are driving, check your tire pressure and gas tank.
You don’t want to wake up to a flat tire or empty gas tank.
If you are taking public transportation, make sure you know all the details about the departure.
And if you are walking, make sure you estimate the distance to ensure you leave plenty of time to arrive.
14.) Check the weather
Look at the weather and see if there is any precipitation in the forecast.
If you need extra layers, bring them.
Maybe you need an umbrella, pack it.
I have seen hundreds of students running to their cars with their books, over their heads, trying to protect them from the rain.
Not only will you get soaked, but so will your books.
Think ahead and pack those supplies.
PRO TIP : Always keep an umbrella in your car. You don’t won’t a pop-up shower to ruin your day.
I know these 14 tips will help prepare you for your first day at college because I made this list thinking of my past students. I’ve seen how missing these important steps to prepare for your first day at college has impacted my students and I don’t want others to make these same mistakes. Enjoy your first day and know that you’ve got this!
