ARE YOU A NEWBIE IN THE UNIVERSITY?

Here are some things to take into consideration...

• Set high personal and academic standards for yourself, and live up to them. Listen to that little voice inside you that says, “I can do this.” Believe in yourself. Realize that school is work; it’s not play time. Settle for nothing less than your very best. Willingness to accept anything less than the very best too often becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. Strive for an “A” in all your courses. If you fall short of an “A”, you might earn a “B”. If you fall short of a “C”, you might earn a “D” or “F”.

• Strive to understand. Don’t merely memorize; increase your depth of understanding. You need to attempt to fully comprehend what you need to know and be able to do as a result of your education.

• Remember that grades count. The best jobs with the best pay most often go to those with the best grades. High grades imply intelligence, personal excellence, and dedication to seeing a job well done. High grades can make all the difference in landing the ideal job or getting into graduate school at the institution of your choice.

• Investigate study and test taking skills. Educational researchers have studied what it takes to get ahead academically. Take advantage of what they can tell us.

• Get to know a wide range of people – faculty, staff, and students. Networking is important. It is often true that who you know is just as important as what you know. Use your acquaintances to advantage, but don’t take advantage of them. o Meet with your departmental advisor early on and frequently; he or she can provide valuable and timely advice. o Get to know your teachers; just because they might have a Ph.D. is no reason to believe that they are not interested in you as a student. o Get to know the majors in your field, and form a study group.