University Star

The freedom-filled summer months are coming to an end, and students will yet again start putting their noses to the grindstone as a daily ritual. For many of us, this routine has been a part of our lives for quite some time and we fully understand the steps we need to take in order to succeed each semester. On the other hand, there are several students starting college for the first time this fall and some helpful advice might be extremely useful.

Students should crawl out of their inner tubes and turn down the Carly Rae Jepsen and Flo Rida blasting in the background to learn some important tips. In a few days, classes will start up and students will be faced with making some simple decisions. Will students attend class or skip class? This, on paper, might be a seemingly easy decision due to the thousands of dollars it costs to go to college. However, what many returning students realize is just how hard it can be to actually show up for class. Some students have an assumption that the start of a new semester signals “syllabus week,” and they might want to avoid class like the plague. This could not be further from the truth.

Although many professors will simply hand out a syllabus and dismiss class early during the first week, some have found ways to adapt their lectures for the benefit of students in attendance. Professors will often give important information regarding things like class cancellations, extra credit, office hours and other need-to-know information. It does not make sense to start a brand new semester behind everyone else in the class due to oversleeping and skipping lectures.

New students have a lot to learn about college life by understanding what it takes to succeed and just how easy it is to fail. Go to class and do not allow yourself to fall behind the fast-paced curriculum that professors have so carefully designed. For students in their second, third and fourth years of school, there is a noticeable advantage to gain from attending class. There is no other way to succeed in college, so it is important to go to class from the first day to the last and do everything to stay ahead of the game.