By Kelsey Corley, Student Editor of The Kayseean
Your first year at college can be overwhelming. Between moving away from home and adjusting to a new schedule it’s easy to feel like you’re never fully prepared. Here’s a helpful list of things to add to your to-do list to make sure you’re ready for classes to begin.
Check Your Portal, Email, and Canvas
From your King Portal you can see all the classes you are registered for and check the times, days, and locations of all of them. Log into your King email and check for any information on your classes that your professors may have already posted. Information may also be posted on Canvas, and there you can find your syllabi and Teams login.
Lay Out Your Schedule
Look at a weekly calendar and block out the times you have class, practice, or work. From there, set aside a few hours of the week to dedicate to schoolwork. You can use these hours for anything; reading, homework, working on projects, studying, just anything that needs to get done. You will certainly need more time as the semester goes on, but having a few designated hours already established in your schedule is a terrific starting point.
Bring Supplies
Don’t be the person who walks into class empty-handed. Most often, the first day of classes is focused on making introductions and going over the syllabus and the expectations of the course. It’s unlikely that you will need to take notes or your textbooks, but there are a few things you will need to be prepared. Be sure to bring something to write on, something to write with, and something to organize any handouts you may be given.
Look for Textbooks
Check with the bookstore to see which books will be required for each class. Then shop around for the best price. Possibly the best money-saving advice you will receive in college is never to buy your textbooks before the first day of class. That’s when your professor will go over which textbooks are necessary or recommended; they may also explain which editions are acceptable and any other venues that you may access the book through. It’s still a good idea to know where you can purchase your textbook book for the best price beforehand so that you can get it shipped quickly afterward.
