The beginning of the fall semester — and the new school year — is a lot of things: stressful, eventful, glorious, exciting, scary, and everything in between. We asked four faculty members to weigh in on things students can do to start the semester off on the right foot.
Tim Hodges
College of Business
“I believe that people are most open to growth and development during times of change. Adults who reflect back on their first few weeks of college can often point to specific decisions and key relationships that had an impact on the trajectory of their life – so make it count! If you don’t understand something, ask for help. If something comes easy to you, challenge yourself to do more. Then, share what you learn with others; they’ll be better because of you. Finally, as a parent of a new college student myself, don’t forget to check in with your family and let them know how you’re doing!”
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Christine Corr Kiewra
College of Education and Human Sciences
“As you are preparing to get your semester off to a good start, you might be thinking about your list of things you need to get, such as textbooks and highlighters. Remember though, what you get out of a class largely depends not just on what is in your backpack, but also what you put into the course. On the first day of class, be sure you get more than the syllabus! Instead of rushing out as soon as you can, put yourself out there by meeting people sitting near you and introducing yourself to your instructor. You might feel a little unsure, but meeting and getting to know people is one of the best parts about teaching and learning! Knowing classmates may be helpful for sharing notes, studying together, or group projects. When your professor knows who you are, you’ve already got the ball rolling toward positive interactions throughout the semester. Good communication with your instructors and classmates is a great way to take charge of your learning. Professors want you to succeed, so talk to us — literally — face-to-face! It will make the class more enjoyable and everything easier when you have questions or if challenges arise.”
RELATED: Unsure of how to approach your instructor? Read this advice on how to build connections with faculty.
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Brian Hubbard
College of Journalism and Mass Communication
“When you know what’s ahead, it makes it easier to plan for a successful semester. Read the class syllabus carefully, pay extra attention to due dates and ask any related questions early on.”
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Bryan Reiling
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
“Find clubs, activities, and organizations for which you have an interest and passion. My general recommendation is 3 clubs or organizations: one associated with your major, one that is more socially-oriented and one that is simply an activity that you enjoy. Through the club associated with your major, you’ll meet people with whom you may eventually work, you’ll meet and interact with current and future industry leaders, and you’ll develop a better understanding of what you are studying. The social organization provides an opportunity to meet new people, to establish relationships, and to simply have fun! Then, let’s say there was an activity that you really enjoyed during high school (i.e., fishing, bicycling, golf, etc.) — there’s no reason to put that on hold! We all need activities that allow us to escape from time to time. Get together with others who enjoy that same activity! Finally, regardless of what organizations you become involved with, don’t simply be a member; become an ACTIVE member!”
Want more tips? Check out this UNL blog post for additional tips and tricks on setting yourself up for success this semester.