• What basic courses do you need to take that are required for all majors? 
   
• What courses are prerequisites for other courses you need to take? 
   
• What courses are required for your degree or vocational training plan? It's easy to get mixed up about this so make a list that you can refer to every semester. Take your list to an adviser, who is very familiar with your degree requirements, to review. If you plan on transferring to another college or university later, make sure that the classes you are taking will transfer OK. 
   
• How much time can you realistically spend on going to class and studying? Please figure on spending two to three hours outside of class for every hour you spend in class. It's better to take fewer courses and do well, than to take several courses and do poorly or have to drop. Don't let an admissions counselor tell you that you can take Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Algebra, Psychology, and English, all while holding down a 30 hour a week job!

     I strongly suggest you go easy on yourself at first. Try to avoid taking more than one really difficult class your first semester (science courses are typically the most demanding.) This is especially important if you have a scholarship that is dependent upon you keeping a high GPA.


____2.  Register for classes. 

    Generally, it's better to take more difficult classes in the morning when you are fresh.  I really see a difference in alertness in my morning students versus my afternoon students.  However, if you aren't alert until later in the day, then try to get your more difficult classes when you feel your best.

    Talk to other students about their experiences with different professors. Don't talk to students who just "slide by". Talk to students who you respect and who don't equate a good professor with an "easy" professor. You want a professor who will challenge you, treat you with respect, and who is clear about his or her expectations.

    Register early so you'll have a better chance of getting the time and professor you want. Classes with popular times and professors often fill up fast.


____3.  Buy your textbooks early! 

    I can't tell you how important that is. It's awful to find out your college bookstore is completely out of the books you need and won't have them for two weeks, and class starts tomorrow. When that happens, you're already operating at a disadvantage. Check out Amazon.com for textbooks, along with your college bookstore. They have used as well as new textbooks.




    Another great Web site for buying and selling used textbooks is eCampus.com. Here is the link to their site:

Buy your Textbooks at eCampus.com and Save up to 50% off your campus bookstore price!


____4.  Increase your knowledge base before the class even starts. 

    That's especially important for difficult courses like anatomy and physiology. Consider first taking a non-credit on-line course before you take one for college credit. I highly recommend courses published by ed2go and offered through local colleges and universities. I teach their anatomy and physiology course, and have many students who take that course before attempting a college credit anatomy and physiology class. Ed2go also offers computer, math, writing, grammar, foreign language, and many other courses that you can use to give yourself a boost in knowledge and confidence.

    Here is a link to the ed2go site:

Online Learning Anytime, Anywhere


____5. Read a few good books on succeeding in college. 

    You can save yourself a lot of grief if you gain some knowledge about all the challenges and pitfalls that attending college can bring.  By doing so, you won't be surprised when you hit some obstacles or run into difficult situations.  You'll also learn some tips that will help you avoid common problems that new college students often experience.  Here are a few that I recommend:

Your College Experience: Strategies for Success

Getting the Best Out of College: A Professor, a Dean, & a Student Tell You How to Maximize Your Experience 


____6.  Spend some time getting familiar with your textbooks.  

    You should look at the:

• Table of Contents - This tells you the topic and order of the chapters and often lists sub-sections of each chapter.   You'll find the page numbers for each chapter here.
   
• Chapter Objectives - These are usually found at the front of the chapter.
   
• Questions for Comprehension - Often textbooks will have questions after small sections of the text and then again at the end of the chapter.  
   
• Chapter Summaries - Many textbooks have these at the end of each chapter. 
   
• Appendices - Check out each appendix (sections at the back of the home with extra information) so you are familiar with their subject matter. 
   
• Glossary - This section of the textbook, found in the back, gives definitions for many of the words found in the text.  It's like having a mini-dictionary. 
   
• Index - This is one of the most important features of a textbook.  Found in the very back of the book, it allows you to quickly locate information inside the textbook.   You can save yourself hours of study time by using the index instead of hunting for information.

 
____7.   Visit your textbook's Web site.  Your professor will probably have the Web address in the syllabus.  

    The textbook I use for my anatomy and physiology class has an awesome Web site.  Students can take three different practice tests for each chapter, watch animations that help explain difficult concepts, and do activities such as labeling and crossword puzzles that will help them learn the material.

    To help you see what I mean, go to the Web site for the publisher we use at my college for the Introduction to Anatomy course.  Click on Resources at the top of the page.  (You won't need to sign in to view these features).  You will see a list of chapters on the left side.  Click on one of the chapters to see all of the resources that are available.  The animations are available under the Quizzes section.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/classware/infoCenter.do?isbn=0072945834


____8.  Find out ahead of time where the library is, what hours it is open, and what other study help resources are available.  

    It's probably worth a trip to the library before classes start so you have an idea how it is laid out and what kind of study spaces it has.  If you are taking a science class, you should also find out about science learning centers where you can study models and slides outside of class.  Some colleges also have writing centers to give students assistance with writing assignments.  If you think you'll need extra help with a course, find out about tutoring services and maybe even set that up before the class starts.  (Many colleges offer free tutoring.)


____9.  If you have a learning or other disability, visit the campus's office for students with disabilities.

    Professors will make accomodations for you if you have a documented disability, but they must have documentation as to which type of accommodation you require from that office.   It can take awhile to get that in place, so you should visit that office well before the semester starts.  Accommodations may include books on tape, extra time for tests, recorded lectures, and written lecture notes.  

    Here is a link to a book that will be available in May, 2009 .  It looks like it will be really helpful for students with learning disabilities. 

College Success for Students With Learning Disabilities: Strategies and Tips to Make the Most of Your College Experience

    Now that you've done all you can to prepare yourself, let's take a look in the next section at what you can do on your very first day of class to maximize your chance of success.