Your first day of class is very important.  What you do on that day can set the tone for the rest of the semester.  Here's a checklist to help you get the most out of that crucial day.


____1.  Go to class!

    I know this probably seems really obvious, but many students don't think the first day of class is that big of a deal.  They probably think that the professor will just say a few words about how the course is organized, hand out a syllabus that they can get on another day, and that will be it.  

    Wrong!  Time in a college course is precious.  Most professors spend some time going over the syllabus, but they will start lecturing on the very first day.  If you miss that first lecture, you're already behind.  Plus, if it's a small class, and your professor notices you're not there, you hurt the good rapport you should develop with your professor right off the bat.  Professors often feel a little annoyed when a student, on the second day of class, asks them to repeat information they've already covered.  Many simply won't do it.


____2.  Come to class with your textbook, a three ring binder with pockets, notebook paper, and something to write with.

    You will be very frustrated if your professor says something like, "Turn to page 5 of your textbook while I talk about the graphic," and you don't have your book-either because you haven't purchased it, yet, or you left it at home.   You also want to start the class right by organizing any handouts the professor gives you as soon as possible.  Professors often give lots of handouts the first day of class (another reason to be there).  If they are hole punched already, you can put them in your notebook.  If not, you can slip them into one of the side pockets to take care of when you get home.


____3.  Pay careful attention to your professor's explanation of the syllabus, a document used to give detailed information about the course.

    The syllabus is almost like a contract between you and your professor.  My syllabus, for example, is a seven page document.  In my syllabus, students learn how to contact me, a description of the course, its learning objectives, attendance policy, dropping the class, extra credit, accommodations for learning disabilities, and consequences for academic dishonesty.

    In addition, it contains information about how lecture and lab exams are structured, assignments, and the grading scale.  I include a page for students to record their grades for each exam and assignment and a course schedule that lets students know the topic of every lecture and lab and the dates of all exams.  Students sign the last page, after they have read the syllabus, and return it to me so that I have evidence that it was read.  Whew!

   
____4.  Think about your professor's teaching style.  

    Is he very organized, lecturing from an outline, or does he jump from one topic to another?  Is she highly entertaining, or dry and monotonous, or somewhere in between?  Giving these questions some thought will help you think about the best way to succeed in the class.  If the professor tends to jump around in his lecture, for example, you may have to use your textbook to help you organize your lecture notes in a meaningful manner. 


____5.  Pay special attention to any information the professor gives about testing style.  

    On the first day, the professor will probably let you know if her exams are mostly objective (multiple choice, matching, and true/false type questions) or more subjective (essay type questions).   This information will help you plan how to study since different types of tests require different types of preparation.


____6.  When you get home, take a deep breath, maybe get a little exercise to reduce your stress, then review your syllabus.

    Note important dates such as test dates, assignment due dates, and the last date to drop the course on a calendar.  You also should note when the professor has office hours.  (During office hours, a professor will meet with students who need extra help or who want to discuss something with him.)   Make a list of any questions you have about the syllabus so you can get them cleared up right away.  


____7.  Visit any Web sites that your professor recommends.  

    If you have trouble getting to them, you'll want to get help as soon as possible.  To see how important this is, take a minute to visit my college's award winning biology Web site.  You can see how helpful it is to our students.  Every semester, though, I have students who haven't visited the site on their own well into the semester.  (If you haven't visited your textbook's Web site, yet, now is the time to do that, too.)
    
http://nhscience.lonestar.edu/biol/

    
____8.  If your professor has an online classroom to supplement his regular classroom, make sure you know how to log on to it and access the information he has posted.  

    If you have any problems doing so, now is the time to get help.  (Your college will have a phone number for tech support that you can use if needed.)  I post extra credit assignments, possible essay exam questions, handouts, and slides for my lectures online, so it is an extremely valuable resource.  Many other professors do the same. 


____9.  Organize your notebooks for the classes you attended that day.  

    Use index dividers to separate categories.  For my course, students could make sections for lecture notes, study notes, handouts, and lab exercises for each unit.  You should place the syllabus at the front of your notebook so you can always easily find it.


____10.  Start planning your study schedule.  

    This is such an important topic, that we'll talk about it in detail in the next section on Setting a Study Schedule.