1. You will have online homework.
2. Class notes and schedules and syllabuses and grading and other stuff will be online.
3. When the teachers (or anybody) gives you the codes or addresses of online ANYTHING, pay attention and write it down. You may think you don't want, or won't need, an online textbook, and then later on you'll find out that there is a portion of it which you can access free and there's a quiz on there that is due by next class. That's an example, but the important thing is that ONLINE STUFF IS A BIG PART OF COLLEGE NOW. There's probably a college website with a student login that lets you use other programs, like school mail and homework, learn to use it. Everything's on there.
4. You will be responsible for scheduling your classes, probably on your first day of orientation. This will be online, probably in a computer lab which is just a room full of computers and desks. If you don't know how to do this, you can ask for help or you can talk to your academic advisor.
5. You will have an academic advisor assigned to your major and this advisor is a person who will help you figure out what you want to schedule. If you have changes that you want made, or you are concerned about your grades in a class, this advisor is who you talk to.
6. The first week (I think) is the only time you can add/drop classes. Figure out if your math class is going to be super hard within that first week and if it is, go talk to your advisor about having tutoring or an easier class.
7. Yeah, there's drinking and drugs and lots of stupid stuff but it's not that hard to avoid.
8. Parking probably sucks.
9. Printing is expensive, and you will have assignments that you will need to print and turn in. Plan on it.
10. Do ALL the extra credit work that is offered, this helps make up for points you miss on tests and so forth.
11. A syllabus is a document that your professor makes available on the first day of class (or that's the plan) and it outlines how the semester of class is supposed to go. This lets you know, usually, if you need a textbook.
12. You don't always need the textbook, and if you do, sometimes you just need it for random reference and an online version is just as good because you don't need to actually study it.
13. It's ok to be late for a class, just be quiet about it. It's ok to just get up and leave, just be quiet about it.
14. At least at my school, the food on campus is expensive. Think about that ahead of time.
15. There is a website called Rate My Professor that shows you reviews other anonymous students have posted about some of the professors. Maybe English is a hard class for you, if so, you can look on this website before scheduling your English class to learn which teachers might be more willing to work with you outside of class or have less confusing lectures.
16. Take notes. Research the Cornell note taking method. Use Quizlet.
17. Save EVERYTHING YOU DO. Like just get a filing cabinet or something, save all your work. Sometimes you will need it three classes later and it's really good to have it on record somewhere.
18. Be prepared for all the adults around you to suddenly view you as immature, irresponsible, and generally pretty dumb. Especially when you're a freshman. Maybe you are a hard worker, maybe you've held a full time job for years and helped run a house full of kids or wrote a book or rebuilt an engine, but all that doesn't matter. The point is, they work with a lot of kids who are just that-kids, and they haven't grown up yet, and they're going to lump you right in with the rest of them. Don't get offended, it's not personal, even if you think it is. Just steadily prove them wrong by being responsible with your time, work, and effort. :)
19. You're going to have to teach yourself a lot outside of class.
20. You can apply for scholarships every year, and some every semester. If you're not sure what you qualify for or what the application process is, ask your academic advisor. If you don't know who your academic advisor is, ask around because that person is crazy-important.
21. There are classes that you can test out of (study for them independently and then take a test.), some of these programs are CLEP and DSST. Your school might provide other options, like online summer classes. These can save big-time on your tuition, so talk to your academic advisor about other ways to get credits and transfer them in.
22. In some classes (and most freshman classes) attendance is part of your overall grade.
23. If you know you aren't going to make it to a class or if you have late homework, go ahead and talk to your professors as soon as possible and ask if there's any arrangements you can make for those. Some professors will accept late work, even if they tell the class emphatically that they won't, if you show up with it and look worried enough. Some professors will let you skip a class if you do an additional project or something, and that will keep your grades from dropping.
24. If something happens that prevents you from attending class or whatever, like a flat tire or a doctors' appointment, DOCUMENT IT THOROUGHLY. Remember, your professors do not view you as a capable or trustworthy human being, and they will probably be very suspicious of your reasons for not making it to class or for having late homework. A lot of kids try to cheat with this stuff, which means for the rest of us we have to be a lot more intentional about our explanations for things.
25. Most of the time, updates about canceled classes or changing homework assignments or other things, are going to be online. You might also be able to sign up for text updates for some classes, but make sure you check whatever online login you have for your school for these things.
26. Your professors probably have different ways that they prefer to be contacted, sometimes they put this in their syllabi, sometimes they just say it in class. At any rate, respect their requests on this because otherwise they may just not get your message. Some professors have office hours, others are adjunct-professors (meaning they don't have an office), some prefer scheduled appointments and others prefer walk-ins. Sometimes they want you to use the school email, other times their personal email, sometimes they prefer texts, other times they want you to call. Just figure it out and know that it's different for each professor.
27. If you don't know; ask. Ask anybody, and if they don't know, ask somebody else.
28. There's a thing called Midterms and it has to do with exams, and there's a thing called Finals which also has to do with exams. I don't know how these work yet, but I'll let you know when I do. :)
29. Khan academy is THE BEST math supplement if you don't understand things, and it is free.
30. I actually prefer online textbooks because it requires me to write out the things I want to remember, instead of just marking them on paper, and then writing again when I have notes. It gets it into my brain better.
31. There's going to be a lot of fees during the first semester for random stuff, like parking passes and online access codes to do your homework (think of it like an extension of the cost of textbooks and plan for it), so be prepared for that.
32. Homework assignments probably won't be very clear. Don't freak out, just poke around for a little bit and if you can't figure it out on your own, contact your professor and ask for clarification.
Good luck! And thank the good Lord that you'll never have to look at another Saxon math book again. :)
