If you’re starting college this fall for the first time,
whether you're 18 or 58, the process of adjustment can be a lot easier with just
a few tips in mind. Curt Larsen, assistant vice president for Student Life at Salt Lake Community College, shared some advice with host Big Budah on Fox 13's The Place. Follow the recommendations below, and you might glide into that first
day of class with more confidence and excitement than uncertainty or dread.
1.
Attend an orientation. Colleges and universities
host several orientation events that provide tours of campuses and help answer
any questions you might have about everything from where to find quiet places
to study, where to buy food or get your student ID to extracurricular
activities and where certain buildings are located.
2.
Meet with an academic advisor who can help you
plan ahead to make sure you’re taking the courses that are appropriate for your
major, to make sure the credits are transferrable (if that’s your plan) or to
help you develop an academic path that is right for you.
3.
Once you have your class schedule, reach out to
your professors to introduce yourself and ask what, if anything, you can do to
prepare for their classes. Being more prepared prior to that first day takes
the fear out of the unknown.
4.
Devise a financial plan or budget that takes
into consideration the cost of books, transportation, tuition and fees, meals
and other incidentals that come up during the college experience.
5.
Do a dry run. Drive to campus, find where your
classes will be and walk to each building you will be using. You might find you
will need more or less time to get to and from school than you thought.