If you’re starting college this fall for the
first time, 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 advice about the transition with Dan Evans and Kerri
Cronk on Fox 13’s "Good Day Utah."
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.