6 Ways to Prepare for the First Day of Class in College 

Plan to Arrive Early: Going to sleep at a reasonable time the night before, waking up early, and getting to class ahead of schedule on your first day of college can offer many benefits. If you arrive early, you can more easily find a seat that works best for your learning needs. 

Review Your Class Schedule and Syllabi Beforehand: Before your first day of college, learn your class schedule and review any syllabi already shared by your professors. By reviewing your schedule, you can learn where your classes are and map out routes so you don't get lost. 

Familiarize Yourself With Important Locations: Knowing where to go for each of your classes from day one can prevent you from getting lost and wasting time. Many students have just 10-15 minutes between classes. If your campus is big, it's critical you know how to get around. 

Prepare to Take Notes: Bringing a laptop or notebook to class on your first day ensures you can copy down relevant information and avoid missing key deadlines. Note that some professors may not allow laptops in their classrooms, so be sure to review the syllabus or ask about this policy ahead of time. 

Get Ready to Pay Attention: Although many professors prefer to use their first class to get to know everyone and go over the syllabus, this isn't always the case. Some instructors may jump directly into course material, so make sure you're prepared. 

Anticipate Making New Connections: From your first day of college, introducing yourself to classmates can help you forge connections that may prove valuable as the semester progresses. 

Download Higher Education books, Study Notes & More...