Back to school means the hordes of students dragging themselves out of bed and clutching their travel coffee mugs for dear life. For all the newbies to university life, the first week of school turns into an interesting learning experiences that come from the many mistakes made in and out of the classroom. Here's what I have learned from my own personal mortifying moments.
1. Leave early for your big pit classes.
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You will end up with no seat if you think you can show up 10 minutes before your pit class starts. Usually these classes have up to 200 people in them and there always at least a small pod of people that end up sitting on the floor or leaving because they didn't get there in time. Best rule is to show up at least 20-25 minutes early to ensure you can get a prime spot for lecture.
2. Don't drink 4 cups of coffee before class.
This should be self-explanatory, but let me give you a quick rundown. One, you do not need that much coffee in one day, instead try getting a good night's sleep. Two, both your bladder and your stomach will hate you. Coffee is a natural laxative so unless you want to set yourself up for a seriously urgent trip to the bathroom, hold off on the caffeine.
3. Do the assigned homework before class.
Yes there is a reason the professors assign work for the first day of class. Whether the course has a lot of work to fit in for the whole semester, or they just want you have some background information for the class, make sure you do the work. There's nothing worse than going to class unprepared and then being called on and being made to look like a fool. The professor won't enjoy you skimping out on your work and it could lead to a bad first impression.
4. Don't skip out on meals.
Going to class on an empty stomach will cause two problems. Lack of energy to focus and your stomach will growl the entire time. You want neither of these things to happen. If you don't have time to stop and get an actual meal, pack yourself some snacks or a protein shake that you can enjoy on your way or during class. Just be courteous not to make a mess or make annoying eating sounds so your classmates can focus as well.
5. Print your syllabus out!!
As simple as this sounds, it's super important that you do this. It has all the necessary information you need regarding exam dates, paper deadlines, and other information. You can find your professor's contact information and office hours. Most of the time if you actually pay attention to the syllabus you do better in the class.
