At the end of this page is a link to a survey that might be able to answer more specific questions, but generally students might also find this text helpful.

As Honors students, many of you are used to being self-sufficient masters of your academic future. Still, there are many resources on campus that may be able to aid you in your academic and personal success. Because Honors students are so independent, many Honors students discover resources that would have aided their transition to college life after they would have been helpful. This survey is designed to help you start thinking about ways to stay on top of your responsibilities and get you connected to resources that might be able to help.

To start, here are some tips for setting yourself up for a great semester

  • Review your syllabus. This is your professor’s road map to your entire course. It has required readings, due dates, and often times rubrics and detailed instructions on assignments.
  • Record due dates for tests and assignments so that you know how to prepare in advance. The most successful Honors students make good use of a day planner, Google calendar, or some other planning device.
  • Review the academic integrity policy for each of your classes. Each class and each instructor may have a different policy about working with others and sharing work.
  • Find out when your instructor holds office hours. Introduce yourself to your instructor.
    • As a new student to campus, your professors hold a wealth of information that can help you succeed in their course. An easy way to break the ice is to let your instructor know that you’re a first-year student and you’d be interested in getting his or her advice on how to be successful in the course.
    • Take this as an opportunity to get to know your instructor – ask what got them interested in the field that they teach. Your relationships with your professors may be very different than the relationships you had with your teachers in high school.
    • Remember, in a few years you may need to ask your professors for letters of recommendation. Creating good relationships with them now is the first step toward getting a good, personal letter of recommendation from respected faculty members.
  • Create a balanced first semester. Remember that life isn’t all academics, but managing college life has a lot to do with managing academic responsibility!
    • Go to class! Even if you feel like you have a good grasp of the material, professors will notice who is present and engaged. Some professors will even give extra information to students who regularly attend classes about what to expect on exams.
    • Take care of yourself! This means making sure that you are spending the time you need to be successful academically, but it also means staying active, eating healthfully, and forging friendships with your classmates.
  • Are you up-to-date on the course readings and assignments? Do you have the books for the course? Are you clear on the technology needed for the course? Do you have the necessary software?
    • These are all questions that you should be asking yourself as you tackle your semester
These are some brief tips and tricks to a generally successful semester. But what if you have more specific questions? That’s where this resource guide comes in. Click the link below. Remember! Even if you feel you have a good handle on things now, learning about resources available to you on campus may come in handy later.