Worried that fall semester classes are just around the corners and you’re not exactly set up for success yet? Don’t be! It just takes a little bit of prepping, planning and shopping to make sure you start the school year off on the right foot. From people who’ve been through it more than a few times, here’s our go-to guide on making sure your first day of classes is easy-breezy:
1. Grab some new school supplies.
There’s something nice about untouched notebooks and matching pen sets that says fresh start, new year. Yeah, we don’t get to get craft supplies and crayons anymore, but you could always choose a stylish notebook! And a set of highlighters is technically markers, so there is still a bit of inner child left in there.
2. Get a planner and use it to… plan.
Get a new planner on that little supplies shopping trip. And fill out a skeleton of your schedule. You’ll have already confirmed your fall classes, so you know where and when you’re supposed to be Monday to Friday. Plus, it’s a good excuse to write down times and locations in a handy spot; it takes a week or two to get used to a new schedule each semester.
3. Set a schedule.
You know your class schedule, but there’s a lot of other stuff you’ve got to juggle, too. Get organized. Make a list of things you’ll need to do on the reg, like studying, work, grocery shopping, labs, any clubs or organizations, etc. But make sure you don’t forget to pencil yourself in – leave designated time for self-care. Whether it’s drinks with friends, curling up with a good book, or bingeing old episodes of Shameless, you time is necessary for a fun, healthy school year.
4. Confirm your classes.
Scheduling is notoriously obnoxious, especially if you’re an underclassman. Plus, sometimes a class will just disappear because not enough people signed up. Take a few minutes once or twice throughout the summer to check your official schedule. That way, if something gets weird, you aren’t scrambling to reorganize your class schedule after the semester has already started.
5. Get textbooks ahead of time.
Most of the time and especially in gen ed classes, the professor lists the necessary texts ahead of time. Get on that as soon as you can, because if you’re ahead of the crowd and do your research, you can usually get all your textbooks used and/or rent them affordably. If you wait until the last minute, you might be stuck paying full price at the bookstore.
6. Map out your classes.
Just because you’ve been on campus a couple years doesn’t mean you know everything. For instance, why would a geology student basically living in Klippinger have any idea where Siegfried Hall is? Plus, mapping out your classes informs you on how long it’ll take you to get to and from, and the best routes to take.
7. Check your OU email daily.
Once again – you never know what’s gonna happen; keep up on your school email’s inbox leading up to the semester. You’ll often get notifications from professors that will help you prepare for the first day. Some professors even want you to do stuff before the semester starts, so don’t get caught unawares.
8. Connect on campus.
Whether you’re in a lab, club, learning community, sport, or other organization, get in touch with people ahead of time. It’s a great way to break the ice on meeting new people early, plus you’re apprised of what’s going on, and you’re creating a little school-year community.
9. Get some last-minute summer fun in.
It’s the last days of summer; take advantage of them! A few weeks from now, you’ll wish you could go back to having nothing to do on a Wednesday. Go rent a boat at Stroud’s for the day or drive up to Hocking Hills for a long hike. Or grab that book you’ve been meaning to read; there’ll be a lot less quiet time soon, better soak it in.
10. Get back on a good sleep schedule.
This is one that catches a lot of people off-guard. Been staying up til 2 and getting up at 11? Yeah – that’s not gonna cut it once classes start. Take the week (or better, two) before the semester starts to get yourself on a sleep schedule that won’t make you want to mainline espresso from 8-2 Monday-Friday.
And if you’re feeling like your student apartment is also in need of a little bit of a fresh start for the school year? Check out our article on fun renter-friendly ways to make your off-campus spot uniquely you – temporary interior design is a thing now.
Happy 23-24 school year, Bobcats!