The First Day of College Rulebook

It’s almost that time of year again: the first day of classes. For incoming freshmen, it’s the beginning of a new chapter. It can set the tone for the rest of the year, which makes the day exhilarating and nerve-racking all at once. Luckily, as an upperclassman, I’m a seasoned pro, and I’m going to tell you (almost) everything you need to know before starting your first day of class. College is a whole new ballgame. Let’s lay out the ground rules. 

Rule #1: Assume that “on time” is the new “late.”

When you walk into that classroom on the first day, you better be five to ten minutes early. Why? (1) It makes a good impression on the professor. You’ll need that later. (2) At this point, you have no idea how your professor prefers to run their classroom. They might start right on time or even a few minutes early. So, if you’re not early, you may not be counted in the roll or you may miss important content. (Or you might just get side-eyed by the professor, which can feel more awkward than either of the previous scenarios.) 

Rule #2: Cool kids sit up front.

There are definitely unofficial assigned seats in college, so, carefully choose where you sit on the first day because that will probably be your seat for the rest of the term. And FYI, cool kids sit in the front of the classroom. It comes with a lot of perks: (1) It forces you to stay focused because you’re closer to the professor, so you can’t sneak and scroll through Pinterest as easily. (I speak from personal experience.) (2) You can’t see as many of your classmates, which can make it feel like you’re only talking to the professor when contributing to class discussion or asking a question. If you know that feeling your classmates’ eyes on you when you talk in class typically gives you anxiety, sitting up front helps you avoid that feeling. (3) There are not as many distractions coming from your other peers in the room. There have been many times when I’ve found myself distracted by the online game someone in front of me was playing. I’m being the mom, trying to protect you.

Rule #3: Get your head in the game on syllabus day.

Some upperclassmen will tell you that the first day is easy because it’s mostly just going over the syllabus. Don’t let this be an excuse to try to coast through that first day. Some professors are great about giving you consistent reminders about upcoming due dates, but others will review the syllabus on the first day and expect you to refer back to it on your own for the rest of the semester. This means it’s good practice to show up with a planner on your first day so you can go ahead and jot down important dates as professors go over them. Jot them in pencil, just in case the due date changes later on, but, trust me, this saves you from a lot of stress and confusion later.

Rule #4: Take note(s).

Some professors dive right into their first lecture on the first day of class. (Side note: this is why it’s important to have your books with you on the first day.) Class lectures will be a huge chunk of your education, so it’s essential to prepare yourself by ensuring that you have some way of taking notes. Note-taking is a proven strategy to help keep you on track. I usually get one notebook for every class (sometimes I go through more than one!). Some people use iPads or laptops – but some professors don’t allow that, so be prepared. Bonus tip: professors rarely give study guides, so class notes are a super helpful tool for reviewing material before a quiz, exam, or final. 

Rule #5: Confidence is key.

Hey. I know I’m throwing a lot at you. But remember: YOU’VE GOT THIS! Have the confidence it takes to really engage in your classes. Participating and asking questions is so so so (how many “so”s are needed to drive the message home?) so crucial to academic success. Professors want to hear from you in class, and participation is usually a part of your grade. Afraid to ask questions? Don’t be! It’s your academic experience, isn’t it? Be your own advocate. Your professor will never know if you’re confused and cannot help you unless you speak up. It will be helpful to form the habit of regular participation early so that you quickly get comfortable with sharing your ideas and asking questions.

This is not an extensive list, but you get the idea. I follow these practices every year, and, so far, they have made me into a star student. To all incoming Patriots, I hope you study this rulebook and show up to your first day of class primed and ready. It’s going to be an awesome year. Bring it on!