What to Expect on Your First Day of Class in

College
Ensure you make the most of your classes and professors,
starting from your very first day of each course.
Maya Moritz, Student Contributor
August 01, 2019

Simply put, college is not high school. Your professor will expect you to be more
independent, adventurous, and responsible than your high school teachers presumed. If
you enter the lecture hall uninformed and meek, you may not perform at your optimal
level and may miss important opportunities. Your classes are the best way to discover
internships, access academic help, and decide your major or path to graduate school.
Follow these tips to ensure you make the most of your classes and professors, starting
from your very first day of each course.

Be Prompt

Nothing makes a worse impression than strolling in late. Especially for the first class,
you should make an extreme effort to be punctual. Set three (or more!) alarms if that’s
what it takes to wake up early, particularly if you have a morning class. Head to class
with fifteen or twenty minutes to spare in case other students had the same idea. If
you’re too early, you can wander around, read, or grab a coffee. However, if you’re late,
you’ll have no choice but to draw attention as you enter. Making an enemy of your
professor on the first day is not something I recommend. Additionally, finding a seat
could be a hassle if you arrive late.
Seat Yourself

Do you drift off easily? Consider sitting in the front. Do you doodle to pay attention? The
back may be your best bet in order to avoid censure from your professor. Are you prone
to chatting? Sit near someone you don’t know, or take your own row. It may seem
antisocial, but you should be paying attention in class no matter what it takes. Also,
consider your schedule. If you have a class in ten minutes across campus, you’ll need
to be near the door in order to run out as soon as class is dismissed.
Unless you have no choice, giving yourself at least half an hour between classes will
maximize your chance to be on time and ask questions after class (one of the best ways
to distinguish yourself).

Be Prepared

You may have more freedom to organize your notes in college. Your professor likely
won’t require a binder or folder, leaving you with more options. The first day of class is
usually unofficially deemed “Syllabus Day” and you’ll almost definitely receive a
syllabus. For this reason, a folder or something to organize and hold papers is a
necessity. If the class has handouts, keep them. Use an accordion folder, folder
connected to a notebook, or binder. Don’t just stuff your papers into your bag – these
are important documents you’ll need to keep intact because you’re going to need to
refer to all year long. If you’re taking notes by hand, bring extra pens or pencils. You
don’t want to disrupt a quiet classroom by asking for a pen. However, there will be
someone who does forget their writing utensils. Bringing extras and lending them yours
is a great way to make friends. If you’re willing to keep up with a key to organize your
notes, bring highlighters. If you won’t lose notes, or are very organized, consider
keeping them all in one notebook, using a website like StudyBlue, or downloading a
study app, like Evernote.

Pay Attention

You probably won’t be tested on anything you learn the first day. Some professors
merely use the first class as a way to pique their students’ interests. Certain classes
have a maximum number of absent days, so you’ll want to keep track of your sick days.
Other classes tend to remain in the same seating configuration as the first day. Thus,
you don’t want to come in late or sit next to distracting friends. Tell your friends ahead of
time so they don’t think you’re ignoring them. For days you may miss, you will need to
obtain the notes somehow. Gone are the days of obtaining your notes from teachers
(like in middle school). Spotting a possible source for notes in the class, whether the
person is a potential friend or just an acquaintance, can save you from missing out. If
you’re short on funds, you can often wait until the first class to see if the professor will
utilize every text on the reading list. Listen closely so you don’t have to waste precious
travel or music festival funds. Put away your phone, especially if the class has less than
thirty people. This is your time to make professional and social connections (and to
learn a thing or two). Your first day is your professor’s first impression of you. Don’t
show up in your pajamas or fall asleep before everyone’s seated.
Show Up

Most importantly, be there. Your first day of the course is probably one of the most
important days of the course, apart from exam days. Some students actually believe
that the first day of class isn’t important because you don’t actually “learn anything,”
which couldn’t be further from the truth. They argue that students who enroll later are
able to catch on. However, these students who enroll late in the course are only able to
catch up because the professor helps them by giving them the necessary information –
if you’re already enrolled, you will not have this luxury. Vital information will come your
way the first day – use this to your advantage to map out your game plan for the course.
You can use the first day to feel out the professor, the course material and, often times,
the professor will divulge information about the exam formats, quizzes and other class
policies. This is all important information you don’t want to miss – so make your first day
of class count!