College is a very exciting time of life! Here are some tips on being successful while at WCU.
- Utilize your resources.
Everybody at Carey wants to see all students succeed and can help you in a variety of ways. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Our website has a great list of How To Tutorials that can help you find the answers to common student questions. Contact your academic advisor for guidance or the Office of Student Assistance for additional help.
- Do not procrastinate.
Do not put off to tomorrow what you can do today. You may have heard this anecdote before or may have heard wise individuals offer similar advice. Stay on top of your academic life, work life, and social life. Do as much work as you can in the moment. You never know how your schedule will change or what life event may happen that will interfere with your good intentions of working on something later
- Get involved.
It is important to focus on your academics, but it is also important to get involved with campus activities. In order to stay healthy and not become burned out, it is key to make connections and friendships so you can balance your hard work with some fun. It also will look good on your resume if you are able to maintain a great GPA and also show that you care about your community and were involved with your peers.
- Communication is key.
You cannot be helped with fixing a problem if you do not tell anyone. Stay in contact with your family and your friends from back home, but also invest time in your new college relationships. Honesty is the best policy. It is important to be polite yet honest with your friends, roommates, instructors, and advisors. Human relationships rely on both parties being able to calmly communicate the good and the bad with each other, and although it may not seem fun to deal with problems in the moment, you will appreciate having done so later.
- Manage your time.
College students have a lot to balance: academics, extracurricular activities, social lives, and work. Becoming an adult means being able to prioritize activities, set goals and meet objectives. Students need to be able to say “no” to unimportant activities in order to meet the deadlines of things that matter. You will lead a more balanced life by using a calendar and making a schedule for every activity.
- Manage your money.
Many students coming from home to college are having to learn basic life survival skills, one being money management. Be sure to plan ahead and know your budget for spending. Understand your business office balance, your eligibility for scholarships, and what financial aid is available. Do not be afraid to contact various departments about workstudy opportunities or the OSA about jobs around the community if you are in need of extra income.
- Choose your classes wisely.
All students learn differently. Some students enjoy early morning classes, and some love online classes. It is important to sign up for classes as soon as possible. Be sure you are honest with yourself about your capabilities and that you are wise in choosing your class subjects and the days and times they meet. College takes a lot of discipline, responsibility, and time management. Classes can go by quickly if you are not careful, so it is important to think ahead and ask questions before committing to a class. Be aware of drop dates and reimbursement policies, as well.
- Be organized and prepared.
Using one calendar, like your student email calendar through Office365, for all your assignments and duties will help you stay on top of your work. Read your class syllabi, and put all due dates and assignments on one calendar. Also, put your work schedule or other extracurricular activities on that calendar. The more proactive you are about your schedule, the less overwhelmed and more prepared you will be.
- Use your WCU student accounts.
Your username and password for your student email, Canvas, and Indigo Portal are all the same. You will set your portal up first. Your portal is what you will use to register for classes, access unofficial transcripts, financial aid information and much more. Canvas is what you will use for hybrid, online, or online enhanced classes. Teachers will utilize your student email address and Canvas messaging to send you information, but so will other faculty and staff.
- Do not treat college like a competition.
Be patient. All students will not finish their college degrees at the same time. Do not compare your college journey to anyone else’s. We should all have goals and look at the big picture, but we should also be flexible and know that the things may not always go as planned. Be prepared to deal with unexpected news, good and bad. Life is full of uncertainties, and we have to be ready to be accommodate them.
