Special Challenges for First-Year-Students

BearBucks | Making a Strong Start | Prioritizing Study Time | Attending Class | Handling Paperwork

Overlooking Key Resources | Managing Time | Working Part Time | Hanging on to the Past

Avoiding Debt | Checking Out Career Services | Misusing Alcohol | Other Health Concerns

UCA Laptop Initiative | Staying on Track for Graduation | Parent Orientation

Student Discount Card | If Your Child Has Been Accepted to the University College

Making a Strong Start

It is important to help your student avoid a slow start with course work. Students should be aware that the freshman year is not a 'trial year' academically. Low GPA’s in the first few semesters can be difficult to repair and can affect their entire college career.

Teach your student about the right kind of study skills. Even though many students did not need to study hard in high school to succeed, college is different. Encourage your student to recognize the difference and to make studying an important daily event. Students should do all the assigned work, read all materials, and consider starting or joining a study group to take advantage of classmates' knowledge. Students need to be aware of the heavier workload and what professors expect.

Some students also approach their required General Education classes with a negative attitude, expecting them to be 'easy A' classes that they can just sail through without learning anything! This is not the case! These classes prepare students for the more advanced work later to come. Here they learn valuable skills such as critical thinking, reading, and writing for college classes; these will be the foundations for later work.