By Emilija Sarma
The first week of classes has taken us by storm! There are so many activities, events, and new opportunities to explore in the first month of the fall semester—we can’t blame you if you feel overwhelmed.
However, the Graduate and International Student Ambassadors are here for you. We have a list of helpful tips from our grad students, faculty, and staff to help you navigate your first weeks of the new semester and ensure that it will be smooth sailing from here on out.
Check out this list of ways to start your semester off right!
1. Get to Know the Resources Available to You on Campus
You will have a much easier time getting through your first weeks of classes if you know what kind of support is available to you on campus. The University of Arkansas has a ton of resources that will lead you toward academic success.
Library Support
Did you know that there is more than meets the eye with Mullins Library? The library’s website offers 24/7 live chat with a librarian who can help you with all sorts of questions that might be bugging you, like how to cite sources properly in a paper—super useful if you’re working on your first assignment!
Mullins Library also offers Interlibrary Loan services, which means you can always borrow a book or an article that you need, even if the library doesn’t have it onsite. For more information, go talk to one of our friendly librarians at the Research Desk in Mullins; they are always there to help you.
CLASS+
If you are struggling with a particular class or a tricky assignment, CLASS+ can be a huge support to you. The tutors at CLASS+ do both drop-in and appointment-based tutoring sessions in a variety of disciplines all over campus. You can also work and chat with a tutor online—really convenient if you’re not on campus but need help right away!
Visit the CLASS+ website for a helpful list of resources which features guides on anything from writing introductions, to “Survival Tips for the University Classroom”, to the “Key to Effective Textbook Reading”.
Tech Center
The UARK Tech Center on the third floor of the Arkansas Student Union is a great place to go if you’re looking for a break in their gaming lounge. But did you know that you can also check out various tech equipment with just your student ID? They have laptops, cameras, A/V editing rooms, a green screen, VR headset and more available for checkout and/or reservation.
2. Get to Know your Professors, Ask Questions, and Attend Office Hours
It can be intimidating to talk to your instructors, but—believe it or not—they are there for you! Your instructors want you to reach out and ask questions.
Kendra, a Graduate Student Ambassador and PhD candidate in Space and Planetary Science, says that the surefire way of getting things right in a class is to attend your instructor’s office hours as much as possible.
By attending your instructor’s office hours, you can always make sure that you have understood the material correctly and get help on your assignments.
3. Get on a Good Sleep Routine
As the first weeks go by, the list of assignments and homework due will keep growing longer, as will the social events that you’ll want to take part in! However, it’s important to remember that sleep is the foundation of staying healthy.
It can be very tempting to pull an all-nighter or to take naps during the day, but as the Graduate School Administrative Support Supervisor, Cheri, points out, the human body needs consistency and getting 6-8 hours of sleep every night is very important, especially if you deal with a lot of stress.
Besides getting enough hours of sleep, it is also paramount that you wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. Sleeping in on a weekend might seem like a good idea, but it can throw your body off balance. Naps can also disrupt your sleep schedule and, although they go hand in hand with student life, they’re actually not great for you in the long run.
4. Start Building a Support Network
Starting college can be stressful for many reasons and having to make friends and form connections with people in a new place is definitely at the top of the list.
Having a good support network can make all the difference when you’re starting college. Kibaek, a Fulbright Scholar and PhD student in Recreation and Sports Management, says that making friends with “advisors, people from Registered Student Organizations, club sports and so on” can help you feel included at the university, and it “helps students’ retention rates and their academic performance.”
Don’t know where to start? Join a Registered Student Organization or the International Culture Team, or ask people in one of your classes to form a study group. There are so many opportunities to make incredible friendships on campus—find yours!
As Kibaek says, “Go look for your people and make yourself feel included on this campus!”
5. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Self-Care
When the pressure of college life really starts to kick in, it can be challenging to maintain both good grades and a healthy lifestyle. Something eventually has to give, and for a lot of students, this means compromising on getting enough rest and taking care of yourself.
This is not the way to go. Although college takes a lot of hard work and dedication if you want to do well, it’s important to remember that there is nothing more important than your mental and physical well-being.
Graduate Assistant and Counselling MA student, Vinci, says, “Have at least one day where you take a break.” If you don’t find time to relax and completely disconnect from your studies, you may be at a higher risk for burnout, which happens to a lot of students.
Most of us need a helping hand from time to time, so if you do start feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to reach out and get help. CAPS mental health services at the Pat Walker Health Center offer individual and group counselling that can help you deal with stress and anxiety among other issues.
If you don’t feel like setting up an appointment, CAPS also has an outreach program called “Let’s Talk” that offers students brief informal drop-in consultations with a licensed mental health clinician at different sites across campus.
Ever need a quiet space to just take a few minutes to yourself while on campus? CAPS has a Relaxation Room where you’ll find massage chairs, yoga mats, and a peaceful environment where you can truly destress from whatever is on your mind.
