Welcome to all new and returning Towson tigers! The College of Business and Economics (CBE) is eager to start the new school year, and we hope all of you are, too.
The start of a new semester can be very exciting, yet challenging at the same time. New classes, new professors – everything is different. While this can be quite overwhelming, it is important to always remain focused, to continue to improve, and to strive for success.
In order to relieve some of the stress that comes with the new school year, we decided to interview fellow CBE students to ask them how they kick-start the semester. Whether your goal is to pass all of your classes, to gain valuable knowledge and experience to help get an internship, or to prepare for graduation, these strategies can be useful for everyone.
TIP #1: “Get your assignments done early.” – Meghan Wood, Senior
This tip applies for all classes – Calculus, Statistics, EBTM 250/251, Finance, etc. When you complete your assignments early, it allows for more time to ask your professor questions about the coursework, which can help you better understand the material.
Utilizing your professor’s office hours is a great way to get more comfortable with them and to ask any questions that you may have about the class.
TIP #2: “Teamwork makes the dream work. Meet new people and make friends in your classes. They can help you during the semester.” – Nathan Manprated, Junior
Other people in your classes can help you when have a last-minute question about an assignment that is due soon or an upcoming exam. You can also make a new friend, which helps make the transition into a new semester a little bit easier.
TIP #3: “Get all your textbooks and access codes ahead of time. It will make your life so much easier.” – David Dasher, Junior
If you do not have your textbooks and/or on-line access codes for your classes yet, try and do this as soon as possible. When you are able to immediately begin reading or doing your assignments, it almost guarantees that you will not fall behind at the start of the semester.
TIP #4: “Set goals for the semester. Create a list and check them off as you achieve them.” – Brooke Coyle, Senior
Make a list of at least three goals that you hope to achieve by the end of the fall semester – an easy goal, a somewhat challenging goal, and one difficult goal. Some great examples of goals could be: to pass your math class this semester, to get into the business or accounting program, to graduate in December/May, or to finally get that internship you have been wanting.
Once you have made these goals, make a list of steps needed to reach each goal. Allow yourself some time to accomplish these steps, and check them off as you complete them. When you have a clear direction and focus, it makes reaching that goal more attainable.
TIP #5: “Don’t be nervous of social interactions with others. It is a lot less scary than you may think.” – Mazen Alashwal, Sophomore
Especially if you are an incoming freshman, the thought of going to college and the start of the semester can be a little daunting. Try to relax, stay organized and be on top of your school work, and make friends.
Keep in mind that it is important to take full advantage of your time here at Towson. Use these tips to help keep yourself motivated – more preparation at the beginning of the semester will reduce a lot of stress that comes around final exams. Have a great first week of classes, and keep checking your TU email for our updated weekly newsletter, CBE Connect, for more articles during the semester!
