Week one of fall term at Drexel is probably one of the best weeks of the whole year (besides breaks, of course). All of your friends that attend other colleges went back to school last month and you’re itching to get back. Or your co-op has seemed to drag a week or two longer than you had hoped. Let’s face it, you’re excited to sleep in and have an option of what you want to do when the sun is up.
Week one is exciting and nerve-wracking for freshmen and a celebration for those of us coming back to class from co-op. The next seven days are exhilarating and busy, so be sure not to get lost in the hustle and bustle. Keep the following things in mind now that you’re BTS (Back to school) and you’ll be ready for an awesome quarter!
“Syllabus week” I am sorry, but this week simply does not exist at Drexel. Week one is where you often hit the ground running with class, and yes, having quizzes week two is VERY possible. This week pay attention to that lousy 10 minutes at the beginning of class that the professor devotes to going over the syllabus, so you know what’s expected of you for the term. This is as close as you’ll get to a “syllabus week” at Drexel, so don’t tune out! Take note of the professor’s office hours and contact information, as well as the weight different assignments have on your grade. Trust me on this one, when week five rolls around you are going to wish you knew when and where your professor’s office hours are.
Plan AccordinglySpeaking of the syllabus, take the time to read it and plan accordingly for midterms and important due dates. Many of us have had a term where every class had a midterm during week five. If you know when each exam will be as soon as week one, it may help minimize hair pulling and cramming the weekend before midterms. Whether you’re using Google calendar or an actual agenda, take the time to pencil in due dates and midterms for the rest of the term; you will be happy that you did later. If you’re like me and like to write in a planner, but cannot fathom spending $20, here is a great tip! Freshman dorms often have free Drexel planners that come loaded with prewritten week numbers (VERY important) and have coupons for food and entertainment around the city.
Timing is EverythingA wise professor once told me (and every other business student in Professor Finnin’s first lecture), “If you are early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you’re fired.” As crazy as it may sound, it’s always a good idea to show up to your classes 10 to 15 minutes early, get settled, and get a good seat. No one wants to be that person fumbling to find a seat once the lecture has started. Believe me, there’s no harm in being a few minutes early to class.
Make Yourself at HomeWeek one definitely has the lightest work load of the term—other than week 10, which is usually the calm before the storm of finals. This is your time to unpack that last box in your dorm, figure out how the whole laundry thing works, and make your space really feel like home. New apartment this year? Maybe it’s time to put that TV stand together and finally buckle down and buy a couch. Because let’s be real, once classes start that couch will be needed for those ever-important power naps. Also, explore and conquer the unknown territory of grocery shopping (food is always a top priority). Try to have yourself completely moved in and at home by the end of week one, that way once classes pick up you’ll have one less thing to worry about.
Since the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia was timed impeccably and conveniently falls on our first week back, things are going to be a little different this year. No one truly knows how the city will react or just how many people will be here, so plan ahead for a worse case scenario. Stock up on groceries, give yourself extra time during your morning commute, and be prepared for New York-style pushing and shoving. Also, check the Papal visit class schedule that Drexel has posted to see if any of your classes have been cancelled or rescheduled.
Best of luck to everyone this fall term!