Student perspective: Five tips for starting the new academic year

Check out these helpful pieces of advice to help start the new school year in a positive way from a fellow undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023

By Charlotte Brookins 

Whether you’re an incoming first year, a transfer student, or even an upperclassman, many of us could use a refresher on how to get back into the routine of the school year. I’m Charlotte, a third-year English and creative writing major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, also known as CLAS.  

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the place to discover, explore, and create your story at Iowa. No matter which of our 70 majors you are studying—your education in CLAS will give you a solid foundation.

As we all get back into the swing of things, here are a few pieces of advice to get going.  

Explore campus 

Offering more than 2,000 acres of campus, finding your way around can seem daunting. However, with some practice and help from the many maps and means of transportation, getting around Iowa City will soon become second nature.  

Before starting your first day of classes, be sure to walk your schedule for each day so that you’ll know exactly where to go when the time comes. Make sure to keep an eye out for shortcuts and good places to stop and grab a snack or meal in between classes. This can include the three campus dining halls and many cafes scattered on and off campus. Campus maps are an excellent resource, in addition to the navigation you may have on your phone or watch.  

For help using the UI’s free campus bus system, CAMBUS, download the Transit app to learn bus routes, schedules, and keep up to date on cancellations—the different lines can sometimes be confusing, but remembering that the Blue Route will take you to Burge and the Red Route will take you to Rienow can help you get the hang of it. Iowa City Transit is free now, too, and works with the same app. Finally, don’t forget to explore downtown as you get to know your new home. 

Students getting onto CAMBUS

 

Get to know your advisor 

Every student has an advisor to help you explore your options for study, activities, and careers. Whether you’ve declared your major, or if you’re still figuring it out, it’s important to establish a comfortable relationship with your advisor as they will help you move forward in the coming semesters. In my own experience, my advisor thoroughly influenced my college career by helping me create a plan of study, guiding me through schedule registration, and advising me on internship applications. 

A student visiting with a faculty member

If you’re unsure who your advisor is, or think your advisor might have changed, you can verify your primary advisor and find their office location on your programs of study page in MyUI. To schedule an appointment with your advisor, go to your MyUI page, scroll down to “Student Learning,” and click on the square that says “Advising Appointment.” From there, you’ll be able to schedule group meetings and one-on-one appointments with your advisor for scheduling advice, general questions, and anything else you need guidance with.  

Your advisor will also be emailing you with important updates, so it’s always crucial to...  

Check your email A student on their computer

While at the university, your Outlook account will be your headquarters. From there, you’ll be able to schedule Zoom meetings with peers and instructors, keep track of classes, and most importantly, send and receive important communications.  

Your inbox, which you should be checking often, is where you’ll find course updates, important university announcements, and fun opportunities to get involved on campus. Consider using Office 365 to create folders and organize your email so you don’t miss crucial information. I discovered many of my current extracurriculars through a mass email sent out to the student body. If you’re a returning student, make sure to go over emails that might have been left unread during the summer months and get back into the habit of checking it every day. Your Outlook account is the compass you’ll need for the digital side of Iowa. 

 

 

Know where to study 

Whether you prefer to study alone, in a group, or somewhere in between, there are plenty of places across campus for you to settle down and get some work done. Each residence hall is equipped with one or more private rooms on each floor that can be used for studying, as well as socializing. The Main Library is another great place to go, with countless resources, food from the Food for Thought Café, and specific floors for how quiet you want your environment to be. Even if you end up deciding that your favorite place to study is your bed, having somewhere you know you can focus and get down to business will only become more helpful as the semester progresses. You can also explore some of the more unique study places on campus, that are home to some programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  

A student studying

Seek rest and resources

Perhaps the most important, and most underrated, piece of advice I can give is to know when it’s time to take a break. Sometimes we feel a lot of pressure, especially as workloads grow more intense and exam season approaches. Of course, it’s important to always stay on top of your schoolwork and to study on a regular basis, but it can be hard to do either of those things when your brain and body aren’t being taken care of.  

Find the time to take a break, whether that means checking out movies at FilmScene, joining a student org, working off stress at the Rec Center, or taking an hour to relax and unwind on the Pentacrest green. For instance, I may not be studying biology or veterinary sciences, but I’m able to find ways to relax when volunteering at the Iowa Raptor Project.  

While at school, taking care of work is a major priority, but you can’t do that unless you’ve taken care of yourself first. Whenever you feel like you need some extra help, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of these helpful student services on campus:  

Therapy dog

As you head into your first semester of college or get back into the swing of an old routine, remember that the University of Iowa is here to help you learn, grow, and succeed as you take on new challenges and opportunities. Don’t be afraid to burst out of your comfort zone, try new things, and ask for help when you need it, because CLAS isn’t just a college—it's a community.  

Have a great semester, Hawkeyes! 

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.