Getting the Material You are going to Need For School College is many things: tough, life-changing, and expensive. One of the hardest decisions you will make, aside from what school you will go to, is what you want to major in. There are so many choices. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you may be considering a business degree. If you are good with numbers, you may be considering an accounting degree. Or you may be good with computers, so you are thinking about a degree in computer science.
Back to Basics Whatever degree you choose, students need certain basic materials to complete and succeed in their degree. But sometimes it is hard to know what stuff you need, who to ask and where to get correct the school supplies. Like Maria, from the Sound of Music states, “The beginning is a very good place to start.” And the beginning for any degree starts with your college catalog, the catalog that lists all the numerous requirements to complete a degree. Once you decide upon your planned degree, you need now to chart the path of courses you will take and when you will take them. This process is called creating a graduation plan. Contact a student advisor to help you map out your plan, since they will know the ins-and-outs of the college system better than you. But if you are really stuck, just call the information desk, and they will be able to forward to the person who can answer your questions. After making your graduation plan (don’t worry if it changes or is amended over the next four years, the plan is more a guideline anyway), you need to sign up for your first freshman courses. These courses usually include English, math, and science—although if you were proactive in high school and took AP courses you may be able to bypass these rudimentary classes. If you feel you are not prepared to take these courses there are student tutors to on campuses to help your pass these core courses with ease and confidence.
Text Books After you signed up for courses, you will be required to buy or rent certain books, manuals or gadgets. Most of these materials will be available at the university bookstore, but at an elevated price. You can find many of the physical materials needed for your classes through online retailers for usually a lower price. Also in preparation for you classes you will need to a sturdy book bag and a mode of transportation to get from your
apartment to campus. Depending upon individual circumstances a car, bus, bike or a pair of feet will be all you need to get to class on time—along with a loud alarm clock. Everyone say that freshman year is the hardest—and they are right. Yet strange enough things get easier as the courses get harder. But when you get overwhelmed, don’t quit. There are counselors and administrators who will help you overcome whatever challenges you are going through. When you are walking down the graduation isle with your business administration degree, accounting degree or computer science degree, you will realize the rigors of your college years were worth it. Photo Credit: fakhar , humusak2