Success strategies for your first year.
Your first year at the University of Michigan is a transformative experience. Learn how you can maximize opportunities, build your degree path, and enjoy the journey.
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Connect with faculty, staff, and peers.
Make use of office hours and other opportunities to interact with faculty outside of class. Get to know the staff in student support units, such as academic advisors. Introduce yourself to peers, including upper-level students, to build your network and learn from them.
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Try something new.
Finding your community and identifying your strengths and future direction often comes when you try something new. U-M offers numerous student organizations, learning communities, events, and specialized course topics to help you explore intentionally.
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Strive for balance.
While we encourage students to embrace challenges, it is crucial not to overextend yourself. Keep in mind that you don’t have to do it all in your first term!
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Be kind to yourself.
Your first year of college can involve enormous change and serious challenges. The changes and challenges are a good thing, but they can also be stressful, and mistakes and missteps are normal. Don’t expect perfection. Do seek advice and support.
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Attend class.
We know how this sounds (like your parents?), but the reality is that attending class reinforces learning that you will do on your own and very likely introduces material that you won’t find anywhere else.
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Stay informed.
Keeping up with U-M email and newsletters is time-consuming, but the reality is that important opportunities are in your inbox, and it is your responsibility to be aware of and meet deadlines. Set aside some time, every week (literally weekly), to review University communications.
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Be heard.
It can be nerve-wracking to share your understanding, perspective, or questions in class, office hours, or advising, but communicating your thoughts or concerns is the most important way to gain the feedback and help that is so essential to deep learning and growth. We want to hear from you.
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