Getting the Most From Your Academic Experience

On Monday, 22 August 2005, Grinnell College hosted a session for new students entitled Getting the Most From Your Academic Experience. That session, staffed by second-year students, third-year students, and seniors (or so I understand), is intended to provide first-year students with a wealth of advice. Although that sessions is not required of all Grinnell students, I require my Tutorial students to attend and to record three key points. You will find these points below. The words are often the students, but I will admit that when students had similar answers, I often combined answers and that I also took other liberties with their writings.

Points recorded by: Trevor Austin, Alex Conlon, Ted Cooper, Azul Freedom, Chris Gerpheide, Scott McIntyre, Matthew Montemore, Emmanuel Munoz, and Sam Tape.

Students not listed were excused from this assignment.

• Don't be embarrassed to ask questions of upper classmen [sic] or professors. [x4]
• Take advantage of the resources Grinnell provides to help you in your classes, especially the math and writing centers. [x5]
• Take advantage of the resources Grinnell provides to help you explore subjects more deeply outside of class, such as internship and research grants and study abroad options. [x3]
• Even if you know what you want to study, take classes in all of the disciplines (or outside of your primary interests) because you may be surprised by how much you like another subject. [x4]
• Balance your work load and make sure you develop good time management. [x2]
• Students are expected to succeed, which is why they were accepted in the first place.
• Engagement and participation in class is completely necessary for getting the most from a class and its professors. [x2]
• Variety of classes and activities is very important to one's Grinnell experience. [x2]
• The NSO Committee is a volunteer organization run by students that organizes new student orientation activities.
• Classes at Grinnell will truly make you think, rather than absorb facts like you most likely did in High School.
• When you need a tutor for a class, the College will provide one for you. The tutor will be paid by the College.
• You actually have to study now, so expect to make time for it.
• Unnecessary anxiety is unnecessary. Don't spread yourself too thin, don't prejudge your professors (it's silly not to keep an open mind).
• Grinnell will change how you think.
• Find what you love.