First Time in College

We are excited to have you join the USF community and know that you are eager to become involved in campus life. Remember you have four years ahead of you, so don't expect to do everything in your first year. You might begin by participating in a student organization in your area of interest, but you will probably need a semester to settle in before beginning volunteer work or related employment. You will also probably need at least two years of coursework in the sciences before you are ready to become involved in research.

Your most important task for your first semester is to become a good student. Your courses will be much more demanding than in high school. The professor’s expectations and the competition for grades in class may both be much greater than you experienced in high school. High grades in high school do no necessarily predict high grades in college, as many bright students do not have to really push themselves to do well in high school and thus may not have good study skills.

Establish good study habits and time management skills. Locate all of the school resources and become well acquainted with the library. Try not to be employed more than 15 to 20 hours per week, and not at all if possible. (Yes, you can ask your parents to read this!) The science courses you will be taking will often require much more time than similar course loads in other majors, both in laboratory time and in study time. Don’t skip any prep courses that may be recommended for you in chemistry, reading, or mathematics; they will help you in your subsequent courses.

Many of your science courses will be sequential, and it will require careful planning on your part with the assistance of an academic advisor to plan a reasonable four-year curriculum. Keep in mind that although most professional schools will accept AP credit in lieu of some courses, not all will. Contact the health professional schools you are interested in to find out if they will accept AP credits.

Be sure to see an advisor every term before registering for the next semester. If you have any low grades when your midterm grades arrive, don’t wait- see an advisor immediately. The Pre-health Advisors are here to help you succeed and to enjoy your first year at USF!