Making a Good Start

Ten Tips on Putting Your Best Foot Forward

You don’t have to be a genius to succeed in college, but you do have to take school seriously and make smart decisions. Here's some advice on putting your best foot forward at NCC.

1. Go to New Student Orientation.

If you want to make a good start at Nassau, attending Orientation is a must! You'll learn about the College, tour the campus, meet other students, and go home with some good ideas on succeeding in school and enjoying yourself at the same time.

2. Get a campus map.

On a fairly large campus, it helps to have a good map to find your way around. If you don’t want to wait until Orientation to get a campus map, you can pick one up in the Information Services Center (Tower), the Public Safety Office, or the Office of Student Activities (CCB). There’s also a map on the NCC homepage.

3. Be smart about parking.

Leave at least 45 minutes to park and get to class. Also, pay attention to signs in campus parking fields. While most spaces are available for student use, some parking is restricted. If you're traveling to Nassau by NICE bus, pick up a schedule from Public Safety, the Office of Student Activities (College Center), and the Information Center (Tower) and become familiar with campus bus stops. You can also check the NICE schedule.

4. Use your Daily Planner.

The Daily Planner, distributed at Orientation, is an essential publication. It contains a college calendar, which you can use to keep track of assignments, exams, due dates, and other college business, as well as important campus telephone numbers.  Use your planner to stay on top of things.

5. Get your textbooks early.

At the first or second meeting of each class, you will receive a document called a syllabus. The syllabus will list, among other things, the textbooks you will need for that course. Since many professors make assignments from books early on, it makes sense to buy your texts as soon as you know their titles.  All can be found in the campus bookstore.

6. Get off to a fast start in your classes.

The first few weeks of the semester are too valuable to let slip by.  Use this time to get a jump on assigned readings as well as papers and projects.  Quizzes and tests will be upon you before long; there’s no time to waste.

7. Get to know your professors.

Though college faculty have busy lives, most welcome the opportunity to get to know students in their classes. They are especially interested in students’ responses to material being studied in class.  Don’t hesitate to speak with your professors, either after class or during their office hours.  Developing positive relationships with professors is an important part of your college experience,

8. Use campus services.

Nassau offers a range of academic and support services, everything from help with writing and math skills to career counseling and financial aid assistance. You may not have to know about every service right away, but you should learn about those you think you will need.  For more information about campus services, visit the "Academic & Student Services at NCC" page.

9. Take part in campus life.

By joining clubs, attending events, and being a part of campus life, you'll meet other students and have a fuller and more enjoyable college experience.  A good way to get involved in campus life is to attend the Fall 2018 Activities Fair, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 27 at club hour (11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) in front of the College Center.  Don’t miss out on this important part of college. You can get a good education and still have a good time!

10. Stay connected to NCC.

Read the NCC homepage, check your College email, and keep up with NCC news through Facebook; Twitter; and the First-Year Experience blog.  Also, keep up on campus events by text (text Nassau to 313131).  And if you have questions, don't be shy about asking!  People at Nassau—classroom teachers, counselors, librarians, and others—are more than willing to answer questions, offer advice, or help in other ways.  Got questions?  Ask.  Remember: It’s your education!