Starting the 2015-16 Year!

Now as the school year is about to start this upcoming August, here are a few tips and tricks before and during the first week of school:

1. Make sure you are registered for classes~

If you know what you want to major in, it is beneficial to speak with you academic advisor. They are your primary resource to find out what classes you may need to take in order to earn your degree. If you are undecided or want to continue to pursue your education, your first stop will be in the admissions office! By finding out what classes you will need, be sure that you mention your concerns about wanting to graduate on time - they can help you make sure you will finish in a timely fashion.

2. Once registered, be sure to pay for them!

After you are registered for your classes online, pay attention to the costs of your tuition and fees. If you are paying out of pocket, you can visit the cashier’s office if you need to set up a payment plan. If you have financial aid, check in at the financial aid windows to ensure that your FAFSA award is applied for the fall semester! Another opportunity is to apply for scholarships offered every semester. So be sure to pay attention to your GSU email for these opportunities.

3. Registered, Paid, and now Textbooks?!?

Through your student portal account (you can get assistance on accessing it through the ITS Helpdesk), you can find a list of your required textbooks from looking at your student schedule. By visiting the bookstore on campus, they have new or used textbooks that you can rent or purchase and/or vice versa. If you’re a techie person like myself, they also offer a variety of electronic textbooks for each course.

4. Where do I go for my classes?

It may be of benefit to you to find where your classes may be so you don’t run late the first day of class. From your class schedule, there are different wings of the campus labelled A-G to find where your class may be. If you get lost, you can always ask faculty and staff around you. If you are completely new to the campus, you can also request a full campus tour through the admissions office.

5. I’m feeling nervous for a class, and afraid I won’t do well.

If you feel you might struggle with a class, it’s important to see what supplemental resources are available to you ahead of time. Such resources include the library where they have different primary articles for writing research papers. Look into the academic resource center for tutoring services in various subjects and even writing/counseling. Primarily, also look into your instructor’s office hours. If ever during the term, you need help with something, they are always approachable with you to stop by their office hours. That’s what their hours are there for! Go to them for some extra clarification or help with the subject.