By Kelly Douglas

Congratulations high school graduates of 2005! After a lot of hard work and determination, you have finally received that long-awaited diploma. Your days of proms, ring ceremonies and graduations are fading moments, and it’s time to take that next big step in life – college.

However, for some, making the transition can be intimidating. How do you know which classes to take? Which professors will teach lecture material in a way that matches your learning style? How do you know if you’re going to graduate on schedule? Take a deep breath, relax and keep reading for a few answers to some of your many questions about preparing for your first semester at college.

First of all, if you’re reading this, then that likely means that you’ve decided to attend U of L. Secondly, it means that you’re probably attending your summer orientation session right now, which is even better because the orientation session is beneficial to adapting to college life. Danielle Bristow, assistant director of admissions for new student programs, said that during orientation, you’ll learn about various campus resources, the university “lingo,” how grade point averages are calculated, how to read the course catalog and the option of taking placement exams. In addition, you’ll learn about U of L’s website, www.louisville.edu, which hooks you up with Netmail, ULink and Blackboard, sites you’ll become all too familiar with during your tenure at U of L. More importantly, you’ll meet with an academic advisor and schedule classes.

Scheduling can be tricky, especially if you’re not sure what career path to follow. Janet Spence, director of university-wide advising practice, said that waiting to declare a major can be beneficial in the long run, especially if students are unsure of what to study.

“Some students come into the university as freshman knowing exactly what they want to major in and what they want their career to be, but the majority of students do not and they need to understand that that’s okay,” she said. “The typical incoming freshman will change their major three or four times, so sticking primarily with general education classes that would apply toward all degrees is the safest thing to do. Take the time to explore careers.”

After meeting with an advisor, you’ll be set up with a student orientation staffer [S.O.S.]. Twenty-six students hold this position and were required to complete a semester-long leadership course and week and a half of training. These are the guys that will help build your schedule so you can register for classes. Spence said that both the advisors and the S.O.S.ers will be careful to balance out the more challenging courses so that students aren’t overloaded their first semester.

“We don’t want to set them up for failure,” she said. “We want them to have a very successful first year, so [the orientation staff] tries their best to make that possible for the students.”

So, how do you find out what you’re in store for before classes begin in the fall? The most commonly used method by current students is simply word of mouth, so start asking around. There is also www.pickaprof.com, a website featuring various professors’ grade histories and student reviews. The only problem with using pickaprof.com is that the site now charges students for its services, $5 for one semester, $10 for two, $20 for four, and continuing up to 10 semesters for $40. Now that pickaproff is charging, it is likely that fewer students will use the site, meaning less reviews will be posted on professors.

Additionally, the REACH program at U of L offers seminars throughout the semester. At REACH, students are taught how to integrate their learning style to compliment course demands, something that will definitely come in handy when choosing between professors that teach the same class.

Bill Brammel, SGA president, said the key to entering college and preparing for classes is to relax and be open-minded.

“Feel confident and don’t be overwhelmed. Everybody goes through it,” he advised. “After having two to three weeks of your first semester under your belt, you will be fine.”

Spence agreed. “Do not feel intimidated and do not hesitate to ask questions. The staff at orientation are there to answer all questions and make sure students are on the right track.”

So, take a deep breath, de-stress a little bit, and remember that U of L has staff members that will help you transition into collegiate life. Welcome to the University of Louisville!