By Maria College Communications Specialist Nick Viviano, ‘19
Tip 1: Familiarize yourself with the technology
Familiarize yourself with the technology and interface that Maria College uses. It is vital to know how to navigate your Maria College email for important notices, contact with your professors, classmates, and tutors, along with class cancelations and College news. Being able to make your way around Maria’s website is also advantageous toward your success as you can access our support services for you, as the student. Being able to know how to access Blackboard for your courses and assignments, along with MyMaria for your course schedules, financial aid status, and grades, will keep you up to date and organized as the semester progresses.
If you’re a new student, consider coming to one of our New Student Tech Help sessions. Get your technological concerns addressed now so you can focus on your studies when classes begin.
Tip 2: Stay connected
Your greatest source of communication is through your Maria College email, which you can access through MyMaria. Important updates such as class announcements, class or school cancelations, College-wide news, and professor/advisory correspondence come through your email, so it is in your best interest to check it every day, multiple times a day. It is the most efficient way to keep in contact with your professors, faculty and staff, as well as your classmates.
Many of the College’s official emails will be sent to you from the following email address: mm@mariacollege.ccsend.com. Please ensure this email address is not blocked and be sure to check your “Other” and “junk email” folders in your inbox periodically.
Be sure to follow Maria College on social media for live updates, the latest news and event info, and the occasional contest! This is also a great way to interact with your classmates and alumni to start building your network. Maria College can be found on the following platforms:
Tip 3: Introduce yourself to your professors and develop a rapport
A good way to start a new semester here at Maria is to establish a relationship with your professors as soon as possible. A great way to make a connection with them is to send an email introducing yourself and what classes you have with them, and mention what you are looking forward to learning in a particular course. Another way to strengthen the relationship is to check their syllabus for office hours and introduce yourself to them in person. Having a good rapport with your professors’ makes for an engaging, smooth, and productive college experience.
Tip 4: Make sure to have the right textbooks and get them early!
It is important to make sure you have the right textbooks for when you professor references a specific text that you need either for classroom discussion or an assignment. You want to pay close attention to your professor’s syllabus noting which edition of the book (s) that you may need. There is no worse feeling than spending hundreds of dollars on books just to find out they are the wrong editions. Some textbooks have an access code so be sure to check ahead of time to make sure that the code is accurate. All the textbooks you will need can be found at the Maria College Campus Store located on the lower level of the Main Building.
Tip 5: Read over your syllabi
Another great way to prepare yourself for your classes is to read over each syllabus that your teachers will provide for you. This is crucial because most teachers will outline what the expectations are; provide dates for when assignments are due, midterms and finals, days off, etc. If it is a hybrid class, it will outline which days are remote and which days are in-person. It is one of the most important documents to hold on to throughout the semester to help keep you on track to succeed and keep you organized.
Tip 6: Learn your class schedule
Knowing when and where to be each day is important whether it’s your first time on campus or if you’re planning to graduate this spring. You can find your schedule in the MyMaria portal on our website. Keep a digital copy on your phone and a printed version just in case. You can also find a map of Maria College here.
Tip 7: Develop study groups and rapport with your classmates
One of the best things you can do is to develop good rapport and friendships with your fellow classmates. Your first semester back at college can no doubt be an intimidating experience, and going through it alone can make it all the more difficult. The good thing is that everyone is on the same playing field during the first week, so it would be advantageous to you to reach out to your fellow classmates to establish study groups. With that, your study groups may blossom into friendships that will last a lifetime.
Tip 8: Utilize Maria College’s support services
As your semester progresses, the workload can get a bit overwhelming as midterms and finals start to approach. Tests, clinical, and final presentations can be stress-inducers that may throw you off your game. The Mary Beth O’Brien Tutoring Center provides the highest quality academic assistance to all Maria College students in an approachable, accessible, and professional environment. We have both peer and professional tutors who foster students’ academic success and individual skill development through personal and group support, as well as through technical, embedded, and on-line tutorial resources. The Mary Beth O’Brien Tutoring Center can be located in Mercy Hall. Appointments can be made online or by emailing tutoring@mariacollege.edu.
The Troy Savings Bank Writing and Communication Center provides a supportive and collaborative environment for all students to grow as writers. The Writing Center offers guidance and feedback for every stage of the writing process, from planning to drafting to final revisions. Student writers can engage in one-on-one, group, or asynchronous tutoring for writing-related topics such as organization, thesis development, the ethical use of sources, and much more. The Troy Savings Bank Writing and Communication Center is located in Mercy Hall. Appointments can be made online or by emailing tutoring@mariacollege.edu.
Tip 9: Practice your commute
To help you prepare for a new semester at college, you need to figure out how long it will take you to get to class. Either if you live on or off campus, have multiple routes planned out, shortcuts on hand, as well as timing your commute to see how long it takes. Always take into account weather conditions and traffic as it may delay your commute.