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As I’m sure your teachers have mentioned (probably more than once), college classes are much different than high school, and professors will hold their students to higher standards. But how different is it, exactly? In this section, we hope to explain the key factors for finding success in your first college semester. It doesn’t have to be all that difficult!
This one is important for your first college class – professors, especially those who teach first-year seminars, can have hundreds of students in one class. Making a point to introduce yourself to them in person, before or after class, is a great way for them to see you as more than just a name in their course.
Once you formally meet your professor, it’s a good idea to show them you are serious about doing well in their class. This can look like asking questions, participating during lectures, and showing genuine interest in the subject matter. If this is a tougher subject for you, letting the professor know that you’re invested in doing well can go a long way, especially if you don’t do so well on an exam or assignment. Professors are more inclined to be understanding, and may even provide alternative assignments, one-on-one instruction, or extended due dates if you established that you are putting substantial effort into their course. Additionally, most professors will assign a grade to your ‘participation’ portion of the course, so this investment can help boost your final overall average as well.
Many high school teachers don’t provide a syllabus for their students, but college sets a higher expectancy for student agency when it comes to your success in the academic realm. Therefore, college professors will typically give you a copy of the syllabus for their course. Essentially, each syllabus will include expectations for classroom etiquette, a list of required texts for the course, a schedule of due dates for assignments and exams, a breakdown of course outcomes, as well as other details pertinent to the class.
It is important to understand your professor’s expectations in each course. This is something that many students learn the hard way. While one professor may prefer a certain format for essay submissions, a similar assignment with a different professor may have vastly different requirements. So, an A+ submission in one course could be a C in another class. Reading through each professor’s syllabus and making sure to highlight important information can help avoid these sorts of blunders. Lastly, if you have any questions about the course or teacher requirements, be sure to check the syllabus first to see if you can find the answer yourself. Your professors spend countless hours curating their course syllabus to cover their most frequently asked questions, and chances are if you send them an email asking to clarify something, the response may very well be “check the syllabus”.
One of the biggest investments you can make in college is to get a planner- seriously. Many students prefer hard-copy paper versions, but there are plenty of online ones available as well if that’s more accessible to you. Your first college classes will be a good trial run to find the right option for you. Planners are awesome for time management and help you keep track of meetings, assignments, exams, and other personal commitments. On that note, it’s easy to get carried away when making your schedules. Try to be realistic- it may be easy to schedule 20 hours a week for studying on paper, but it gets a bit trickier when you’re pulling an all-nighter to meet the expectation you set for yourself and sleep through your 8am class the next day. So, keep it simple and don’t overdo it.
Be smart about when you schedule academic tasks. Some people are more productive in the mornings, and others at night. You know yourself best, so keep this in mind when deciding when to finish homework or study guides. It’s also best to leave some free time to your planner. This lets you be flexible (a key quality in college) and leaves room in case circumstances arise that force you to deviate from your pre-planned schedule.
Lastly, stick to your schedule! It may be easy the first few weeks of the semester, but as classes ramp up and assignments get heavier, it’s even more important to stay on top of things.
It may not seem like fun, but sitting in the front of the room is a great way to trick yourself into paying attention during class. It’s much easier to let your mind wander or get distracted when you’re sitting somewhere further away from the instructor. Also, it helps you notice how your professor lectures much quicker. Some instructors like to stick to their powerpoint slides, and don’t deviate from the material listed. Others have habits of going on tangents to explain certain material points. Different styles require different note-taking habits, and the quicker you catch on, the easier time you’ll have in that course.
While it’s important to pay attention during class, it’s equally as important to dial in during study sessions. That means being purposeful about when, where, and how you study. Some students are able to be productive from the comfort of their own dorm or bed, while others have to be in an academic setting, such as a university library, to effectively get work done. Some individuals prefer group study sessions, while others need solitude and quiet to focus and retain new material. If you don’t already know which study environment suits you, it’s best to find out earlier rather than later.
Most schools have an abundance of academic resources available to students, and especially first-years. Take advantage of them! If you have questions about course material, try to meet with them during office hours, or go to their review sessions if they’re offered. Other resources typically offered at universities include academic advisors, writing centers, accessibility centers, and course-specific tutors. See YSU’s list of resources here!
One last note (this one is important!): Recognize what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. It is critical to understand that colleges take plagiarism very seriously, and students can face very serious consequences for plagiarizing (up to and including expulsion), whether or not it was intentional. If you need help clarifying what exactly qualifies as plagiarism, take a look at YSU’s tips to avoid plagiarism here!
Nearly 11,000 students
Over $8 Million in Scholarships Given Annually
21 Average Class Size
5 University Residence Halls with plenty of nearby apartments
14:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
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Tuition and fees may vary by major, college, area of study or based on your location. The university reserves the right to assess fees for special services and programs applicable to students. First-time International undergraduate students’ tuition rate is established based on first enrollment and remains unchanged for four consecutive years. Graduate students should plan for a yearly tuition increase of approximately 5%.
For a complete list of additional fees and detailed tuition information please visit the University Bursar website here.
Cost of the most popular room and meal plan combination; Your cost will depend on the plans you select. Costs in the box cover the most popular room and meal plan combination (on-campus); If you choose to live off-campus, the estimated cost of room and meals will be around $12,000 based on 12 months.
Based on average books & supply costs
Health insurance is required for international students.
Applicants must have graduated from high school or have successfully completed the General Education Development (GED) test to be considered for admission. Freshman applicants applying for admission to Youngstown State University must submit a high school transcript or GED transcript. Submission of American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores is optional. Please note: some majors require test scores to be admitted into the program.
Applicants must have a cumulative weighted high school grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or higher, a core unweighted grade point average* of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or higher and have an ACT composite score of 17 or higher or a SAT composite score of 920 or higher (evidence-based writing and reading and math) to be admitted unconditionally. (*Core gpa is calculated based on grades earned in the following courses – English, mathematics, science, social science and foreign language, if applicable, from 9th through 12th grade).
Fall 2024
application deadline is
August 1, 2024
